Spring insects

It seems to be a great year for ladybirds, they are everywhere, and I couldn't resist taking this photo of this 7-spot ladybird on forget-me-not on Corstorphine Hill yesterday lunchtime

Another interesting insect that is around in good numbers near the hill at the moment is this species of solitary bee, Andrena scotica, also known as the chocolate mining bee

We also saw some the other day in another part of Corstorphine

 
Solitary bees are so called because they nest in individual tunnels rather than in colonial hives. They actually gather together in groups quite frequently, there are plenty of them around at the moment!

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