Re-engaging with fieldwork discipline after various family related escapades. Gradually building up some fluency in how to deal with plants and insects. There were more species on the carrot… including spider hunting wasps but figured that I should try to learn to draw one creature (the soldier beetle) and then build from there.

common soldier beetle on ragwort – allotment bristol – wax crayon – c. A3

common soldier beetle on ragwort – allotment bristol – wax crayon – c. A3

As ever the drawing is a good way of learning about the subject matter and I’m pretty sure the fly below is Eriothrix rufomaculata… and the beetle is a fat-thighed flower beetle but a female without the swollen, bandy, globe upper legs of the males…

soldier beetles, flower beetle and fly on ragwort – allotment bristol – wax crayon – c. A3

common soldier beetle on carrot – allotment bristol – wax crayon – c. A3