Most of the time, I seem to find most of my interesting insects in, or around, the pool.
Yesterday I rescued what I thought was a moth and, before I put it on a plant, gave it a quick overview. Hmm - not what I had expected at all - quite a bold tigerish banding and very furry antlers, plus long tail. Strange enough for me to make a quick sketch of it when I got inside - not having my camera during the rescue.
I looked in the moths part of my book, but to no avail. The body was quite "ant-lion"-like, but the wings were not.
When I later returned with the phone to take a picture, it had gone.
I searched on the web and turned up a picture of a mayfly, which was the closest insect in size and colour. Apparently they are around throughout the summer months, not just in May. The female dies as it lays it eggs, before or after she throws herself (bit of poetic licence there) to her death in the flowing stream - or, in this case, my pool.
Not totally convinced as mayflies aren´t even listed in my Mediterranean Wildlife book but are at least listed in one of my insect identifier website as "Efímera" in spanish.
Aptly named, as they reputedly only live for a day.
... and just to be on the safe side, I added another tablet and increased the level of chlorine powder in the pool, so that their day might be even shorter.
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