Often underappreciated and overlooked, flies play important roles within ecosystems, including pollination and decomposition. With around 7,000 species of fly in the UK alone, they are much more varied than you might expect! Flies are distinguished by only having one pair of wings, with the second pair evolving into small structures called halteres, which help them balance during flight. 

Where to find them:  

1. UK: Flies are found in nearly every habitat, including urban areas, forests, wetlands and grasslands.  

2. Kent: At Ivy Hatch, one of our smallest reserves, over 55 fly species have been recorded in just one hectare of woodland. 

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Did you know that bumblebees use buzz pollination? They vibrate their bodies using their flight muscles to detach pollen from certain flowers, and therefore pollinating them. This is why bumblebees are so important for plants like tomatoes, aubergines and raspberries. They can fly at cooler temperatures and lower light levels than many other bee species, making them vital for early spring and late summer pollination.  

Where to find them:  

1. UK: Bumblebees can be found in gardens, meadows and woodlands across the UK. 

2. Kent: Bumblebees thrive in places like Marden Meadows. Old Park Hill and West Blean and Thornden Woods are also excellent spots.  

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Also known as the cabbage white butterfly, you can often see them fluttering around your gardens. Adult butterflies have taste sensors on their feet to help them find suitable host plants for laying eggs. Caterpillars hatch from the eggs, and later form a chrysalis (pupa) and metamorphose into an adult butterfly.  

Where to find them:  

1. UK: These butterflies are widespread in gardens, fields and hedgerows. 

2. Kent: Queendown Warren and Romney Marsh are both great sites for butterfly watching. They also flourish in wildflower meadows and gardens.  

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Ladybirds are nature’s pest control, feeding on aphids and other plant-eating insects. They’re a gardener’s best friend! There are 46 ladybird species found in the UK, and over 5,000 worldwide. Their characteristic bright red and black spot colouration on species like the Seven-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) serves as a warning to predators of their toxicity. They excrete a bitter liquid when under threat as a further defence mechanism. 

Where to find them:  

1. UK: ladybirds are found in gardens, hedgerows and forest edges. 

2. Kent: Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve hosts a wide range of ladybird species.  

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Dragonflies are ancient insects, with ancestors dating back over 300 million years. They have incredible flying capabilities thanks to their two pairs of intricately veined membranous wings. Unlike damselflies, the front and rear wing pairs are shaped differently. This allows dragonflies to hover, fly backwards and even reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour! Dragonflies are also voracious predators, feeding on mosquitoes, midges and other small insects.  

Where to find them:  

1. UK: Dragonflies are often seen near ponds, lakes and river across the UK.  

2. Kent: You can spot dragonflies at Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve and the wetlands at Oare Marshes and Ham Fen. 

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Ants are social insects, living in complex colonies with a strict division of labour among workers, and reproductive individuals. Some ant species can build massive underground nests that house millions of individuals. They communicate with each other through pheromones, leaving scent trails to guide other ants to food sources.  

Where to find them:  

1. UK: You can find ants nearly everywhere! 

2. Kent: Ants are everywhere, from gardens to woodlands like West Blean and Thornden Woods. Lydden Temple Ewell also houses diverse ant colonies.  

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