Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) (Title Photo)

Dear Readers, this week I have decided to see if we know how to tell the difference between a bee, a wasp, a moth and a fly. Not as easy as you might think, with all this mimicry going on! And I wonder how many hornet hoverflies have been walloped with a rolled-up newspaper, having been mistaken for their cousins (not that you should be walloping actual hornets, obviously).

I personally think this is megatricky (a word I just made up), so here are a few hints:

• There are 3 photos in each category (wasp, bee, fly, moth)
• The antennae, the eyes, the number of wings are all useful for categorisation.

As usual, answers in the comments by 5 p.m. on Thursday 4th March (UK time) if you want to be marked. I will ‘hide’ answers when I see them, but if you don’t want to be influenced, you might want to write your answers down first.

‘Just’ look at the photos below, and decide if the animal shown is a wasp, a bee, a moth or a fly. I will give an extra point if you can identify the species (some of these are very unusual).

So, if you think the creature in Photo One is a fly, your answer is 1) Fly.

Onwards!

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

12)

Dear Readers, I always make it tough for myself when I don’t do a multiple-choice quiz! For this week’s quiz, I’ve given a full mark where the animal was identified to species level where this was possible – so for Question  5, ‘dragonfly’ got a half-mark, ‘Broad-bodied Chaser’ got a full mark. The results are in, and this week Mike from Alittlebitoutoffocus triumphed with 15/15, with Fran and Bobby Freelove with 12.5/15 and Clare with 11/15, a sterling effort from everybody! Well done, and let’s see what pops up on Saturday….

What animal is shown in each of these photos?

1) Toadspawn from Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

2) Water hog louse (Asellus aquaticus)

3) Great Ramshorn Snail (Planobarius corneus)

4.Smooth newt (Triturus vulgaris)

5. Broad-bodied chaser (Libellula depressa) – Male

6) Pond Olive Mayfly (Cloeon dipterum)

7. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

8. Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

9.Great Diving Beetle (Dytiscus marginalis)

10.Whirligig Beetle (Gyrinus substriatus)

11.Common pondskater (Notonecta glauca)

12. Lesser Water Boatman (Corixa punctata)

13. Mosquito larvae (Culex pipiens)

14.Red Water Mite (Eylais sp.)

15.Water Flea (Daphnia sp.)

Photo Credits

Photo One from https://biodynamicgardening.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/toad-spawn.jpg

Photo Two by AnemoneProjectors, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Three by Аимаина хикари, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Four by I, Anevrisme, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Five by By Charles J. Sharp – Own work, from Sharp Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38292525

Photo Six by Bj.schoenmakers, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Seven by  © Copyright Mike Pennington and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Photo Eight by By Charles J. Sharp – Own work, from Sharp Photography, sharpphotography, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42069905

Photo Nine by Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Ten by James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Eleven by James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Twelve by AnemoneProjectors, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Thirteen by (Image: James Gathany, CDC), CC BY 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Fourteen by Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Fifteen by Dieter Ebert, Basel, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Borage (Title Photo)

Dear Readers, what a sterling week this was, with Claire, Anne, FEARN and Fran and Bobby Freelove all getting 15 out of 15. Well done everybody!

1)I. Potato

2)H. Redcurrant

3)G. Brazil nut

4)E. Cabbage

5) J Jerusalem Artichoke

6)A. Banana

7)B. Parsnip

8)M. Hazel Nut

9)L. Cherry

10)O. Quince

11)N. Pumpkin

12)C. Strawberry

13)D. Tomato

14)F. Fennel

15)K. Cashew Nut

Borage (Title Photo)

No, not those flowers that you find scattered all over your salad in posh restaurants (remember them)? This week, I want you to identify some edibles by their flowers. Not quite as simple as you’d think, lovely people! Though the gardeners out there will have a head start. Simply match the picture of the flower to an item from the list of fruit and vegetables below.

As usual, you have till 5 p.m. on Thursday 18th February to get your answers in the comments, and as usual I will unapprove any answers as soon as I see them, so that they will disappear. However, I am not always as quick as I could be, and I’d advise you to write your answers down first if you think you might be influenced by speedy people.

