Occasionally low flying insects manage to get in and that is what must have happened to this Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly I heard flapping around the conservatory.
Against my better judgement I opened both the double doors to the conservatory in the hope it would find its way out but the stubborn insect just settled on the roof beam. I keep a large clean empty coffee jar for such occasions so I can catch them safely and put them back outside. As I walked through to the kitchen I was greeted by a furious fluttering of something a bit larger crashing against the window. Now as some of you will know the reason I keep flying beasties outside is I get an instant panic reaction when they are in the same room as me. I instantly went cold all over - a reaction which seems to date back about sixty years.
What was it trying to drill a hole through the double glazing?
A Southern Hawker Dragonfly which must have been blown through the open doors and flown past me in to the kitchen.
I watched from a distance while I tried to work out how to get the thing out. I know I had been moaning about the lack of Dragonflies here but this was ridiculous. Eventually I plucked up courage to open a window near it but would it fly past the vertical bar separating the fixed window from the open one? Nope! Anyway the wind was blowing in that window.
While I pondered the situation I took a few photos. Looking at the barbs on its legs I can see how they manage to cling on to nearly anything.
Eventually it settled as far away from the open window as it could get.
How to move it safely? The coffee jar was too small. Looking round I spied a large polythene tub I keep my clothes pegs in, emptied it and gently placed it over the dragon. Then I slid it slowly sideways and past the upright. When we reached the open window I tipped it out and off it flew. Phew! Mission accomplished. Next the coffee jar and the butterfly - did that, closed the double doors and gave a sigh of relief. A cup of coffee next and a cheese scone as it was lunch time.
On the Hedgehog front I only saw Honey yesterday. She arrived just after 10 and was still about when I went to bed. That is not to say there were no others around, I just didn't see any at the times I checked the monitor.
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and well done for carrying the various insects outside. Dragonflies can be pretty big so I know exactly what you mean. How unusual to find one in your house.
Thanks Joe. I have had all sorts to deal with over the years including a bat in the bedroom (had to phone a friend to deal with that), a Robin sat on the TV set and numerous large moths.
ReplyDeleteHi John. I know that feeling of panic when something invades your home space. My worst was when Lizzy (the cat) deposited a live, large and very cross rat in my bedroom and then wandered off leaving me to deal with it:-) Loved the pictures.
ReplyDeleteFunny post! It's amazing how our reactions to insects change when they are on the inside! He's a beautiful and colorful little thing. The butterfly's body looks so feathery...pretty.
ReplyDeleteHi Helen. Now that I would NOT have liked.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly. Very true, most things I can tolerate outdoors where there is plenty of room to manoeuvre. The dragon is about 3 inches long and over 4 inches wing span though it seemed a lot bigger indoors!
ReplyDeleteOh beautiful post today John. I loved your story. Sorry to hear that bugs bother you and cause such distress...but it warms my heart that you try to find ways to get them back outside. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great day...oh and your storm sounded harsh...I hope it didn't cause any damage to your home and gardens.
Every cloud John.
ReplyDeleteYou got some cracking pictures from your visitors.
Thank you Crista. I don't mind most of them in open spaces but photography comes first, panic second :)
ReplyDeleteNo damage, gale force gusts are OK - now Storm Force is a bigger problem.
Very true, Keith. No matter what the inner feelings I couldn't let the photo opportunity pass.
ReplyDeleteTwo fascinating and pristine insects, John. I'm constantly rescuing bees before resident spiders get them, but have never had anything so beautiful as these indoors.
ReplyDeleteHi Rob. It was an opportunity not to be missed with the dragon as here they never seem to land outdoors. The poor thing was using its head as a battering ram trying to get through the glass.
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly glad that you took the opportunity to photograph your captives! I don't like moths flitting about me either. In your photos, the detail on them both is so clear, but the dragonfly in particular is stunning! Isn't the macro world amazing? I'm glad you were able to free them. Although it was an anxious time for you, you have written it up with humour and your posting made me smile (and even chuckle)!
ReplyDeleteHi again Glo. Moths are one beasty I can't even look at photos of without going cold all over. I am sure it dates back to a time when I was about six years old and I stayed with my maternal grandmother one Summer. She insisted on the bedroom light being left on and the window wide open at night and I hated the moths which were attracted to the light. The only sympathy she gave me was to cover my head with the sheet so I couldn't see them.
ReplyDeleteIt is only when you can get a close still shot of things like the dragonfly that you see how intricate their structure is.
That certainly would be an unpleasant memory that would linger, and what a shame your grandmother didn't understand how that was bothering you. At least you know where the fear originated and can make sense of it!
ReplyDeleteWow John, what brilliant shots of the dragonfly! I just cannot imagine one in my garden so one in the house probably would creep me out! They really are quite beautiful though and you must be delighted they visit... your garden usually ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the concern you expressed in your recent reply John, real life :( has intervened a little lately and there have been jobs to catch up with and we have also tried to have some time off too which is not easy for HLH as he is self employed (publishing). What amazing guests you entertain in your conservatory, that is a spectacular dragon and lovely photos! Your mention of a Robin on the TV made me laugh and reminded me of how, some years ago, HLH found what he thought was a frog ornament on top of the video player. He found it early one morning and thought I had put it there the night before for a joke, when he went to pick it up it leapt in the air and so did he!! We had had the door into the garden open the night before and it must have come in then, he eventually managed to usher it out.
ReplyDeleteHi Shirl. I certainly got a close up view of the dragon. Some of them have really spectacular colouring and I do look forward to the time of year when the odd one visits. Here in the garden the damsels will often sit and rest but the dragons rarely do.
ReplyDeleteHi Jan. Real life does have this habit of interfering with the pleasures of life sometimes. Time off is important so I hope you found some good weather to be able to get out and blow the cobwebs away.
ReplyDeleteI get all sorts of birds and insects in the conservatory from time to time. The trouble is they seem to find it easy to get in and so difficult to find the way out. I think that problem is that the doors face North and they naturally head for the brightest end - South where there are no doors or opening windows.
I can imagine that an ornament which makes a sudden leap must have given HLH quite a turn.