Insects 2016 part 2

[Geoff F]

Massive Moth. 60 mm wing length. Convolvulus Hawkmoth (Agrius convolvuli)



and a side view



I would have preferred it against a cleaner background but they are 'designed' to merge in and not be noticed.

[marlunn]

very nice Geoff, - its the time of Silver Ys here - all over the flowers, but they do like to merge into the undergrowth when not feeding - so as to not be fed on !

Autographa gamma, Silver y



and you know its autumn when these ladies are all out everywhere at their labour creating webs

Araneus diadematus, common Garden Spider

[Geoff F]

I had to find the Y shape before I could recognise the moth. That is certainly good camouflage.

Recently I have been getting a few common spiders with uncommon colours. For example a rather orange Araneus diadematus.



and a dark looking Metellina sp



Also from today my first Lacebugs of the year. Cixius nervosus

[marlunn]

Good images Geoff, love the lacebug. There do seem to be more unusual colour variants around over the last few years - I do wonder what our impact is on this due to how we have changed the landscape not only with buildings but with exotic plants from other countries being more common

[Geoff F]

With a lot of insects, a cool temperature as the larvae develop will produce darker adults. This is why some later generations in the autumn are darker than the mid summer individuals. We have had a few cool wet Springs which has certainly had an impact on earlier nesting birds.

[Geoff F]

Not technically good today because my models refused to pose properly and the light, with flash, wasn't perfect. However I thought these scenes might prove interesting as a view of insect life.

Common Damsel Bug having a Lace Bug for lunch, probably a Cixius nervosus.



And a Leiobunum rotundum harvestman who has obviously had a bit of bad luck in the past (only 5 legs left) has found himself an Episyrphus balteatus hoverfly. Almost certainly the hoverfly was dead when found.

[marlunn]

Its a good time to photo spiders in the garden at the moment - Araneus diadematus, Garden Spider, I don't know what it was but I do know its now Lunch !

[Geoff F]

Yes, Mark, I'm seeing old tired flies stumbling into webs everywhere now.

You have managed to constrain some potential over exposure spots with that image, which is always a risk with some species, particularly in sunlight.

[rtbaum]

Damn bugs keep photobombing my flower pics






ID's pending somebody telling me what they are.

[Jimr1961]

First one is a buckeye.

[rtbaum]

First one is a buckeye.

Thank you for the ID

[Geoff F]

The hoverfly is a Helophilus species. I don't know which ones you get over there but the ones I find are mostly H. pendulus.

[marlunn]

Nice images Randy, love the butterfly and totally agree with Geoff on the Hover - if it was 'over here'

[rtbaum]

I researched the hoverfly. I am convinced that it is Helophilus fasciatus. Thank you, Mark and Jeff, for steering me on the right path.

[Geoff F]

A quick snap of a different form of Bluebottle. And of course, as I attempted to move my tripod in dense foliage it flew away.



Cynomya mortuorum. Apparently they are also called Dead Dog Flies because they search out larger dead animals in which to lay their eggs.

They seem to be a real rarity around here and I can't find any previous records within 100 miles!

[Geoff F]

I had originally gone to that location to check out the Ivy Bees which make a spectacular sight with over 100 males swarming around the nest burrows on the face of an upright earth bank. So I was standing on a 12 inch wide partial ledge which was six foot from the ground and attempting to use my tripod with only two legs in use. I'm getting too old for this sort of thing, but . . .

Another trouble is that the males are desperately searching for unmated females so they are rushing around and rarely stop for a rest. The best chance for a photo is when they are entering or leaving a burrow which they have entered while looking for a freshly emerging female.



Nearby I found a Knotgrass Caterpillar but it was hiding underneath a thistle leaf so I had to do what I could to get an angle.

[marlunn]

Love the ivy bees Geoff, they are such fun to capture a good image of I hope to have time to pay some attention to them shortly

[ajohnw]

I took 6 shots trying for a pause in puffs of wind. One came out ok. I'd guess this is the common garden spider.



Hand held. I tried the Sigma 150mm less the 1.4x converter. Not much difference but maybe a tiny touch sharper.

I've been looking for a quick to adjust monopod and have just bought the paterson trecker one. It looks promising but didn't come with the pivot style mount fitted even though that is shown on the box.

John
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[Geoff F]

Yes, John, an Araneus diadematus.

Easy to over expose that central white line so this has worked well.

[Geoff F]

This Phaonia subventa fly has found itself a very dead grasshopper, which seems to be very tasty after being well hung!