Onwards! Simply match the edible from the list below to the photo. So, if you think photo 1 shows a banana flower, your answer is 1) A)

Edibles

A. Banana

B. Parsnip

C. Strawberry

D. Tomato

E. Cabbage

F. Fennel

G. Brazil nut

H. Redcurrant

I. Potato

j. Jerusalem Artichoke

K. Cashew Nut

L. Cherry

M. Hazel Nut

N. Pumpkin

O. Quince

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

12)

13)

14)

15)

Silver-washed fritillary (Argynis paphia) (Title Photo)

Dear Readers, this one was obviously too easy 🙂 or possibly you are all getting more brilliant, because Mike from Alittlebitoutoffocus, Anne, and Fran and Bobby Freelove all got 30 out of 30. The one where there was a little bit of difference was the silver langur, but as it’s also known as the silver leaf monkey I am happy to allow it.  The sulphur beetle also has a couple of common names, so again I’ve allowed a little bit of variation. Well done everyone! Let’s see what Saturday brings :-).

1) Gold – Golden Lion Tamarin

2) Copper – Small Copper butterfly

3) Silver – Silver Dollar fish

4) Iron – Cast Iron plant (Aspidistra)

5) Iron – Ironweed

6) Gold – Goldenrod

7) Gold – Goldcrest

8) Neon – Neon tetras

9) Sulphur – Sulphur Beetle

10) Sulphur – Sulphur-crested cockatoo

11) Silver Langur

12) Copper – Copper Beech

13) Silver – Silver Birch

14) Gold – Asian Golden Cat

15) Gold – Golden Eagle.

Photo Credits

Title photo by Charles James Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo One by Eric Kilby from Somerville, MA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Two by Zeynel Cebeci, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Three by By Greg Hume – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61605332

Photo Four by User:Nino Barbieri, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Five by By Greg Hume – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34913396

Photo Six by liz west, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Seven by gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Eight by Tan Meng Yoe at English Wikipedia, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Nine by © Hans Hillewaert

Photo Ten by Julian Berry, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Eleven by Robert Jenssen, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Twelve By RhinoMind – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58445949

Photo Thirteen by Jim Champion / Silver birch on the edge of Brinken Wood, New Forest

Photo Fourteen by Karen Stout, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo Fifteen By Rocky – Flickr, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2947840

Silver-washed fritillary (Argynis paphia) (Title Photo)

Dear Readers, when it comes to naming animals and plants, we often look to the elements, particularly substances such gold or silver. Our quiz this week is to match the photo to the element – one point for a correct match, another for the name. To make things harder, I will give you a list of elements, but some of them will be used several times (all of them will be used at least once). So, let’s see how you get on!

You will get one mark for the correct element, and another if you can name the animal or plant, so 30 marks are on offer in total.

So, if you think the animal in photo 1 is an iron monkey, your answer is 1) Iron/Iron Monkey.

As usual, as soon as I spot someone has answered, I will let you know and unapprove the post so that others aren’t influenced by what you’ve said. However, I won’t always spot that someone has responded, so if I were you I’d write my answers down first.

You have until 5 p.m. UK time on Thursday 4th February to pop your answers in the comments, and I’ll let you know the answers, and how you did, on Friday 5th February. Simples!

Have fun!

The Elements

Gold

Silver

Copper

Iron

Neon

Sulphur

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

12)

13)

14)

15)

Photo One

Dear Readers, well, as I expected, this was complicated! I’ve been through your answers, and the ones that were in my mind when I designed the quiz are in black. The ones in red are ones that you’ve suggested that I’m going to allow as legitimate. Please feel free to argue for any that I’ve disallowed if you think I’m being mean :-). 

The scoring scheme is one mark for getting a correct ‘odd one out’, and a second mark for a good reason. Some of you have suggested multiple reasons, but I’m only giving 2 marks for each answer, so the quiz is out of a total of 20. On that basis, FEARN is the clear winner this week, with 20 out of 20, closely followed by Mike at Alittlebitoutoffocus with 16 out of 20, Fran and Bobby Freelove, Anne and Claire with 14 out of 20 and Brigid with 11 out of 20. Well done to all of you, and thank you for playing! Let’s see what I can dream up for this week.

What is the Odd One Out?

