Any bug photos during August 2015

[JBW]

stretched out she is about 8Cm. long

[Geoff F]

Incidentally, can anyone point me to a good bug ID page for UK insects? I can't find this one on the Butterfly Conservation webpage.

You won't find that one on a butterfly site, Brian - it's a moth. Magpie Moth to be exact. I had one 'knocking' on my window last night.

Since the Wild About Britain website folded after being hacked I have been searching for a good general wildlife site. Eventually I drifted to Nature UK which is good for some things; like moths, butterflies, fungi etc. Several experts in various subjects, such as bugs, have joined lately so the expertise coverage is gradually expanding there. And it is a very relaxed friendly site, just like CinC.

There are many and varied websites which post images of wildlife but few of them are genuinely interactive where you can ask 'what is this' and get a personal answer.

ps. I see we have had some excellent photos posted recently.

[Geoff F]

I will post a few links to the sites I use.

http://www.natureuk.org/index/

http://britishbugs.org.uk/gallery.html

http://ukmoths.org.uk/

http://hoverfly.org.uk/

http://eakringbirds.com/

http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php

http://bumblebeeconservation.org/abo...dentification/

http://www.orthoptera.org.uk/home

And there are many others, but as I said, due to the amount of hacking problems most sites are now look only or access by invitation only.

[Saorsa]

You won't find that one on a butterfly site, Brian - it's a moth. Magpie Moth to be exact. I had one 'knocking' on my window last night.

Since the Wild About Britain website folded after being hacked I have been searching for a good general wildlife site. Eventually I drifted to Nature UK which is good for some things; like moths, butterflies, fungi etc. Several experts in various subjects, such as bugs, have joined lately so the expertise coverage is gradually expanding there. And it is a very relaxed friendly site, just like CinC.

There are many and varied websites which post images of wildlife but few of them are genuinely interactive where you can ask 'what is this' and get a personal answer.

ps. I see we have had some excellent photos posted recently.

Thank you, the antennae didn't seem very feathery and I considered it a butterfly type more than a moth.

[Geoff F]

There isn't really any simple firm rules for separating butterflies from moths - except for experience.

Some moths, particularly males, have very 'feathery' antennae while others are just the 'normal' straight antennae.

Moths generally sit with wings outstretched but there are a few who rest with their wings folded like butterflies. And some, particularly the longer narrower forms sit with wings folded tent like over their bodies.

[Saorsa]

Small Tortoiseshell

[Geoff F]

And continuing with butterflies.

A Clouded Yellow was flitting around me on Saturday but it wouldn't settle; at least not long enough to be approached. So I accepted a Brimstone as a compromise.



I have started to see a few more Common Blue recently, but I can't seem to get the right angle with a clean background and a good condition subject. This is the best I've managed.



Phasia hemiptera is a rather uncommon well marked fly; this is only the second one that I have ever seen.

[marlunn]

Nice images all, especially like the fly Geoff, not seen one of them.

A dragon from today, Migrant Hawker , Aeshna mixta I think

[James G]

A 'mixed bag' arachnids, crustacea, worm, and moth, all taken in the back garden and conservatory over the last week or so. Weather here has been atrocious... great if you like torrential rain storms, bad light and wind!

#1 Lace-webbed Spider or Window Lace-weaver, Amaurobius fenestralis


#2 Mouse Spider, Scotophaeus blackwalli


#3 Mouse Spider, Scotophaeus blackwalli


#4 Garden Spider, Araneus diadematus


#5 Garden Spider, Araneus diadematus


#6 Woodlouse


#7Woodlouse


#8 Harvestman, Odiellus spinosus


#9 Harvestman, Odiellus spinosus


#10 Harvestman, Odiellus spinosus


#11 Yellow Shell, Camptogramma bilineata


#12 Earthworm (Compost Worm?) never photographeda worm before

[Saorsa]

[JohnRostron]

#12 Earthworm (Compost Worm?) never photographeda worm before

A nice collection James. I don't,t think the worm is a compost worm. Eisenia fetida is typically much redder.

John

[vaez]

I verylove 3 the same of flower

[Geoff F]

This bug had me thinking about the identification.



Finally got the answer - Oncotylus viridiflavus. No simple alternative name available.

And another creature which wouldn't pose nicely for an identification quality photo.



I'm considering about it being one of the Crossocerus solitary wasps but probably impossible to identify even to family level. And if that is correct, the Crossocerus family really need microscopic examination for a full identification.

[Geoff F]

And one which I have managed to identify thanks to carefully following some identification keys.

Lacewing - Cunctochrysa albolineata

[bnnrcn]

Lovely wings,beautiful critter

[Geoff F]

Lacewings come to my window light at night, along with moths and a few other creatures like Caddis Flies and Ophions etc.

I have had 4 different Lacewing species there, so far this year.

[piggsy]

Either a common bluetail or blue riverdamsel I think - its close enough to make identification between the two a bit annoying.

E-P5 / 60mm 2.8 Macro / Raynox 250

http://abload.de/img/p8280763p5a7h.jpg

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[piggsy]

E-P5 / Vivitar 135mm F2.8 Close Focusing

http://abload.de/img/p82800822rufw.jpg

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^ never taking that out without the flash and diopters again, there were half a dozen different kinds of ladybug hatchlings to shoot and only a fraction of the shots worked due to wind/DOF issues. And they're fricking tiny . Grrr...

E-P5 / Olympus 60mm F2.8 Macro / Raynox 250

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http://abload.de/img/p8280672uksny.jpg

[deetheturk]

Hi guys, not had much of a chance shooting or posting lately due to family and friends visiting, I'm off to Bonnie Scotland tomorrow for a week to get my own back on some of them then my better half's friend is coming for a week, so hopefully back to normal after that

Great to see such a high standard of photography on the thread, and the forum for that matter, keep up the great work guys, catch you all in a week or two!

[Donald]

I'm off to Bonnie Scotland tomorrow for a week ...

Well, you don't need to bother packing any sun protection cream!