[evie2]

I don't see why not hub   One of our ponds is about the size of one of those big buckets with rope handles, about 2ft in diameter and it's full of wild life   If you know someone with a pond you could get some water or plant from them to help introduce water life

[savbo]

With the walls around your pond, it's possible skaters might not find it on their own. I'd wait a few weeks til they're active and then visit your local pond. Best way to transport is in a bag of pondweed - trying to shift them in bucket of water can lead to casualties

[hubballi]

Do you mean net them and put them in a dry bag with weed or put water in the bag too ?

[savbo]

a dry bag with weed...the water would just slosh about possibly causing injuries.

Only applies to the surface dwellers - skaters, water crickets ad water measurers.

[hubballi]

Still no skaters over a year on :-(

[ANHBUC]

Maybe they are speed skaters and just too fast for you to see!   

[evie2]

What have you attracted hubballi?

[hubballi]

Nothing as yet 

[ANHBUC]

You have done everything right so it is a mistery why you are not invaded by all the normal bugs. 

We seem to have loads of damselflies hatching at the moment but they are getting gobbled up by Blackbirds and Sparrows.   

[hubballi]

Still nothing. Even no sign of our 2 frogs from last year. The pond is healthy as the weed keeps growing when I remove some. The water is clear. Lots of ram's horn and pond snails.

[ANHBUC]

Wonder if you have some sort a predator that is gobbling them all up!   

We introduced some fish and plants from an old pond to ours when we first did our pond.  After a while we found this prehistoric looking bug about the size of a 50 pence piece.  Looked like something off The Mummy or Alien, sort of beetle looking but with a bit of a tail so we disposed of it.  Recently saw a picture of it online and think they are quite rare.     People keep them in aquariums normally but I can't find the name of it now.

[arugula]

Scarab?

[ANHBUC]

Just found it argyllie, careful though they have been found in Scotland!   

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-10801707

 

[arugula]

Oh yes! I saw a news item on those, I think it was aired as an item on Landward?

[savbo]

I doubt if hubb's got Triops shrimps in Cheshire, and anyway they're not particularly voracious. Quite possible to get Great Diving Beetle - or even more vicious, their larvae - in a small pond. Am i right in recalling the garden is quite enclosed? maybe the wildlife is just not finding it....a trip to your local pond with a net and bucket would seem to be in order.

sav