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Insects and Mammals

Many species of insect and mammals can be observed in your back garden, alternatively visit the Liffeyside Park, Pollardstown Fen, The Hill of Allen, Roseberry Bog or The Curragh are places where you can see many of the mammals listed below.

The river Liffey is home to many water birds and fish species, primarily the Liffey at Newbridge contains Pike, Trout and to a lesser extent Salmon. Please note to fish in the Liffey in this area a Licence is required, and is available from the North Kildare Trout & Salmon Anglers Association.

How many of the following have you seen?

Ant / Seangán: Ants are quite common, the black ant can set up home in your back garden generally under garden paving, the red ant will set up home in the soil, and the wood ant is more commonly found in woodland clearings. They can be a pest if they “invade” the home, but rather than using a pesticide try planting some mint where they enter the house, and this should discourage them.

Badger / Broc: The badger is one of our largest mammals, with its white head and two vertical black stripes from ears to below the nostrils, and grey body the badger is very easily recognisable. Adult badgers have a body length of approximately 1 metre. Badgers eat both plants and flesh (earthworms, snails, mice etc). Badgers live in large underground tunnels (sets), are very territorial, and nocturnal - coming out to feed at night.
Further information from: Badger-watch Ireland: www.badgerwatch.ie

Bat / Ialtóg: There are seven species of bat in Ireland and their main diet is insects, during winter Irish bats hibernate; they are mammals and are the only mammals capable of flight. By the way bats are not blind, nor or they a health hazard but they are a protected species, and it is an offence to intentionally kill, disturb, or handle bats without a licence. The seven species are: Pipistrelle bats, the long-eared bat, Leisler's bat, The Lesser horseshoe bat, and Daubenton’s bat. Natterer's bat and the Whiskered bat. Further information from: Bat Conservation Group

Beetles / Ciaróg: The black (or ground) beetle is another common insect, generally found under stones or rotting logs. Its diet consists of plant material and some smaller insects.

Brown Hare / Giorria: The Brown Hare is an introduced species, and is somewhat larger than the Irish hare, has longer ears and it is blackish in colour towards its tail. Hares have longer legs that rabbits. Their diet consists mainly of grasses and vegetation.

Bumble Bee / Beach fhiáin / Bumbóg: The Bumblebee is a fat, “furry” bee, larger than the honey bee, and generally builds a nest in a hole in the ground. The bumblebees colour pattern is black with yellow strips and it is a common sight during the summer.

Butterflies / Féileacán: There are approximately 32 species of butterfly in Ireland, plant a buddleia bush and watch the butterflies gather round it. For further information: www.irishbutterflies.com

Dragonfly / Snáthaid Mhór: Dragonflies are found at most permanent water sites, such as in the Town Park. The dragonfly can fly quite fast, and has two pairs of wings. Their diet consists of other insects, caught and consumed while in flight. While young the dragonfly nymphs can live in water pools for three years, however once the adult emerges from the pools they only live for a month.

Earthworm / Péist thalún: The common earthworm can be found everywhere, and comes to the surface of the lawn in the evenings and at night. The earthworm is most important as it aerates the soil, and digests dead leaves and plants in the garden.

Earwigs / Gailseach: The common earwig is to be found under dead leaves, garden stones and logs.

Fox / Madra rua / Sionnach: The Fox is quite common throughout Ireland and is found in all types of habitat including the urban environment; the fox has brownish red coat, white underside and bushy white tipped tail. Their diet consists of birds, frogs, rabbits and hares. The fox is generally nocturnal but can be seen during the day, they are very territorial.

Frog / frog, loscán: Frogs can survive equally well in fresh water or on land, however they return to the water to breed, and prefer wild unkempt “natural” grassy areas for foraging. They hibernate during the winter months; the common frog’s diet consists of slugs, worms, flies and insects, and is mainly to be found in ponds or boggy ground. The young are known as Tadpoles. Wild fires and pesticides are probably the biggest threat to our frog population. Frogs often find their way to garden ponds, where they can thrive if left undisturbed.
For Further information contact: www.ipcc.ie

Grey Squirrel / Iora liath:

Introduced mid-19th century, the Grey Squirrel is not native to Ireland. Prefers deciduous woodland, but can be seen in town parks, diet includes hazelnuts, acorns, tree bark, and will raid bird’s nests for eggs. Most active at dawn and dusk foraging and feeding on the ground, or in trees. Builds itself a drey made of twigs, usually fairly high in the tree.

