ALSO LOOK OUT FOR…

FROGHOPPER FROTH

As if by magic, ‘cuckoo spit’ is appearing on low-growing herbage. The spume is blown by the tiny larvae of several species of sapsucking froghopper, especially Philaenus spumarius, as a kind of foamy defensive shield.

MIGRANT WATCH

Until May any red admirals you spot will probably have overwintered in the UK, but from this month continental migrants begin to arrive in force. Log your sightings with the Europe-wide citizen-science survey: www.insectmigration. wordpress.com/news.

JOIN THE BUZZ

Time to brush up on your bee ID – beg or borrow a copy of Steven Falk and Richard Lewington’s magisterial new field guide – as the Great British Bee Count is back. It runs 19 May–30 June: www. greatbritishbeecount.co.uk

‘RATTY’ RECORDS

Water voles are busy breeding, so are highly active along backwaters – boosting chances of a sighting. Throughout May the People’s Trust for Endangered Species is asking for records, as part of the National Water Vole Monitoring Programme: https://ptes.org/ get-involved.