An unusual spider – round, dark brown and very glossy – was in my kitchen.
Claire Crowther
Bray, Co Wicklow
It is the false widow spider, from your photograph; it is poisonous to humans but not as venomous as the black widow.
I've been finding wormlike creatures in the vegetable garden. They are yellowish with a large number of legs.
John Giles
Clarinbridge, Co Galway
They are centipedes.
What insect is making holes about the diameter of a pencil in circles of loose earth in the grass?
Nessa Durcan
Richmond Hill, Cork
From your photograph, they could be made by ground-living, solitary bees.
On a local pond we saw a mallard with 16 ducklings. Is this a big clutch?
Barbara Browne
Knockmore, Co Mayo
Clutches of that size have been known, but mallard ducks can also mind another duck's brood with their own.
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address
