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Snow fleas and giant aphids

Giant willow aphids by John Hodson

Who said that all insects are tucked up somewhere warm and cosy for winter...

Winter can be a bit like Marmite (other yeast extracts are available) can't it? There are those of us who love it and those of us who really aren't keen on the short days and the cold. Personally, I love bright winter days when I can wrap up warm and watch my breath disappear into the frosty air. Yes, it can sometimes be hard to motivate yourself to head outside when you're all snug indoors but it's well worth making the effort. As well pondering the wonders of our world as you gaze up through hoar-frosted trees, it's easier to spot birds moving through the leafless landscape. 

Even better, then, when you come across unexpected wildlife in the form of insects that you'd have thought would be long tucked up in a nook or cranny somewhere.

Snow flea sitting on moss by Rosemary Winnall

Snow flea by Rosemary Winnall

Take the snow flea, for example. These tiny creatures, just a few millimetres long, live in moss and can (sometimes) be spotted at this time of year. Don’t let the name put you off – they’re not fleas but have aquired their name because, being wingless, they move about by jumping and crawling. Why are they wingless? It takes lots of energy to fly so by doing away with their wings, they're able to survive colder temperatures. We don't know a huge amount about these strange creatures with a long downward-pointing ‘beak’ but we think that they feed on insects that are killed by the cold.  They’re found in the Wyre Forest and on the Malvern Hills so if you're up for a challenge this winter, perhaps this could be it?

A mass of giant willow aphids on a tree trunk by Wendy Carter

Giant willow aphids by Wendy Carter

Perhaps you fancy your challenges to be a little more at eye level so while you're out on a wintery walk, why not check the branches of willow trees for giant willow aphids? Unlike the tiny aphids you may find in your garden, these are behemoths measuring 5-6mm with a metallic sheen and a shark’s fin-like projection on their backs.  If you like a mystery, here's one of the best.  No-one, for example, has ever found a male – the females produce live young that are genetically identical (clones).  Perhaps even more bizarrely, no-one knows where they go for much of the year; they’re found on willows during winter and no-one has ever seen one between April and July!  They can be found in large numbers but, even though they suck the sap of the tree they’re found on, they don’t seem to damage the trees at all.

Whether you prefer your winter to be vast stark landscapes or you're keen to appreciate the beauty of the overlooked and hidden nature of winter, pull on those boots, dig out that scarf and head out for an adventure.

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