Miniature assassin

It was a day of recovery after the exertions of yesterday. I took Rosie for an early morning walk round Southey Wood, but the sunlight had scarcely penetrated the forest, making it cool and shady for walking, but not very good fo photography. I was pleased to find a field full of fluellens next to the wood, although they were definitely past their best.

The rest of the day passed in a flurry of identification and report writing, along with a bit of a panic when I realised that a site I'd agreed to survey this month was about three times the size I'd expected! The electrician finally turned up late in the afternoon and sorted out the power supply to our new shower, but when he tried to turn the water on, a gate-valve in the loft seized, so another visit needed by the bathroom fitter....

Late in the evening I realised I didn't really have a decent photograph, so I delved in the fridge and found this tiny assassin bug, Empicoris vagabundus. It' only about 6mm long, but is a mean predator of tiny creatures - beware if you're a bark louse! This is a very characteristic pose - rather reminiscent of a praying mantis.