Invertebrates - insects etc
Ladybirds - the commonest ladybird is the 7-spot (Coccinella 7-punctata, red with 7 black spots) but there are 26 species in the UK. This summer we recorded two others, the 14-spot ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata, left, May, Cottingwood Lane) and the cream-spot ladybird (Calvia 14-guttata, right). We found the cream-spot at the stepping stones, High Stanners in September. Next summer we intend to make a more thorough search. Many ladybirds are easy to identify and you can find helpful photographs and descriptions at the UK ladybird survey web site:  http://www.ladybird-survey.org/default.htm The ladybird survey is looking for people all over the country to help find out what is where. Why don't you help? Visit their website for further information.
Dragonflies and Damselflies We just started this summer so the only photograph we have is the immature Southernn Hawker opposite. We spotted this large (5 cm body length) dragonfly sunning itself on a fern frond in Scots Gill Nature Reserve in August. There is an excellent pocket book called  Dragonflies and Damselflies by Steve Brooks. It is published 2004 by British Wildlife Publishing ISBN  0 9531 399 0 5. It costs under £10.

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