Post your insects

[Geoff F]

These mating hoverflies appear to be Helophilus trivittatus. If correct, this is a new experience for me.



She then placed her tail into a large deep muddy puddle. Not sure if this is part of the egg laying process. I'm trying to find more information from the experts.



Then ended up on a leaf above the puddle.

[SpiderBob]

Slight confusion between mm and cm there Bob. 45 mm or 4.5 cm.

I still get confused by this and normally just stick with mm; as happens in the building trades and other situations; even when the numbers get into the thousands of mm.

For drill and screw sizes etc I find mm much easier than working with those 1/64 ths of an inch!

But once I get beyond 150 mm (6 ins) I tend to revert to thinking in ins.

I think I better stick with our standard meaurement, you know I'm not sure what is standard anymore, here in the US we've been using both. OK, I'll try not to make that mistake again, but probably will Thanks Geoff

[orlcam88]

[orlcam88]

[Trailboss]

Found this bug on my porch rail. Don't know what it is. Sorta looks lika an assassin bug.

[Geoff F]

It is certainly from that general family, Emmett. But they are a complicated bunch and many Squash Bugs etc look rather similar.

Here is one of those which confused me for a while.



Dock Bug - Coreus marginatus juvenile.

And a couple of mating adults of the same species; from earlier this year.

[Geoff F]

Helophilus pendulus on ragwort.

[Letrow]

Helophilus pendulus on ragwort.

Nice composition Geoff. Love that yellow with the hoverfly.

[Geoff F]

Thanks, Peter. I was tempted to crop closer on the left (5 x 4 ratio) but thought that meant the dry grass stalk looked a bit 'cut off'.

And a bit of good luck today. Went up a very low rough grass bank after some common hoverflies and saw a damselfly which seemed a little strange. Although I initially considered it to be a very fresh specimen of one of the common blue varieties.





But after consulting my books I realised that I needed expert help. Now confirmed as a Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly female (Ischnura pumilio). My first one.

[Geoff F]

Anybody else find that they regularly just miss out on those perfect photos?

Another one of the previous damselfly.



I was concentrating on her head, and wondering which way I had to move to get a good tail focus as well, when a hoverfly (Melanstoma scalare) briefly landed on the tail.

Took a quick snap but by the time I refocused it was too late.

Anyway, it makes an interesting scene. One day I will get everything correct . . . I will; providing I live long enough and take enough shots.

And a fly (Eriothrix rufomaculata). I took other shots with it in the open, which are 'cleaner' shots of the fly; but I rather liked this one with the flower and the fly peeping from behind a leaf.

[Geoff F]

Another insect/flower shot.



Myathropa florae male on a bramble flower (blackberry).

[jprzybyla]

I photographed this today. I go back and forth from Praying Mantis or Walking Stick. Any ideas what it is?

[jprzybyla]

I also photographed these insects. I have no idea what they may be.

[Geoff F]

An interesting shot of a pair of mating flies there, Joe. No idea of species though. The wing veins seem wrong for hoverflies; or Tachinidae family.

I wonder about a form of Horsefly (Tabanidae)?

[Letrow]

bumblebee

[Geoff F]

I think this one is the same species, Peter, but it was the largest and darkest Bombus terrestris (Buff-tailed Bumblebee) that I have ever encountered.



I have thought about a variety of 'Cuckoo Bee' which lays eggs in other bee's nests but still can't place it for certain.

[Polar01]

Well I finally got an image of an insect, a varitey of praying mantis. I went out to the car to get the camera, and it flew up and into the car shed door and fell to the ground. so I thought to myself, bug, camera, why not. so here it is.

Cheers:

Allan

[Letrow]

Well I finally got an image of an insect, a varitey of praying mantis. I went out to the car to get the camera, and it flew up and into the car shed door and fell to the ground. so I thought to myself, bug, camera, why not. so here it is.

Cheers:

Allan

I like the way it looks at the camera Allan.

[Letrow]

I think this one is the same species, Peter, but it was the largest and darkest Bombus terrestris (Buff-tailed Bumblebee) that I have ever encountered.



I have thought about a variety of 'Cuckoo Bee' which lays eggs in other bee's nests but still can't place it for certain.

It does look massive. It wasn't a queen by any chance? And is that a tick or something similar on its neck?

[Geoff F]

Yes on both counts, Peter.

But it was large compared with average queens.

There appears to be pollen collecting hairs on the hind leg and part of the tibia is shiny; which should rule out a cuckoo species. The legs of 'standard' bumblebees become shiny due to scraping away pollen.

I don't recognise that 'tick'. Many bees carry mites around with them but they cause little harm as they aren't bloodsuckers. They just use bees for transportation. In fact, this is essential for the development and spread of some beetle species.