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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Insects (assorted) Page 10
Image Taken on 09 Oct 2023
at 15:18 Image of day on 23 Nov 2023
After a summer of very few Ladybird sightings, but almost all of them as
native 7-spot, we can't decide whether to be pleased or sorry to find about 50
of the invasive Harlequin Ladybirds on the south wall of the house.
Here are a couple of them along the edge of the 'Patio Doors'.
Unlike the UK varieties, Harlequin individuals vary enormously in appearance.
.jpg)
Ref: 20231123_df3_20231009_1518_018 2 harlequin ladybird from group of about 50 on south wall of house(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 20 Aug 2009
at 13:05 Image of day on 06 Oct 2009
And now a montage of a couple of separate flights. Never caught this
one in focus with it's wings down.
If your are surprised it is a Harlequin (about the same size as a 7-spot)
have a look at
http://www.uksafari.com/ladybirdharlequin2.htm
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20091006_da1_20090820_1305_021+1302_015_ft1 harlequin ladybird in flight (montage of separate flights)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 20 Aug 2009
at 13:01 Image of day on 06 Oct 2009
We have had Harlequin Ladybirds for a few years now, but this year have
only found a couple against 2 dozen or 7-spots - hopefully a good trend.
However, it obliged with flying for us so, this one gets it's place
on the site.
First just after taking off from the hawthorn leaf.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20091006_da1_20090820_1301_008_ft1 harlequin ladybird in flight from hawthorn (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 18 Jul 2015
at 10:23 Image of day on 15 Sep 2015
Here is one of the 'finished' Harlequins in all her smooth
and glossy glory. The spot pattern is undoubtedly different -
Harlequin Ladybird are unbelievably varied for a single species.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20150915_p10_20150718_1023_575 harlequin ladybird in hedge where ladybirds finishing moult seen (mirrored crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Oct 2018
at 12:30 Image of day on 26 Nov 2018
More 7-spot ladybirds this year than Harlequin ladybirds, but this is one of the
latter walking on the late flowering Ivy.
.jpg)
Ref: 20181126_df3_20181005_1230_017 harlequin ladybird on ivy flower(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 15 Sep 2016
at 12:38 Image of day on 04 Nov 2016
3 frames of a Harlequin Ladybird crawling over a teasel, open its wing cases for
an unusually long time before lift-off. In the bottom right image you can see
that the wing case is well lit inside and must be translucent with the spots
also clearly visible.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20161104_df3_20160915_1238_011+015+018 harlequin ladybird on teasel head opening wings 1-3 of 3 (adjusted montage 2)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Jul 2019
at 16:34 Image of day on 25 Aug 2019
What we identify as the Larva of Harlequin Ladybird.
The white spines all over the head really look very strange.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20190825_df3_20190708_1634_022 harlequin ladybird pupa with spines over head (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Jun 2018
at 14:41 Image of day on 14 Jul 2018
This less welcome visitor is one of the huge number of Harlequin Ladybird forms,
this one with hardly any visible spots. These foreign invaders (since 2004) are
here to stay and we will have to get used to them. Down the edge of the
stinging nettle leaf you can see the poison loaded needles ready to punish
any inadvertant contact.
.jpg)
Ref: 20180714_df3_20180608_1441_021 harlequin ladybird with red body almost spot free(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 27 May 2022
at 09:00 Image of day on 11 Jul 2022
Harlequin Ladybirds are very variable - even the two bottom left obviously
know that the different markings don't matter!
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220711_df3_20220527_0900_031-0902_037 harlequin ladybirds 1-4 of 4 (montage from 3 minute selection)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 19 Jul 2015
at 12:27 Image of day on 22 Sep 2015
We have seen a few Harlequin Ladybirds in the last few years, but this
year there are hundreds. They come in a
bewildering range of appearances - here are 25 of our own pics showing
only some of the variety including some still shedding their larval skins.
Note: Not to scale.
The best identification page we know of is at
http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recognition_and_distinction.htm
Click on the pictorial table of insects to see them in larger size.
They are an invasive species, and some people think it is right
to kill them on sight - we don't. If you take this approach
though, be very careful that they ARE harlequins and not some
unusual UK species as others have unfortunately managed.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20150922_p10_20150719_1227_599-20150721_1107_666 harlequin ladybirds in north hedge assortment (montage not to scale)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Jun 2017
at 12:20 Image of day on 22 Jul 2017
Harlequin Ladybirds are extremely variable - here the female is covered in large
dark spots and the male with no spots at all! But THEY obviously know that they
are the same species!
.jpg)
Ref: 20170722_df3_20170603_1220_078 harlequin ladybirds mating - one spotless the other many spots(r+mb id@432).jpg
Image Taken on 24 May 2019
at 12:29 Image of day on 02 Jul 2019
If you look up Harlequin Ladybirds you will see a huge variety of appearances,
not apparently related to their sex. But they know one another all-right!
.jpg)
Ref: 20190702_df5_20190524_1229_193 harlequin ladybirds mating with aphids on leaves(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Jul 2009
at 13:21 Image of day on 01 Sep 2009
A harvestmen spider also found on the teasels & so photographed on one.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090901_da1_20090725_1321_285 ft1 harvestman on teasel (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 06 Sep 2008
at 10:47 Image of day on 26 Sep 2008
A Harvestman spider, first seen this year in the image
for 19 Sep 2008, is this time seen mid-morning
on buddleia leaves.
.jpg)
Ref: 20080926_p34_20080906_1047_543 harvestman spider(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 29 Aug 2008
at 03:44 Image of day on 19 Sep 2008
An assortment of creatures including a Harvestman spider on the
apple at the left, and a slug on the apple at the right. Oh - and
a fieldmouse (wood mouse)!
.jpg)
Ref: 20080919_d3b_20080829_0344_035 fb1 harvestman spider on apple and fieldmouse (wood mouse) on log(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 21 May 2019
at 08:16 Image of day on 25 Jun 2019
Hawthorn Blossom is forming patches of white hedge all over the area.
.jpg)
Ref: 20190625_df5_20190521_0816_012 hawthorn flowers with hover-fly(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Oct 2011
at 10:15 Image of day on 11 Dec 2011
A really common insect - the Hawthorn Shieldbug, but none the
less welcome for that, and seen very late in the season - an
ever increasing trend of starting earlier, and for some carrying
on later, depending on what limits their lifespan.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20111211_p10_20111030_1015_738 hawthorn shieldbug (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Oct 2011
at 10:16 Image of day on 11 Dec 2011
Same individual, now on the stem of the fallen leaf showing the
underside.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20111211_p10_20111030_1016_745 hawthorn shieldbug (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Jul 2007
at 10:13 Image of day on 10 Aug 2007
New species for us. Found on agricultural fleece and moved
to adjacent bush which could have been hawthorn if we
had identified it at the time.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20070810_p34_20070722_1013_612 hawthorn shieldbug (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Oct 2010
at 12:27 Image of day on 01 Jan 2011
One of our Hazel tree/bushes has a particularly striking orange tinge.
Here is one of the leaves with a capricious 7 spot Ladybird.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20110101_p34_20101030_1227_270 hazel tree leaf with autumnal orange tinge & incidental 7-spot ladybird (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
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