Author | Lightnews

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a)

@burningwellies.bsky.social

93 followers 68 following 140 posts

Bonkers about #slugs #bugs #hens & #compost. Poor relationship with fake lawns, slug pellets, fascists, & God. Selective mute with no detectable sense of humour. Proofreading skills? None. Pics: me/my crap phone #GrowFood #Insects #SoilHealth #Pollinators

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · May 17

ADHD: I've just run our bucket list 5k!

Me: I know, didn't you hear me crying?

#ParkRun

Reposted by Muck & Grass (Zone 9a)

superhackers @superhackers.bsky.social · Apr 14

How to bypass this firewall: Bees Shimmering As A Defense Mechanism

39 100 690

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 23

More fly sex 😊

A close up of two green bottle flies, mating on a corn chamomile flower - white petals with a yellow flower head. It's a bright sunny day & the light is catching the female, giving her a shiny ultra marine blue hue. Their eyes are a beautiful ruby colour.

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 23

Love from, Bristol, UK xx

1 8

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 22

I've just had the misfortune of having to read 70,000+ tedious words of Yarvin crying into his own y-fronts whilst bemoaning how his plans are being 'foamed' by a bunch of stupids in the WH.

Anyone got any spare Valium? Oh, & a spare rusty spoon, so I can scoop my own eyeballs out.

Reposted by Muck & Grass (Zone 9a)

Emily Carter @emilycurates.bsky.social · Apr 8

A #ladybug preparing for takeoff
They can eat up to 5,000 aphids in their lifetime, making them natural pest controllers!
In some cultures they’re associated with luck

400 2.2K 15K

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 22

I must admit, it's the first one I've seen, that I can remember (had an accident, got a bit of a memory problem). I have a new allotment in a different part of town, & I'm seeing a lot of new, exciting things. It's lovely.

I'm just using my phone also, what macro lens do you use? I should get one 😊

Reposted by Muck & Grass (Zone 9a)

Fredde @fredsbugs.bsky.social · Apr 21

Another female Thomisidae but this time it's Misumena vatia, the flower crab spider.

It's impressive how big of a prey spiders can catch, this one snatched a bee that's bigger than her!

1 1 4

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 22

Oh, that's a good pic. Love it. RIP, little bee - well done, Vatia!

1 2

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 21

Forgot the #alttext

#UKSpiders #FlowerCrabSpider #FleshFlies #Sarcophagidae #Diptera #CrapPhotography

Not very good pic of a flesh fly in the grip of a flower crab spider. The spider has changed her colour to match the yellow of the dandelion they’re both on.

Just like their namesake, crab spiders can run sideways using their super strong forelegs. Flower crab spiders also have the extra special ability of being able to change colour to blend in with the flower head they’re using as ‘bait’.

Flesh flies are incredibly beneficial insects. Adults are excellent accidental pollinators because they’re not fussy when searching out nectar to feed on. They might not be able to carry as much pollen as bees, but they make up for their lack of hairs by their sheer number. Let’s hope it never becomes the case, but one day we might be relying on flies to pollinate our crops. Flesh flies are also detritivores, both adults & larvae are attracted to & consume rotting organic matter, helping return nutrients the soil.

I’m writing this on my phone without my specs - apologies if it reads like nonsense

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 21

This pic was not intentional. I thought the fly looked a bit distressed as I passed, so I took a pic to find out why.

#Misumenavatia (I think). Super special - they can change colour at will.

#UKSpiders #CrabSpider #FlowerSpider

1 5

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 20

First common banded hoverfly (male), of the year.

So excited! 😆

#BeneficialInsects #Pollinattors #Syrphusribesii

Reposted by Muck & Grass (Zone 9a)

Flint Crow @flintcrow.bsky.social · Apr 19

Did we already tell that we live in Sjaaks woods this year. ?
We really miss him, but we love to live here.
#theyoungones 😉

2 12

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 19

They've got Thiel & Heritage behind them. If we content to comfort ourselves with thoughts that it won't end well for them, we're already fucked. Farage is also in the pocket of the Alliance Defending Freedom Caucus, the far right anti-reproductive rights movement.

📌 @cunningescapeplan.bsky.social

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 18

How are you feeling today? Any better? xx

1 1

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 17

Stay safe, mate.

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 15

Dodo are Ukrainian - their products are made in Ukraine & they give a portion of their profits to Ukrainian charities. Not sure if they have an outlet in the US though, but you can order directly from them. They make good socks.

dodosocks.com/en/

Main - Dodo Socks

New Best sellers National Identity Dodo Socks aims to popularize Ukrainian culture in Ukraine and beyond. Read more Local Production We take pride in local production.

dodosocks.com

1 2

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 13

That's good to hear. You look after yourself, lovely 👍😊

1 1

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 13

I probably should’ve mentioned that, ‘I love #dandelions’ is my 2nd most frequently used post-it note during #spring. The 1st being, ‘WTF do you think you’re doing with that slug? Put it back, right now’

#Ants are brilliant accidental #pollinators, & not too shabby at #soil regeneration, either.

An overhead view of a dandelion plant. A fully open dandelion is in the centre. It’s a deep lush yellow & is surrounded by green leaves & buds. There is a black ant barely visible amongst the individual flowers that make up a dandelion flower head.

Dandelion’s are an important early food source for ants & other beneficial insects. They feed on the nectar & the seed heads

A single black ant feeding on dandelion nectar. The dandelion fills the frame.

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 12

Ahhh, that's what's going on! I've been trying to grow it in full sun. Thank you so much - you're an absolute star. I have almost the complete opposite weather problem. I'm in the UK - Mother Nature keeps us in the fridge, & puts us in the oven on a whim 🥶🥵🤣

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 12

Sleep as much as you need - it's the best medicine. Hope you're starting to feel better today😊

1 1

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 9

Declaring the king of Europe a persona non grata.

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 9

Get better soon, keeper of crows x

Reposted by Muck & Grass (Zone 9a)

Tortoise @tortoisemedia.bsky.social · Apr 9

Introducing Hot Air – a searchable database of social media posts from almost 300 online actors posting about climate change, in ways that range from scepticism to outright misinformation.

Head to our website to explore the tool yourself: torto.se/4j0NNY4

🗣️ @chefboibex.bsky.social

1 9 14

Muck & Grass (Zone 9a) @burningwellies.bsky.social · Apr 8

Hello, little lovely.

#GermanWasp #Vespulagermanica #Insects #Springtime #Wasps