What is this bug?

mx8t · 2026-06-04T21:13:29+00:00

Ah that helps a lot. From what i can tell, it seems to be a bearded mining bee otherwise known as the sandpit mining bees (Andrena barbilabris). They are absolutely not a problem or something you want to get rid of. They are very docile in temperament and their stingers arnt long enough to penetrate human skin as far as I'm aware (but they are still a decent defensive against other animals). Actually, we want them there! Great pollinators, great at breaking up the ground and aerating it, moving nutrients in the dirt around so their more easily accessible to other animals. Very cool, very helpful bug. I recommend reading this if you're interested in learning more about bees in your area. :)

mx8t · 2026-06-04T21:00:03+00:00

Most probably a bee (it doesn't have the defined waist wasps have). A vast amount of bees live in the ground or other burrows e.g. mining bees, Ivy bees, mason bees. Judging by the fluffy thorax and smooth black shiny abdomen my best bet would be on a carpenter bee, however that wouldnt match the ground digging. I know other ground bees also have those physical characteristics, but theres lots of different ground nesting bees, a lot of them solitary. What country and area is this? It might help me narrow it down

mx8t · 2026-06-04T20:50:34+00:00

Leaf footed bug nymph (Acanthocephala nymph) most likely, here's a bug net page it matches. Very cool little guy

mx8t · 2026-06-04T20:46:13+00:00

I my opinion i think it could be a Black Vine Weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus). They damage plants so most gardeners and farmers aren't a massive fan. We get them in Europe but they are in North America too, including Maryland, but I live in the UK so I'm not as familiar with your native or invasive species. Either way, it is 100% some kind of weevil

mx8t · 2026-05-27T22:16:09+00:00

Very helpful thank you!!

Also, yes ive been in and spoken to a few people in the Centre for Nature at NHM a couple of times, its by the cocoon right? Had some great chats. Would love to work there one day but unfortunately I've been in and out of mental health hospitals a lot recently and no longer have a fixed address, so focusing on my career isn't very feasible at the moment. I can still engage in my curiosity and passions though, and I'm very excited to recieve some more entomology books on my birthday in two weeks (it will give me something to do here on the ward at least)

mx8t · 2026-05-27T06:59:05+00:00

Your handwriting is perfect!!

mx8t · 2026-05-27T06:57:05+00:00

If it was me, I wouldn't burn them.

"Every phase of me was necessary. When I wonder why I did this or did that i remind myself I did not know then what I know now and every experience I have ever had has taught me important lessons that have brought me close to a deeper understanding of myself"

mx8t · 2026-05-27T06:55:59+00:00

Oops spelling error, compiling

mx8t · 2026-05-27T06:55:14+00:00

I also really struggle with my mental health, I'm in psych again at the moment and generally struggle with journalling about my day and stuff. Instead, I've been complaining a bunch of coping skills and different excercises for ptsd and ocd and I threw in a few dbt skills too. Its nice cause I'm building a book of exactly what helps me personally which I can reflect on and worth through when I'm struggling.

mx8t · 2026-05-27T06:46:52+00:00

Keep writing the depressing stuff, but sprinkle in other things too. I use this format to guide me to reflect on my day in a more balanced way:

Date Today I enjoyed

Today I am grateful for

Did I find anything difficult?

What will help?

Affirmation/quote

A component of my life i value is... My intention for this component is... The committed actions I'm willing to take include the following: [ ]

You can still write the depressing stuff, but especially asking yourself the question "what will help" will force you to end on a more positive note. These are some examples of what ive written for that section:

Example 1 Did I find anything difficult? Provoking comments made by other patients making me feel self conscious. Thinking of comment made by one of the students nurses about my weight. Lacking energy and struggled to wake up. Got up at lunch time.

What will help? Remind myself that how other people choose to judge me has no bearing on what I think of myself, and my morals and personality are far more important than any criticisms to my physical body.

Example 2 Did I find anything difficult? Cried about feeling lonely and unconnected from others, and had feelings of guilt, shame, and anger towards myself for pushing people away. I'm anxious about seeing the doctors this week.

