Little and large

Last night there was a mass emergence of Summer Chafers Amphimallon solstitialis in Peterborough, and one turned up at the moth trap. Chris and Lizzy were at the Willow Festival onm the Embankment, where there were hundreds of these largish (c 2cm) beetles buzzing around, causing mayhem anongst the assembled crowds, who seemed to be under the impression that they were bees and would sting. Chris had to catch one and show his friends that it was just a harmless beetle... even then someof them took a bit of convincing!

This one is sitting on one of our Sweet Williams, given to us by a neighbour a couple of years ago. They sulked through last summer's rain, but are putting on a glorious show this year. It wasn't until I put this image on the screen that I spotted the tiny springtail sitting on one of the petals, scarcely as big as the end of the chadfer's antenna.