Hedgehog / Gráinneog: The Hedgehog is greyish brown in colour with its coat of protective spines is very recognisable. They will easily scale a fence, and can swim if necessary. When threatened they curl into a ball, and can build their nest in amongst the garden debris, The Hedgehog’s diet includes slugs and snails.

Honey Bee / Beach mheala: Honeybees are social insects, living and working together in large groups, a colony (or hive) consists of the Queen Bee, Worker bees, and Drone Bees. The Queen and the Worker bees have stings, the Drone Bees have none, however bees only sting when they are under threat and the worker bee will die soon after it has used its sting. Honey is produced by the honeybee from the nectar of flowers, and the quality and taste of the honey depends on what type flowers were visited by the bees. Bees are probably the best pollinators as they move from flower to flower.
For further information contact: Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations www.irishbeekeeping.ie

Horse Fly / Creabhar capaill: The horsefly is very common in hot weather, while the males feed on pollen and nectar, the female sucks blood. The bites can be painful. Horse flies lay their eggs in damp areas around rivers, ponds or swamps.

Irish Hare / Giorria Éireannach: The Irish hare is larger than the rabbit, and found on blanket and raised bogs. They do not burrow, but create nests in shallow hollows called a form. Their diet consists mainly of grasses and vegetation, and they generally feed at night. A young hare is called a leveret, hares are a protected species.

Ladybird / Bóín Dé: The Ladybird is very commonly found and feeds on aphids. Three varieties are seen, the most common is the seven spot ladybird with its seven spots and red / orange colour, and The Eyed Ladybird has numerous spots, and is orange red in colour. The 14 spot ladybird is yellow and black with 14 black spots.

Mink / Minc: The Mink is a type of weasel, and can be found in woods and parks near rivers and streams. Minks are not native to Ireland most of the mink are decedents of mink who escaped from mink farms in the 1950’s. Mink feeds on duck, fish, rodents etc, and they are active during daylight hours. Mink can be seen on the Liffey at Newbridge.

Otter / Madra uisce: The otter lives close to water in a holt, built in the riverbank. Its diet consists of fish, frogs and small mammals. They are shy and largely nocturnal; however there are a number of Otters in the Liffey located between the Town Park and the College. Otters are a protected species.

Rabbit: The Rabbit is not “native” to Ireland having been introduced in the 13th centaury. However the rabbit is fairly common around the country, with its large ears and excellent hearing it can be “spooked” very easily. The Rabbits diet mainly consists of grasses and leaves, in secluded areas they will feed during the day; however it is more common for rabbits to appear at dusk. Rabbits have shorter legs than hares.

Red Squirrel / Iora rua: The red squirrel is native to this country and is small, reddish, tree- living animal with a long bushy tail. Most often found in our ever declining coniferous forests, the red squirrel habitat is being seriously eroded by the introduced Grey squirrel. The red squirrels are most active in the mornings, and its diet consists of nuts and acorns.

Snail / Seilide: The garden snail, is a familiar sight in every garden. There are approximately eleven species of snail found in Ireland.

Spider / Damhán alla: There are many types of spider found in Ireland; most common is the “Garden Spider” which spins a complicated web. In addition the “Daddy Long-Legs” is a common visitor to your house where it is attracted to the constant availability of heat. The “Daddy Long-Legs” spins a somewhat untidy web.

Wasp / Puch: The wasp generally builds their hive in the eves of garden shed roofs, or in trees, however they can also build below the ground. The wasp is at its most aggressive in September, when it is prone to sting. Like the bumblebees colour pattern is black with yellow strips and it is a common sight during the summer.

Links for further information:
We have drawn on numerous sources to compile the above information, and for those of you who wish to obtain more comprehensive information and photographs, the following book is excellent reference resource:

The Collins "Complete Irish Wildlife" by Paul Sterry (ISBN 000 717629 5) with an introduction by Derek Mooney is an excellent guide to insects, mammals, birdlife, amphibians, fish, flowers, trees etc. and well worth reading.

Birdwatch Ireland: www.birdwatchireland.ie
Enfo (The Environmental Information Service): www.enfo.ie
Irish Peatland Conservation Council: www.ipcc.ie
The Heritage Council www.heritagecouncil.ie