Mid August Observations

Seen any Wasps around yet? Not a sign of them here to date. As carnivores, they do have their contribution to make in the form of caterpillar control, especially both Codling and various Tortix, which are accosted within holes in the fruit. Each female caterpillar consumed now represents approximately 300 fewer eggs being laid on the trees during late Spring 2022.

Bumble Bees have taken up residence under several buildings here and have been active in numbers since mid May.

Seen any working combine harvesters around recently? You won’t with this damp weather. Usually the bulk of the local wheat harvest is over once Discovery apples are ready here. Like the fruit, cereals are delayed by the weather pattern of recent months.

Any August sunshine has been a premium in these parts. Occassionally a few hours of apple sweetening warmth have broken the norm. With this cool, the apples are colouring well – even the late picked varieties – they remain tight on and their pips within pure white. Some tentative tasting has not had me reaching for a hod yet!

Our Earwig friends are compensating well for the lack of Wasps. I have observed them in holes after caterpillars, also very young offspring crawling around within the fruit trees – best spotted while dew is still on the trees first thing.

At least dew is a sign of a sunny day ahead – looks like a patient wait until the new school year before this weather improves

Just need to excercise patience in the meantime!