I hadn't really realised what an amazing summer this must be if you happen to be a slug, until we went out for a walk after heavy rain a couple of days ago. The footpath was covered with these slimy molluscs, but so too were the flower umbels of hogweed. Wet weather seems to encourage slugs to climb tall flower stems to feed on petals and pollen. Why do they bother, when there is so much food at ground level?
This rather colourful local variety of Arion ater, with an orange skirt, had climbed a dandelion stem to feed on the florets.
Meanwhile, the same rain storms have done serious damage to pollinating bees. This bumblebee was so saturated by rain that it was diffcult to decide what species it might be.
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The slugs and snails have certainly put in an appearance in my garden.
ReplyDeleteDevastated my lilies.
That poor bee. This weather has been terrible for most of the wildlife.
I cannot find it within me to love a slug. But my heart goes out to the bee.
ReplyDeleteSlugs and snails must be just about the only ones enjoying this appalling weather, not the most endearing of creatures to look at or of course to find chomping our garden plants.
ReplyDeletePoor bee! I heard today that bats are starving and being found grounded :-(
It's been a really bad year for bees hasn't it Keith? First the late frosts and snow, then the rain ....
ReplyDeleteMe neither toffeeapple, after what they've done to my garden this year!
ReplyDeleteThat's bad news about bats, shysongbird. At this time of year we usually have them flying around the house at dusk, but I haven't seen one for quite a while...
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a slug's idea of an ideal summer. I've noticed a decrease in the number of large bumblebees since the rainy season started.
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