WHARFEDALE Naturalists Society warmly welcomed Anne Riley on Tuesday, January 12th to talk about her lockdown observations while exploring the countryside local to her home.

Anne is a longstanding member of the group. She is a valued contributor to many Wharfedale Naturalists Society’s activities. Anne had a career as a hospital pharmacist and has had a passion for natural history since childhood along with a longstanding interest in entomology.

Anne’s scientific, analytical and enthusiastic approach absolutely shines through.

How could anyone not be interested in her amazing photographs of even the smallest insects and her often humorous but very knowledgeable descriptions and explanations?

During the first lockdown Anne regularly explored Burley Moor and her own wildlife garden.

Armed with her trusty camera she was on the lookout for the winged, spotted, furry, tiny creatures that can be seen if you know where to look.

The huge variety of insects to be found is truly amazing. The Green Hair Streak butterflies are small and pretty. They have tiny white dots on their wings hence the “hair streak”.

The Wolf Spider does not make a web, it pounces on its prey instead.

The Tiger Beetle has amazing scissor jaws which can mash the ants it predates on. Cuckoo bees lay their eggs in the nests of solitary bees and don’t collect pollen.

Green Lace wings are a useful garden inhabitant as their larvae eat aphids.

The Flower bug is not so welcome. It is a predator of other insects and can pierce flesh.

Other creatures included a lizard, (hard to spot), a male grouse with its vibrant red eye brow and a Small Owl.

Anne’s main message? Insects are the foundation and support of all earthly life. They are often beautiful and can perform the most intricate and technically brilliant functions. Enjoy and respect!

The next talk takes place via Zoom on January 26th when Linda Jenkinson will talk on “ A year in the Life of Swifts”.

Report by Alison Roberts