1. Large Emerald, Yellow Underwing, Oak Beauty, Marbled White? The Marbled White is a butterfly, all the rest are moths.
2. Cedar of Lebanon, Swamp Cypress, Juniper, Scots Pine? Only the Swamp Cypress is deciduous, the others keep their leaves through the winter
3. Greater Burdock, Cornflower, Star of Bethlehem, Dandelion? The Star of Bethlehem is not a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) – in fact it’s a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). I’m also going to allow that it’s the only one that grows from a bulb.
4. Willow Warbler, Fieldfare, Waxwing, Brambling? The Willow Warbler is the only spring migrant, all the rest are winter migrants to the UK. Several people mentioned the Waxwing as being the only one that doesn’t migrate long-distance, however one was recently ringed in Aberdeen and found in eastern Siberia, 3714 kms away, so I’m going to disallow it (though feel free to argue)
5. Fly Agaric, Destroying Angel, Panther Cap, Amethyst Deceiver? In spite of its name, the Amethyst Deceiver is edible, while the other three are poisonous.
6. Slow Worm, Grass Snake, Smooth Snake, Adder? The Slow Worm is actually a legless lizard, while the others are reptiles. Also, the adder is the only animal that’s venomous to humans, so I’ve accepted that as well. 
7. Alpine Chough, Raven, Ring Ouzel, Jackdaw? The ring ouzel is a thrush, the others are members of the crow family. 
8. Ivy Bee, Hairy-Footed Flower Bee, Shrill Carder Bee, Tawny Mining Bee? The Shrill Carder bee is a bumblebee, the others are solitary bees. I am also going to allow that the Hairy-Footed Flower Bee is the only one that doesn’t normally nest underground, preferring to nest in walls. 
9. Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone, Winter Aconite, Meadow Buttercup. All of these plants are in the buttercup family (Ranunculaeae) but the Meadow  Buttercup is the only one that is not a spring ephemeral (i.e. it doesn’t pop up when there’s no leaf cover and then disappear). I’ve also allowed that it’s the only one with white flowers. And I think I’m going to allow that the Meadow Buttercup is the only one that doesn’t have a bulb.
10. Chinese Water Deer, Fallow Deer, Roe Deer, Reeve’s Muntjac. The Roe Deer is the only one that’s native, all the others are introductions (the Fallow Deer being brought by the Romans). I’ve also allowed Chinese Water Deer, as the only one that doesn’t shed its antlers (as it doesn’t actually have any).

Photo One

Dear Readers, after the success of last week’s quiz I wanted to try out something else new. Can you tell me which of the items in each of these lists is the odd one out? I will give one point for the correct selection, and another point for the correct reason. Plus, if you can persuade me that there is a different ‘odd one out’ from the one I’ve chosen I will probably give you a mark for that too. In short, I am making life difficult for myself, as usual.

I will unapprove answers when I see them in the comments, so that they don’t influence later posters, but I would still write your answers down on a piece of paper first if I was you. The dreaded Year End is still on and so I am not paying quite as much attention to you lovely people as I would like.

All answers submitted by 5 p.m. UK time on Thursday 28th January please, answers will be revealed on Friday 29th January.

Have fun!

What is the Odd One Out?

1. Large Emerald, Yellow Underwing, Oak Beauty, Marbled White?
2. Cedar of Lebanon, Swamp Cypress, Juniper, Scots Pine?
3. Greater Burdock, Cornflower, Star of Bethlehem, Dandelion?
4. Willow Warbler, Fieldfare, Waxwing, Brambling?
5. Fly Agaric, Destroying Angel, Panther Cap, Amethyst Deceiver?
6. Slow Worm, Grass Snake, Smooth Snake, Adder?
7. Alpine Chough, Raven, Ring Ouzel, Jackdaw?
8. Ivy Bee, Hairy-Footed Flower Bee, Shrill Carder Bee, Tawny Mining Bee?
9. Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone, Winter Aconite, Meadow Buttercup
10. Chinese Water Deer, Fallow Deer, Roe Deer, Reeve’s Muntjac.

Dear Readers, what a splendid turn out for this week’s quiz, I shall have to do musical ones more often. If you remember I was giving one mark for the correct plant, with another mark for the song, and yet another for an artist who had actually sung the song. So, Liz, Claire, Jacqueline Jacques, Mike, FEARN, Anne and Fran and Bobby Freelove all got the correct plants. Claire, Mike and Fran and Bobby all also got the song title and named people who’d actually sung the songs, so they all win this week with 30 out of 30. I docked half a point from FEARN (giving 29.5 out of because although Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein) did write Edelweiss, I couldn’t find a recording of him actually singing it, but FEARN, if you can I will reinstate your half point. Anne got 29 out of 30 because I couldn’t find a recording of The Temptations singing ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’, but if you can again I will reinstate your mark! Thanks to all of you for having a bash.

The answers are below, with a link to the song. I have checked out the artists that each of you mentioned and have given you an extra mark where I could find a cover version by the person.

