Insects 2016 part 2

[marlunn]

great image Geoff, they never quite co-operate to get them all in focus, but that is pretty close

[Geoff F]

What have the spiders ever done for us?

Well this brave little Metellina has captured one of those pesky Cleg Horseflies.

[rudi]

What have the spiders ever done for us?

Well this brave little Metellina has captured one of those pesky Cleg Horseflies.

They can't capture enough, as far as I am concerned.

[marlunn]

A wander around a few locations yesterday, a 'few' of the many i took from the Aberthaw Nature Reserve, one a bit unusual the soldier fly - WARNING Insect Porn, its that time of year

1.Cerceris arenaria - digger wasp


2. Stratiomys singularior - soldier fly


3. Cheilosia illustrata - hoverfly - they always look scruffy to me!


4. Thymelicus flavus - Small Skipper butterfly


5. Timarcha tenebricosa - Bloody nosed beetle


6. Zygaene filipenulae - 6 spot Burnet moth


7. Volucella pellucens - Magpie Hoverfly


8. Maniola jurtina - Meadow Brown Butterfly

[Wavelength]

Superb images...from different members..... simply awesome!!!

[Geoff F]

As you said, Mark, Cheilosia illustrata always look like they could do with a good brush up and comb.

But that is one of the quick identification clues. When I see a particularly scruffy looking 'bee' I immediately think about this species.

You did well with the Bloody-nosed Beetle and Burnet Moth which are two species which I find particularly difficult to photograph.

Weather has been a bit off putting over the past few days but here are a couple of interesting moths.

Elephant Hawk Moth.



And a Early Thorn, with a distinctive thorn like mark in the centre of its wing.

[marlunn]

Nice Geoff, not seen a Hawk moth this year yet

[Geoff F]

These were really shot for identification purposes but I will upload them anyway.

Corizus hyoscyami. Fairly uncommon and I only see one or two a year, mostly near the coast.



Helophilus trivittatus. A view of the face is needed to separate it from the rather similar but more common species.



Kite-tailed Robberfly - Machimus atricapillus. The dark tab of hair under the tail will separate this one from an almost identical species. The hair looks yellow but that is pollen on the dark hair.

[Geoff F]

A real oddity. One of the Thick-headed Flies, for obvious reasons. Physocephala rufipes.

[marlunn]

cracking images Geoff, love Physocephala rufipes, aint nature wonderful

to 'pretty' it up a bit - Gonepteryx rhamni on Centaurea nigra, Brimstone Butterfly on Black Knapweed



and Sympetrum striolatum, Common Darter

[marlunn]

close encounter - Lunch for this Aeshna grandis, Brown Hawker Dragon was - a bumblebee ! it tried to land on my hat peak to have its lunch but quickly realised its mistake and landed on the hedge instead - was a bit of an 'interesting' close encounter !

[Geoff F]

Brimstones have just returned around here over the past few days; they always appear more compliant than the Spring specimens which rarely seem to settle for long, always nice to catch them feeding. Today I also got my first Common Darter photos for this year.

The Brown Hawker is an excellent image. I always think it makes for an extra special photograph if you can get a damsel/dragon doing something unusual; like feeding or mating/egg laying.

We don't get that species down here and I see they are fairly restricted around your location.

[marlunn]

yep the Brimstones are more 'settled' now I guess some of the spring urgency is gone so they can take more time around and about. The Brown Hawker is seen around here in South Wales but quite 'common' in Lincoln Whisby NNR at this time, I always see a dozen or more on the wing when the sun shines along the path I walk mixing it with the Emperors - they also take the Comon Darters as food - but the git settled on the other side of the stream to consume that feast! I was a bit surprised this one took a Bumblebee though.

[Shadowman]

Nice additions.

[Geoff F]

Packed up my gear and had nearly returned to the car park when I noticed a couple of butterflies on Ragwort.

Initially I thought they were Wall Browns but a closer look showed them to be Fritillaries so I opened my bag and tried a few quick hand held shots for identification; although my models were unwilling to settle down and pose properly. A bit of wind movement as well.

A look at them on my computer screen appears to suggest they are Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries but they are normally about around late May and June. Perhaps a second generation this year? I never found any at the appropriate time.

Quick hand held shots so they far from perfect competition quality but acceptable for identification.





And from a few days ago, one of the micro moths. Grapholita compositella. Another reluctant to be photographed subject which is a rather uncommon species around here.

[Geoff F]

Some more attractive moths.

Black Arches



Jersey Tiger



Magpie Moth

[marlunn]

Went to Llanelli WWT today saw lots but of note - - A new hover for me, Ferdinandea cuprea plus Episyrphus balteatus,



and this - its a Coelichneumon I believe but no idea which



and finally a nice image to finish - a Common Blue Butterfly, a bit worn but nice none the less

[MilosVukmirovic]

Just browsed the whole theme, really nice pictures, I enjoyed viewing all of them

Here is one of my few insect shots:


Unfortunately I don't know the name of the bug, but it was very calm and patient, considering I was using Nikon 40mm and a flash just few inches from it.

[Geoff F]

I had one of those Ichneumons last week, Mark; but it was moving around too much so I never managed a clear shot like yours.

Most year's I see one or two of those Ferdinandea hoverflies but nothing yet this year. But in one wood on one specific tree I have found a few each year in September. Rather attractive aren't they.

Your insect, Milos is a Mayfly of some form. Good shot. Looks a bit like Cloeon dipterum but I'm definitely not very good with them.

There are a few Mayflies on the Naturespot website

http://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/19482

Last week I found a Mayfly which was the first one from any of the sites which I regularly visit. Blue-winged Olive (Serratella ignita). Sitting on a leaf in heavy shade and at a low angle. Eventually after several attempts I managed some sort of shot with a bit of flash which is good enough for identification but far from perfect.



A bit of a rarity was this Stomorhina lunata, which was also playing hard to get. Never found one last year but had one from each of the previous two years.



Another oddity, although fairly common, was a Stiltbug (Metatopis rufescens); yet another subject which wouldn't pose for a decent portrait. It just kept on walking along the leaf while I was desperately attempting to focus.

[marlunn]

Nice shot Milos, very well done.

Geoff, its my first Ferdinandea so was really chuffed getting one today after seeing a few posted on the Hoverfly group facebook page over the last week. Nice images despite the bugs best attempts to avoid you ! My youngest daughter is always so impressed with the flies eyes and where they are coloured stripes she wants contact lens to mimic that !