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Earlier in May I visited Rainham Marshes with Tristan and Malin. This was my second visit to the marshes after previously visiting in March. We were fortunate to have a lovely sunny day and saw plenty of insects.

Rainham Marshes is nature reserve managed by the RSPB. It is located to the east of London and is fairly easy to travel to on the train (the nearest station is Purfleet, about 10 minutes walk away).

Rainham Marshes

We mainly were hunting for insects, although we did see some interesting vertebrates too:

Water Vole, Arvicola amphibius

Marsh frog, Pelophylax ridibundus

It was my first time hearing the marsh frogs and I thought it was quite nice to hear them, although they were very loud!

The invertebrate highlights included seeing my first lace bug (Hemiptera: Tingidae), bishop’s mitre (Aelia acuminata), woundwort shieldbug (Eysarcorus venustissimus), a cream-spot ladybird and a pair of Larinioides cornutus having what looked like a violent mating ritual.

Deadly embrace - Larinioides cornutus

Cream-spot ladybird, Calvia 14-guttata

Bishop's mitre, Aelia acuminata