Lyrics

1. F. Daisy. ‘Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer Do (A Bicycle Made For Two)

The version below is by Dinah Shore, but it’s a traditional folk song, so I’m sure there are lots of other versions about.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=N_7aC7Csck8&list=RDAMVMN_7aC7Csck8

2. H. Rose. ‘I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden)

Version by Lynn Anderson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7cqwqcolqk

3. I. Build Me Up Buttercup

Original version by The Foundations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvluBVhfGcw

4.J. Edelweiss

Originally from The Sound of Music, sung by Bill Lee and Charmian Carr, this was the last song written by Rodgers and Hammerstein together There are also versions out there by Julie Andrews, André Rieu and of course Vince Hill, who got to number three in the charts (remember them?) in 1967.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bL2BCiFkTk

5.D – Tulip – ‘Tip Toe Through the Tulips’.  The inimitable Tiny Tim. Good lord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9TtUjZVTJQ

6. B  Lilac – ‘Lilac Wine’ I’m eschewing the traditional rather overheated  Elkie Brooks version for this one by Nina Simone, which actually gives me goosebumps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT38CIgRse4

7.E. Poison Ivy – ‘Poison Ivy’. Here’s the original by The Coasters. If this doesn’t have your toe tapping I give up. The Rolling Stones also did a pretty fine version, but for me The Coasters are just tighter. See what you think.

Coasters Version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRfRITVdz4k

Rolling Stones Version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9rTWPsJh6o

8.C. Grape – ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’. This has got to be Marvin Gaye for me, though Gladys Knight and the Pips knocked up a pretty good version. There’s one by Credence Clearwater Revival as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zp4NbXE0_o

9. A. Blackberry – ‘Blackberry Way’ by The Move (and also by Cheap Trick). I loved The Move when I was growing up – who can forget ‘Flowers in the Rain’ or ‘Fire Brigade’? Well, lots of people clearly. When I think about it, I think they basically had one song, but at least it was a good ‘un.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELRHD4UCo74

10. G. Raspberry – ‘Raspberry Beret’ by Prince and The Revolution. Oh lord, how much I loved Prince. What with him and David Bowie being gone it’s hardly worth listening to the radio anymore (I jest, obviously).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=l7vRSu_wsNc&list=PLvu8wCghVq0583O2tJ1YWQj1ZQligqnDa&index=8&t=0s

And because I love Prince so much, here’s the link to ‘You Got The Look’, possibly Sheena Easton’s proudest moment 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jCuroTbqBI&list=PLvu8wCghVq0583O2tJ1YWQj1ZQligqnDa&index=16

Dear Readers, after the high culture of last week here’s something a bit more tuneful. All you need to do is match the plant to the lyrics from the (hopefully) popular song below. Normally I would knock up some photos, but as it’s year end at work (and some of you will know what that means!) I am just going to give you 10 plants and 10 lyrics, and all you have to do is match one to t’other. An extra mark for the full name of the song (or thereabouts)  and a discretionary mark if you can name the singer/band (though some of these are ancient, rather like me, and will therefore have been knocked up by multiple folk).

So, if you think that lyric 1 is about blackberry, your answer is 1/A

Now, if I spot that you have answered in the comments (and some of you are very very quick) I will send you a quick message and then unapprove your answer so that it doesn’t influence anyone else. However, if you think you might be influenced I would be inclined to write them down on a piece of paper first.

Answers on Friday next week, so get your ideas in by 5 p.m. UK time on Thursday 21st January if you want to be marked.

Lyrics

1. ‘And you’ll look sweet, upon the seat, of a bicycle made for two’

2. ‘I beg your pardon…’

3.  ‘And then worst of all (worst of all)

You never call baby when you say you will (say you will)

   4. ‘Small and white, clean and bright,

You look happy to greet me’

   5. ‘Tiptoe, through the window,

By the window, that’s where I’ll be’

   6.  I lost myself on a cool damp night
I gave myself in that misty light
Was hypnotized by a strange delight.

7.You gonna need an ocean of calamine lotion
You’ll be scratchin’ like a hound
The minute you start to mess around

8. Ooh, I bet you’re wonderin’ how I knew
‘Bout your plans to make me blue

9. Absolutely going down the drain
It’s a terrible day
Up with a knock
Silly girl I don’t know what to say
She was running away

10. I was working part time in a five-and-dime
My boss was Mr. McGee
He told me several times that he didn’t like my kind
‘Cause I was a bit too leisurely

Seems that I was busy doing something close to nothing
But different than the day before
That’s when I saw her, ooh, I saw her
She walked in through the out door, out door

Plants

A. Blackberry

B. Lilac

C. Grape

D. Tulip

E. Poison Ivy

F. Daisy

G. Raspberry

H. Rose

I. Buttercup

J. Edelweiss

Onwards! Make me proud!