Bristly Ox-Tongue

Bristly ox-tongue (Picris echioides).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-09-16.

Snipe Fly

A female snipe fly of species Rhagio tringarius (Diptera: Rhagionidae).

For my previous posts on snipe flies see here and here.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-07-16.

Grass Bug

A thin grass bug, probably a female Notostira elongata (Hemiptera: Miridae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-08-31.

Mayfly

Back in early May I was walking to the town centre with Zoe and, unusually for me, I had my camera with me (I rarely take it when I go into the town).  All along Kennetside there were lots these mayflies on the path, and we had to take care not to step on them.  I later identified them as Ephemera danica (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae). According to this page at the Ephemeroptera Recording Scheme, this species is distinguished from the similar E. vulgata and E.lineata by having large dark markings only on the last 3 abdominal segement.

Photo taken at Kennetside, Reading, UK, on 2009-05-04.

How To Repressurize Your Central Heating

Last week I noticed that the central heating pressure gauge on our gas boiler was low.  I had recently bled some of the radiators and had not realized the need to repressurize the system after doing so (see here for a good explanation).  However, although the boiler user instruction manual mentioned the need to repessurize, it did not give any details on how to do it.  I even looked at the installation manual, but that was rather forbidding with all its warnings about requiring competent, qualified engineers.  I was just about to phone for a plumber when it occurred to me to do a search for a solution on the web.  To my delight I found a Youtube video which explained exactly what I needed to do: "Filling Boiler Worcester Greenstar combi". Thank you Abbey Mead Heating!