Bejewelled Bug

Stumbled across some stunning Rosemary Beetles on, aptly, a rosemary bush in the front garden as we headed out for a lunchtime walk. Like the Tree Bumblebees from yesterday, they are recent additions to the UK's fauna - first seen in the 1990s, widespread in London by 2002, and now seen fairly regularly north of the border. First time I've seen them though, and bumped up my Lockdown Garden Wildlife Count again.

At the moment they don't look a problem for the plant (and guides suggest that usually they are fine, the only thing you have to look out for is shaking them off any bit of the plant you want to use for food); though they also like Lavender, so there'll be hell to pay if they spread tho that.

The lunchtime walk itself took in some new Mallard ducklings (in the extra).