Be bitten by the bug
THE Royal Entomological Society has designated 2026 June as National Insect Week and there is no better time to become interested in this fascinating group of invertebrates. Many of them are essential pollinators, which ensure future generations of plants in the countryside. Just like birds, lots of them fly and migrate, some make different sounds and then there are those which present great identification challenges.
There are an estimated 6,000 species of insectivorous birds in the world and a recent study showed that they eat 400-500 million tons of insects each year. About 75% of these are forest-dwelling birds, while the others live mainly in savanna and grassland areas, agricultural areas, deserts and the Arctic tundra.
Watch a Spotted Flycatcher as it feeds. From its prominent perch it waits for a passing insect and then dashes out and catches it with a snap of its beak. The bill is fine and its base is surrounded by bristles which may help it to position its prey item in its beak. From small gnats to larger prey, like a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, it is very adept at its snap-and-catch technique.
Insectivores like Common Swift, Swallow and European Nightjar have very wide gapes which help them to snatch insects opportunistically while flying. Some insectivorous birds can smell their prey and recent research on adult Winter Moths showed that birds, including tits, seem to be able to detect the pheromones they produce. Great Tits can also smell the volatile chemicals produced by trees which are infested with defoliating caterpillars, and are attracted to these trees.
All birders should try and
make their gardens more attractive to insects and here are a few things you can consider which will do just that.
Avoid insecticides: insecticides often kill more than just the target ‘pest’.
Use native plants: many insects are associated with particular native plants, which are better for them than nonnative species.
Compost waste: a simple compost heap can be a haven for insects as well as providing a growing medium.
Variety: choose a range of species with different flowering times. This not only makes a garden more attractive, but also provides insect food for a large part of the year.
Habitats: leave a wild patch, make a pond, pile up dead wood and leaves.
The following recent publications are a good introduction to the wealth of insect life to be found in Britain and how you might help them. There are also many more detailed guides to butterflies, moths, bees, hoverflies, ants, dragonflies and others, such as:
■ Attracting Garden Pollinators by Jean Vernon;
■ Garden Insects of Britain and Northern Europe by Dominic
Couzens and Gail Ashton;
■ Britain’s Insects by Paul D Brock;
■ A Comprehensive Guide to the Insects of Britain and Ireland by Paul D Brock;
■ A Naturalist’s Guide to the Insects of Britain and Northern Europe by Robert Read and Paul Sterry;
■ Royal Entomological Society Book of British Insects by Peter Barnard. Chris Harbard