Now that spring is here, what should I be looking out for in the countryside

Q.� Is it too early to see any insects

A.� No both the Orange-tip butterfly and oil beetle are busy at this time of year.

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The Orange-tip butterfly hatches in April, after its long winter. Look out for mottles green and white wings, but pay close attention because these colourings make excellent camouflage in dappled sunlight.

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Oil beetles have a glossy blue sheen, bloated abdomen and small wing cases. The females are busy around this time of year laying large numbers of eggs in the soil.

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Q.� Large numbers

A.� Yes the parasitic oil beetle has a rather precarious route to adulthood and not many make it, so large numbers of eggs are needed to ensure the species survives.

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Q.� How precarious

A.� Very: each young insect crawls up a flower stem and hides among the petals until a bee lands to gather pollen. The larva then grabs hold of the bee's legs in an attempt to be smuggled into the hive, where it tucks into the honey.

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Q.� Other than frog and toad spawn, is there anything interesting in rivers at the moment

A.� Yes, have a look out for spawning brook lampreys. If you're very lucky you might catch a glimpse of these ancient fish sucking up stones to make shallow trenches in which to deposit their eggs.

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Also keep an eye out for herons, these birds find lampreys easy prey and may lead you to breeding sites.

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Q.� Are there any noteworthy fungi to look out for

A.� Yes, there are a few spring fruiting species that are very tasty. Morchella esculenta and Morchella vulgaris can be found in damp, sandy soil in woodlands and along riverbanks, frequently in places where the soil has recently been disturbed.

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Obviously always make sure you have correctly identified fungi before picking and eating them.

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Q.� What about plants

A.� Look out for the pale yellow reproductive shoots of the field horsetail. On warm April days, these release thousands of spores with distinctive wispy threads attached. These threads spread out in the dry weather to increase the spore's surface area, maximising its chances of successful reproduction.

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Is there something in the countryside that you'd like some advice about spotting Click here to ask The AnswerBank.

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by Lisa Cardy