Environment

Can you identify these little beetles? Readers’ nature queries

Eithne Viney on furniture beetles, natterer’s bat, sperm whale, bullfinch, ladybirds and a peacock butterfly

Furniture beetle

Ethna Viney
Sat Apr 20 2019 - 06:00

Can you identify these little beetles, about 2-3mm long. which have appeared recently? – Neil Foot, Kilmacow, Co Kilkenny
They are furniture beetles, which lay their eggs in cracks or holes in old timber and die shortly afterwards. The eggs hatch into larvae, which bore into the timber for two or more years before emerging as adult beetles.

Natterer’s bat

We saw this perfect but unfortunately dead bat while walking near Lough Dan in Co Wicklow. – Anne-Marie McGauran, Dublin7
It's a natterer's bat, found where there are trees.

Male sperm whale washed up in Moyrus, Connemara.

This huge male sperm whale was washed up in Moyrus, Connemara, near the Mace weather station. – Ashley Dowling, Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow

Coconut washed up on Fintra beach, Killybeggs

I found this coconut on Fintra beach, Killybegs, washed in by the Gulf Stream and prevailing winds. – Derek Vial, Killybegs, Co Donegal

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Bullfinch are found in most parts of the country

I saw this bird in my garden and discovered that it was a bullfinch. I've never seen one before, are they rare? – Una Crawford, Rathgar, Dublin 6
Bullfinches are found all over the country except in the extreme northwest of Mayo and Donegal. They frequent areas with lots of trees and often feed on fruit buds.

At the end of March the top of the yew hedge in my garden was decorated with hundreds of ladybirds, like berries. – Mairéad Mason, Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare
The ladybirds must have been hibernating in the yew hedge.

While walking the Murrough in Wicklow on March 31st, I came across a peacock butterfly behaving as though he owned a huge blackthorn bush. He chased a bumblebee off it until the bee gave up, then he resumed his sunbathing. –Paddy Demery, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow

Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address.