Eye on Nature: Your notes and queries for Ethna Viney

Alien leaf beetle, yellow underwing moth, common crab spider and caterpillars

I saw this ladybird-type insect at Newcastle, Co Wicklow. It had a distinctive chestnut colour in two shades, and its legs and underside were bright golden.

Paddy Demery, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow

It is an invasive alien leaf beetle Paropsisterna selmani, which feeds on the leaves of eucalyptus trees. It has been reported from the forests of Cork and Kerry, but this is the first time it has been seen in Wicklow.

Along the banks of the Grand Canal near Rhode Bridge, council workers were dredging on each side. We saw many shells like this embedded in the mud.

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Margaret Watchorn, Blackrock, Co Dublin

They are freshwater swan mussel shells.

This is a photograph of a moth I found in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, early in September.

Anne Reid, Castleknock, Dublin 15

It was the large yellow underwing, which flies at this time of year.

Please identify this species of spider.

John Walsh, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Waterford

It is the common crab spider.

We found about 20 of these on one branch of a lime tree.

Helen Bourke, Thurles, Co Tipperary

It is the caterpillar of the buff-tip moth, which feeds on lime tree leaves.

I watched about 14 thrushes, blackbirds and mistle thrushes feeding on windfalls and bugs on our back lawn. They were joined by four usually shy, jewelled jays in a flash of colour from the trees.

Paul Grant, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28F978, or by email at : viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address