Eye on Nature

I noticed a foraging bumble bee with a number of parasites on it.
Ruary Rudd
Waterville, Co Kerry

Looking at the photograph you sent, they are Parasitellus mites, which live in the nests of bumble bees and feed on wax and other detritus. The bees merely carry them from nest to nest.

I saw a cuckoo being mobbed by two small birds, possibly meadow pipits. It never occurred to me that the victims of cuckoos would seek to drive them off.
Tom Wilmot
Ballyshannon, Co Donegal

Meadow pipits drive off the cuckoo if they find her near their nest.

Years ago I planted wild cowslips and primroses in my garden. Now, instead of bells, the cowslips have a primrose head.
Mary Pratt
Buncrana, Co Donegal

Cowslips hybridise with primroses, polyanthus and other primulas, as we found in our garden. The primrose-cowslip hybrids are called false oxlips. Darwin knew about it.

Mark Hyland sent a photograph of a false widow spider that he found in Co Wicklow.

Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address