Real Bugs, A Thrush and a Squirrel ...

29 April

Overwintering clusters of Box Elder Bugs emerged onto the walls of a garden shed where they clusters like this or chased each other around in pairs.

Because they have "mouth-sucking parts" for sucking up juices from plant secretions and seeds they actually are true bugs … any insect that doesn’t have these mouth parts is not a bug, even if that word is widely used for insects in general.

If you find some that have overwintered in your house, and you may well do so, please make sure not to squash them. Their red intestines smell and can leave permanent stains, particularly on light-coloured walls, curtains or linen.

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A very brief appearance was put in by a first of the year Hermit Thrush and was captured by the trail camera … then to finish, a cute red squirrel (video).