Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Insects (assorted) Page 13

Image Taken on 14 Sep 2023 at 10:35 Image of day on 09 Nov 2023

A really poor year for Ladybirds here this year - this is the first we have noticed for weeks.
It's a 7-spot Ladybird - a common UK species rather than the almost absent Harlequins.

Ref: 20231109_df3_20230914_1035_069 7-spot ladybird on fresh stinging nettle leaf(r+mb id@432).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Jul 2009 at 12:36 Image of day on 08 Sep 2009

This year 7-spot ladybirds outnumber the Harlequin invader several to one. This chance photo is the result of a set of 'framing exposures'. For the uninitiated, enthusiast's cameras can usually be set to take 3 or more sets of images per shutter press at nominal, underexposed and overexposed so that you can be fairly sure of getting a decent one. But as the camera took the 3 images the insect flipped under the leaf. So we used the paint package to adjust the exposures to roughly match to build this little sequence.

Ref: 20090908_p34_20090713_1236_283+284+295 7-spot ladybird swinging under leaf (approx 700ms interval montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Aug 2009 at 11:24 Image of day on 24 Sep 2009

At last - a 7-spot ladybird willing to fly indoors!
Put it on a leaf, it walked to the light, waiting a moment at the tip, and off it flew. Another 7-spot alternated with it preferred to walk back up the twig and hide. Never realised the wings have a little spot matching the carapace.

Ref: 20090924_da1_20090809_1124_018+019_ft1 7-spot ladybird takeoff and in flight (montage about 250ms apart)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 19 Aug 2023 at 09:11 Image of day on 14 Oct 2023

A major dearth of ladybirds this year, and so far all are original UK species.
The shiny carapace shows a reflection of the photographer outlined by the sky.

Ref: 20231014_d71_20230819_0911_026 7-spot ladybird with silhouette of photographer reflected on carapace(r+mb id@432).jpg

Image Taken on 01 Apr 2024 at 15:50 Image of day on 27 Apr 2024

Good BRITISH ladybirds - 7-spots - enjoying a patch of stinging nettle.
We don't take any actions against Harlequin ladybirds - they are here to stay.

Ref: 20240427_df3_20240401_1550_072 7-spot ladybirds - 2 of several - first sighting outdoors in 2024(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 30 Mar 2019 at 09:18 Image of day on 01 May 2019

A heat-trap made by a 'wall' of Lodgepole Pine trees facing SSW contains a wonderful selection of nooks and crannies, making this a favourite place for the British resident 7-spot Ladybird. In a couple of minutes we found 10, of which this was the most photogenic.

Ref: 20190501_df5_20190330_0918_033 7-spot ladybirds below and on lodgepole pine (orig)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 16 Nov 2010 at 08:04 Image of day on 15 Jan 2011

We showed you this group of 7-spot ladybirds on the image for 1 Jan 2011, but not like this after an overnight frost. Doubt that they could be active now, but working with them for technical photos we can tell you that they can be quite lively at 4 degrees C.
We are trying to decide what to do with this stem. It is very exposed and fear it will break & dump its cargo.

Ref: 20110115_p34_20101116_0804_529 10 7-spot ladybirds covered in thawing frost on dead hogweed (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Mar 2011 at 16:09 Image of day on 05 Apr 2011

Ref: 20110405_p34_20110308_1609_948 7-spot ladybirds in hollow stem (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 23 Mar 2006 at 13:10 Image of day on 29 Mar 2006

Most of the Beech trees are still hanging onto their autumn leaves, and this pair of ladybirds are using them for cover.

Ref: 20060329_p32_20060323_1310_064 2 ladybirds on dead beech leaf (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Oct 2010 at 10:21 Image of day on 02 Dec 2010

By the standard of recent years we have a decent number of 7-spot ladybirds & only a few Harlequins. This group of 4 7-spots were hiding under a leaf in the hedge and were rudely turned vertical for a picture.

Ref: 20101202_p34_20101007_1021_909 4 7-spot ladybirds under leaf in hedge(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Feb 2024 at 12:37 Image of day on 24 Mar 2024

26 hours later (by chance to the minute) we see a member of the same species, possibly the same individual, rooting around in the grass outside the back door.

Ref: 20240324_df3_20240226_1237_011 large bumble bee (bombus terrestris - buff tailed) on grass near back door(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Feb 2024 at 10:37 Image of day on 24 Mar 2024

Warming itself in the sunshine high on a south facing wall, is this large Bumble Bee, apparently the same species seen occasionally flying by over the last few days.

Ref: 20240324_df3_20240225_1037_113 large bumble bee (prob bombus terrestris - buff tailed) warming on south facing wall(r+mb id@432).jpg

Image Taken on 03 Jul 2009 at 18:15 Image of day on 13 Aug 2009

The skipper butterflies are difficult to differentiate in photos, but we think this is a Large Skipper. But the most interesting item we only spotted when preparing the image - a caterpillar aligned along the edge of a partially eaten leaf.

Ref: 20090813_db1_20090703_1815_137 large skipper butterfly with camouflaged caterpillar eating leaf to the right (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Jul 2009 at 14:35 Image of day on 01 Sep 2009

This was found in a patch of teasel. Its about ladybird size but is actually one of many stages of life of a shieldbug with no common name (see description). The dark areas including the row of spots are iridescent.

Ref: 20090901_da1_20090725_1435_586 ft1 late instar nymph of shieldbug troilus luridus (7mm long) head iridescent on teasel (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Sep 2009 at 16:16 Image of day on 20 Oct 2009

A change on land management in a our open area has brought a flood of grasshoppers and crickets. We think we have identified this grasshopper correctly.

Ref: 20091020_db1_20090908_1616_115 lesser marsh (q) grasshopper (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 30 Jul 2011 at 15:13 Image of day on 18 Sep 2011

The same Lesser Marsh Grasshopper moved onto some meadow 'weeds'

Ref: 20110918_db1_20110730_1513_004 lesser marsh grasshopper (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 11 Jul 2010 at 12:28 Image of day on 18 Aug 2010

On a patch of desiccated grass in the back garden, this grasshopper obligingly allowed us a few images before hopping off. We think it is a Lesser Marsh Grasshopper but we are not knowledgeable enough to be sure. Note the stunning and colour match with dead grass (like it is at the bottom of rank grass) even though produced by different materials.

Ref: 20100818_df1_20100711_1228_096 (prob) lesser marsh grasshopper (crop)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 30 Jul 2011 at 15:10 Image of day on 18 Sep 2011

We really enjoy Grasshoppers, although a combination aging ears and a generally noisier environment means that we can rarely hear their stridulation. This as a Lesser Marsh Grasshopper. Its just about invisible unless you see it land.

Ref: 20110918_db1_20110730_1510_002 lesser marsh grasshopper on vertical grass blade (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Jun 2010 at 19:56 Image of day on 12 Aug 2010

We had a photograph of a Whitethroat with caterpillar on 26 May 2010, so this one a month later must be another family.

Ref: 20100812_d45_20100625_1956_037_fb1 lesser whitethroat (q) with caterpillar in beak (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 26 May 2010 at 06:13 Image of day on 03 Jul 2010

Another first for us. After some internal and external debate we conclude that this is a Lesser Whitethroat. This one would appear to have a nest nearby & it is collecting breakfast for some youngsters.

Ref: 20100703_d45_20100526_0613_093_fb1 lesser whitethroat with caterpillar (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

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