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It certainly looks like it but not my group - best to email the County Recorder for Odonata Ted Benton (see county recorder page County Recorders)

This huge dragonfly visited my new pond yesterday. I have had real trouble identifying it though. The nearest in looks is the Southern Aeshna. Does anyone know better?

I agree it seems the most likely explanation that the caterpillars have shed their skins and these are what the photograph shows. British ladybird larvae certainly wouldn't cause this kind of damage or prey on caterpillars, and I would have thought it very unlikely harlequin ladybirds or their larvae could attack large caterpillars, even if other food sources are used up.

Hi Martyn I might be wrong but the photo looks to me like they have shed their skins as they've grown and what you are seeing is the old skins. Maybe somebody else could comment? Grant

I have just seen my first Humming-bird Hawk-moth in my Mum's garden in Rochford Essex. When on holiday in Greece and Spain we see large numbers of these day flying moths, but this is the first for three years in Essex. Anybody else seen them?

Grant Maton Corporate Communications Officer Essex Wildlife Trust 07887 763 678 ewt@gmaton.com

I have had several large colonies of peacock butterfly caterpillars on my allotment this summer, but at least two of the colonies (one only a handful the other about 30+) have been attacked by something leaving behind a mass of broken corpses that look as though they have been sucked dry in parts. In both instances there have been several ladybird larvae on the same patch of nettles - could they be causing this?  Here is a photo of the damage: