A "new" species of bee in our #Staffs garden at the moment. Here on Tansy flowers, but have also seen her checking the bee-hotel. Think might be one of the Colletes species. She escaped from the spider! #bees

The wasp workers are out in force collecting nesting materials from the wooden structures in our garden. I think this is a German Wasp worker (Vespula germanica). #Staffs #wasplove

Found this fine tachinid fly in our #Staffs garden today; advised that it's Nowickia ferox, the Black and Orange Parasite Fly. Checked the county Fly Atlas and there are no previous records. That's why I've not seem one here before! It's a large and impressive beast. #diptera

I spotted this old saw in an antiques market and couldn't resist it. I've searched online but can't find more about it; anyone know its specific use (dovetail saw)? It's just over 12" (30cm) long. Can make out Made in England on blade. Intrigued ...

Male Broad-bodied Chaser by our garden pond yesterday. First dragonfly that I've photographed this year. #Staffs #dragonflies #garden

The hoverfly Sphaerophoria scripta in our garden today. #Staffs #hoverfly #pollination

When the sun shines on the bee-hotel, the occupants come to their front doors to say hello. #Staffs #garden #bees #biodiversity

I see a few of these in our #Staffs garden every year; the wasp Crabro cribrarius. The males have strange shield-like appendages on their front legs. They're a ground-nesting species but a few males visit our bee-hotels and sometimes spend the night! #wasps #WaspLove

More Beech hedge biodiversity. Lots of invertebrates are attracted to the south-facing Beech section of our #Staffs garden hedgerow, to warm-up on the leaves. Another varied selection! #biodiversity #pollinators

It's that time of year again when the south-facing Beech hedge in our garden is coming into leaf. It's a favourite place for invertebrates to visit and warm-up. I do these composites every year to show the biodiversity. #Staffs #garden #biodiversity #pollination

First Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria) of the year, in our #Staffs garden yesterday. One of my favourites; this female warming-up on my finger. #bees #SolitaryBees #garden #pollinators

A Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) visiting our Staffordshire garden this morning. Even managed to get a reasonably-uncluttered (and in-focus) shot! Don't see many of these in our garden ...

Just putting the finishing touches together, I hope some of you can make it. Open 11.00 - 16.00 hrs daily; free admission, free parking.

Always a treat to see; a lovely Ruby-tailed Wasp in our #Staffs garden yesterday. #wasp #CuckooWasp #SolitaryWasp

First Bee-fly of the year in our #Staffs garden today; Bombylius major. #bees #SolitaryBees #pollination #biodiversity

Found on the beach in Anglesey at the weekend. A seabird sternum perhaps?

A lovely fresh-looking queen Bombus pratorum (Early Bumblebee) in our #Staffs garden this morning. I think that what it is anyway! #bees #SocialBees

First Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) that I've photographed this year. Lots active in our #Staffs garden today. #bees #SocialBees

Psocid (Barkfly) in garden leaf-litter this morning. #Staffs #garden #Psocid #Barkfly

An "elongate" springtail in garden leaf-litter this morning, just a few millimetres long. #staffs #collembola #mesofauna

Announcing an exhibition of my still-life photography at the Rose Paterson Art Gallery at Weston Park. Will run from 27 March to 29 April. Parking and admission free. The Art Gallery is open daily from 11.00 to 16.00 hrs. Weston Park situated on the A5 near Shifnal, Shropshire.

I was photographing a globular springtail (Dicyrtomina saundersi) in the garden, when a juvenile "elongate" springtail came scurrying into view. Remarkably, they're both reasonably in focus with this single shot. Two for the price of one! #collembola #mesofauna #macro #photograph

A selection of globular springtails found under fallen leaves on our garden lawn this morning. A Dicyrtomina species at the bottom and Sminthurinus aureus (dark form) and S. elegans at the top. #collembola #mesofauna #Staffs #macro #photography

The globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi in our #Staffs garden this morning. Between 1-2 mm long. #collembola #mesofauna #macro #photography

We're fortunate in having a few Fly Agaric mushrooms growing in our #Staffs garden. Being a photographer, I couldn't resist a bit of additional Photoshopery on this shot! #macro #photography #shallowDoF

More fungi from our front lawn today. I know very little about mushroom identification, but wondered whether this could be one of the Laccaria species (Deceivers)? #Staffs #fungi #macro #photography

We have a nice selection of fungi on our front lawn, including Fly Agaric. #Staffs #macro #photography #fungi #mushrooms

My morning leaf-litter hunt didn't result in any springtail photographs today, but I did snap this little psocid (barkfly) that was under a Laurel leaf. #psocoptera #Staffs #garden #macro #photography

The globular springtail Sminthurinus aureus (dark form) in the garden this morning. Very small (< 1 mm). #Staffs #collembola #springtail #LeafLitter #mesofauna #macro #photography

I found a tiny little wasp (~2-3 mm) under a wet leaf on the lawn this morning (was looking for springtails actually). #WaspLove #Staffs #macro #photography