The intrepid explorer...

flew onto Boot and wondered where he could hide. The Sock was grey and black, and not suited to his cover - he needed camouflage and fast. Something with a hint of red, preferably with zigzags. The insect peered out over the Boot Rim and almost fell off when he felt the Macro beam upon him. But he sensed hope - maybe over there, just down the hill. And there he found a safe place.


Google is a wonderful thing. I discovered that this fella is called Arocatus roeselii. I can't find a non-Latin name for him yet, which is possibly because this insect has only recently arrived in Britain. The first instances appear to be around 2006. It's now one of the most abundant insects in the Natural History Museum garden. It likes bark.

Gorgeous day again in London. The guinea pigs had a day out on the grass and I spent lunchtime in The Walks, Holborn with Mr Red and Black up there.