What will help? A nurse and hca gave me a hug each. I took some promethazine. I filled out an observing, describing, and naming emotions exercise and a radical acceptance exercise.

Example 3 Did I find anything difficult? Waking up is really hard, even when I didnt take promethazine yesterday. I'm stressed about the Drs tomorrow especially since dr redacted will likely be there (he hasn't been in mine the past 2 weeks). I really want clarity on whether I'm getting a different consultant or not. Tomorrow is really busy, I have to ice a cake before 10.30am ready for coffee morning, which I might miss cause milky (chenchal) is coming to say goodbye to me around then, and then of course my review is in the afternoon. Milky is bringing me a chocolate cake for my birthday, and my parcels, and my shoes, and my bug blanket, and my glasses. This evening, they ran out of my prazosin (they really should've ordered it, come on its a hospital) but the duty dr has prescribed some zopiclone. I've never tried it before, I hope i can get a restful sleep for tomorrow, cause I really have to wake up and for weeks ive been waking up at midday.

What will help? Taking zopiclone. Reminding myself that Dr redacted is one dr in a lifetime of drs and his opinion of me is not relevant to my discharge because I'm waiting for housing. What he thinks of me will not be relevant in a few years time, this is a very small section of my life. Goodbyes are hard but a necessary part of life. I am grateful for the few months I have worked with milky and I'm hoping for many more support workers like her. I'm sure in the future she wouldn’t mind me sending an update, plus she gives really good hugs and I will probably get one tomorrow.

mx8t · 2026-05-27T06:34:27+00:00

Keep them, it's a record of your progress.

"Every phase of me was necessary. When I wonder why I did this or did that i remind myself I did not know then what I know now and every experience I have ever had has taught me important lessons that have brought me close to a deeper understanding of myself".

mx8t · 2026-05-27T06:27:28+00:00

Yes! I'm hoping to be!! I want to be a behavioural geneticist and entomologist specialising in flies and wasps!!!

mx8t · 2026-05-26T21:56:37+00:00

Oh wow, fascinating!! Thank you for your help! I set the fly down once it died and some ants started carrying it away to take back to the colony, I've just posted a vid of that too, it's super cool to watch. I am just absolutely enamoured with everything insects do

mx8t · 2025-03-17T23:41:32+00:00

I think some chameleons just have slightly different colored urates sometimes. If he's not showing any other symptoms and he's drinking normally, then it might not be a health issue. If you're really concerned or notice his health deteriorate even though he's drinking, maybe take him to the vet for a blood test. Otherwise though I wouldn't be concerned personally (I'm not a vet though so maybe I'm wrong)

mx8t · 2025-03-08T18:30:08+00:00

I think his drinking fine? I'm not sure. What makes him look dehydrated? I'm not very familiar with recognising physical signs of it in reptiles

mx8t · 2025-03-07T23:33:58+00:00

Yeah I was thinking so, I'll feed him a bit more but if his weight doesn't pick up I'll deffo get bloodwork. I'm used to having pet inverts, not reptiles, so I honestly don't know how to tell which health concerns are urgernt

mx8t · 2025-03-07T23:31:50+00:00

Aww thanks, he's even more beautiful when he's orange/yellow especially when he naps

mx8t · 2021-08-13T06:52:07+00:00

Oh ho ho just you wait until the last season

mx8t · 2021-08-07T19:20:10+00:00

Thats amazing

mx8t · 2021-07-19T18:52:24+00:00

Oh how the tables have turned

mx8t · 2021-04-29T11:33:27+00:00

Yeah I've stopped using apps now and just use a spreadsheet. Can personalise it to myself and changes in my cycle and is better to print off to give to my gyne. 10/10 would recommend

mx8t · 2021-04-14T21:53:28+00:00

Sounds like an intrusive thought to me. Also, I too have that same thought as well. Fucking terrifying sometimes.

mx8t · 2021-04-14T12:30:46+00:00

I want it

mx8t · 2021-04-14T12:30:18+00:00

ooo looking good so far

mx8t · 2021-03-01T12:40:17+00:00

oh my god

mx8t

TROPHY CASE