Garden villains are snared by royalty

Published on 23/06/2012 00:00

The Prince of Wales went bug-hunting in his back garden yesterday, and caught some of the villains of the insect world.

Armed with a net, Charles used the “sweep and flick” technique to snare a host of tiny creatures in the grounds of Clarence House in London.

Dr Luke Tilley, an entomologist from York University, made Charles laugh when he gestured at the net and said: “A lot of entomologists put it on their heads to stop the insects escaping.”

At the bottom of the trap, the Prince was shown a robber fly, which lies in wait for its prey; a parasitic wasp; and a more benign oak bush cricket.

Charles had ventured into his organic garden to launch National Insect Week, which starts on Monday, to encourage people to learn more about the insects in their gardens.