Mediterranean Gardening France: Gardening for Wildlife

These 'One Garden's Wildlife' pages illustrate the great variety of wildlife that can be seen in a single garden if you do the right things. All of the species shown here have been seen in or near Michèle Bailey's garden in Drôme Provençale and (except where otherwise stated), the images were taken there. Although close to the main transport axes of the Rhône valley, the garden lies in a secluded area of small scale mixed agriculture where there are few houses and (farming apart) little human activity. It is about 3,500 sq.m. in size, half of which is an orchard where the vegetation between the trees is allowed to grow wild and only mowed once a year in December.

What to say about insects? Nobody knows exactly how many there are – or even how many species. What we do know is that they outnumber us and even outweigh us. Much of what goes on in the insect world is best not talked about (look up how ichneumon wasps raise their young, for instance) but the fact remains that the most abundant form of wildlife in a garden will be insects and other invertebrates such as spiders. Taking the trouble to look for them will be a rewarding experience, not just because of their sheer quantity and diversity but also because of the surprising behaviour which can sometimes be observed. We once watched two wasps working to free a third which had been trapped in a spider's web. For twenty minutes, they painstakingly cut through the silk of the web while its owner looked on in a corner, not daring to intervene.

Why do spiders get such a bad press? Yes, their webs can be unsightly inside a house but both the web and the spider can easily be removed (see box below) and they do a great job in keeping the insect population within reasonable bounds. Spiders come in all shapes and sizes; some of them are extremely beautiful. Not all spiders build webs; some of them are hunters with the ability to leap large distances.

Below you will find two slide shows of some of the species that we have seen in our garden (and house!).

Insects

Just large enough for one grub.
As its French name suggests, an Asian insect introduced into Europe to control aphids (with the usual negative consequences for indigenous species)
Often, insect coloration is used for defensive purposes. Aggressive colours (aposematic coloration) warns off predators, muted colours (cryptic coloration) act as disguise. This bug uses both. As summer progresses, the aposematic red/black stripes give way to cryptic orange/black (see inset at right)
Largest wasp in Europe (40-60mm) but harmless - unless you're a rhinoceros beetle larva.
The commonest local wasp in our region. This one is seen taking a piece of ham back to its nest.
Also available in beige
Enjoying a meal of cherries
Useful in ponds as they eat mosquito larvae
More attractive than the plain green adult
Only the male (below) has the swollen thighs of its name in English
So called because of its scraping of hair from the leaves of plants such as Stachys byzantina. 'Manicatum' is an apt name: the males are highly territorial and polygynous, the females are polyandrous - never a dull moment.

Spiders

Commonly known as the Wasp Spider
An arachnide but not a spider - a harvestman

REMOVING UNWELCOME GUESTS

The 'Critter Catcher' (patent pending)

Insects are all very well in the garden but most the time you don't really want them in the house. The traditional ways of getting rid of them (a rolled up newspaper or a fly spray) have their drawbacks. The first usually leaves unsightly marks on the wall (or wherever) and the second releases noxious chemicals into the air. Both involve unnecessary violence. Sometimes, for example with butterflies or moths, you may wish the intruder no harm but would like to escort it safely from the premises. Enter the 'Critter Catcher'.

This consists of a white translucent plastic box with a side of about 10 cm and an A4 piece of moderately stiff cardboard. Place the box carefully over the insect to be removed and then slide the cardboard carefully under the box. Take the box outside and release the insect. In extremis, you can use any receptacle such as a cup or a glass but the translucent plastic box works best as it will not break if dropped and, if used carefully, will not be seen by even the most alert insects (flies) until it is too late. Larger versions can be used to remove small rodents or even birds that have found their way inside.

Want to know more? There are over 100,000 insect species in Europe. No single book can hope to cover them all but Michael Chinnery's Insects of Britain & Western Europe provides good overall coverage of the most common species. It also has some pages on spiders and other arthropods.

Text & Photos: Ian Davis

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One Garden's Wildlife: Insects & Spiders

Insects

Spiders