Return to moorhen home page
Return to section index
Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Insects (assorted) Page 16
Image Taken on 10 Jun 2022
at 16:41 Image of day on 28 Jul 2022
Each year a Mullein plant pops up from a crack in a concrete block blocking
the unused end of our access track.
This year the block-bound plant has been 'invaded' by Mullein Moth Caterpillars
who have stripped the plant of leaves and left it to wither.
Will we see the plant again next year? Most probably!
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20220728_df3_20220610_1641_023-20220613_1239_047 mullein in concrete crack hosts mullein moth caterpillar 3+2+4 of 4 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Jun 2017
at 16:07 Image of day on 01 Aug 2017
In a Pot by the back door a self set Great Mullein plant has attracted the
attention of at least 5 of these Mullein Moth caterpillars (seems appropriate).
The Adult moth looks like a 'piece of twig' we have probably seen but have never
photographed. The Caterpillar has this warning colouration -
'Eat me at your Peril'
The caterpillar is facing right - the 3 legs each side at the right are
the 3 standard 3 legs per side of insects - the rest are called
'Prolegs'.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20170801_df3_20170608_1607_001 mullein moth caterpillar about 4cm long on great mullein plant (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Jun 2017
at 16:09 Image of day on 01 Aug 2017
A view of a Mullein Moth caterpillar showing less detail of the legs but
highlighting the damage to the Great Mullein plant leaves.
.jpg)
Ref: 20170801_df3_20170608_1609_016 mullein moth caterpillar about 4cm long on great mullein plant(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Aug 2020
at 12:12 Image of day on 11 Oct 2020
To put the above image into some context:-
Approaching the blocked gate we startled away a female Reeve's Muntjac Deer who
ran off down the crop edge and through the hedge. We thought we heard one or
two 'barks' from the Deer as she went.
As we moved through the gate this young Deer stood looking at us.
This moment catches a fly landing below her left eye, and her tongue whipping out
to flip it away. The fly you see at the top of the tongue is
actually in-flight, with the insect's shadow roughly where the
fly originally was.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20201011_d73_20200824_1212_110+111 muntjac reeves deer fawn licks fly from face 1+2 of 2 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Aug 2020
at 12:12 Image of day on 11 Oct 2020
This young Reeve's Muntjac Deer is using her enormous tongue to flick away
a fly that landed on her face.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20201011_d73_20200824_1212_111 muntjac reeves deer fawn licks fly from face 2 of 2 (detail crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 23 Nov 2023
at 07:27 Image of day on 02 Jan 2024
As the light show continued a pair of Mute swans winged quietly across the sky.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20240102_d71_20231123_0727_129 2 mute swans fly across sunrise in chaotic sky 2 of 3 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 27 May 2020
at 17:41 Image of day on 28 Jun 2020
Things don't always go according to plan.
A 'Woodcrete' nest box on our tallest tree has become a nest for bees.
Next year some birds will probably re-establish possession.
This is the second time we have seen a nest-box converted to a tiny Bee-hive.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20200628_d73_20200527_1741_120 nest box on ivans poplar inhabited by bees (crop 3 with insert)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 25 May 2011
at 14:06 Image of day on 25 Jun 2011
When it is warm we have loads of these appear from 'nowhere'.
They are called the 'Noon Fly' possibly because they only appear
when it is warm. They are wonderfully intricate and the yellow
patches on the wings is quite startling. None of our ID books do
it justice, and perhaps neither does this.
 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20110625_db1_20110525_1406_010 noon fly (mesembrina meridiana) (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 18 Sep 2011
at 13:31 Image of day on 09 Nov 2011
We have an old apple tree (we call it the 'red' apple tree - the
apples are red even when unripe and the apple flesh is pink as
well) that is next to a pair of old but bushy oak trees. While
collecting apples to store this Oak Bush Cricket suddenly leapt
out of the trug onto the grass. We guess it either switched tree
without realising (they grow into each other somewhat) or we
knocked it down shaking branches to get the apples to drop.
Crickets have these enormously long antennae - grasshoppers are
much shorter.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20111109_p10_20110918_1331_446 oak bush cricket female (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Mar 2011
at 16:08 Image of day on 05 Apr 2011
The 7 spot ladybirds seem, for the moment at least, to be holding their
own on our patch against the Harlequin invaders.
Here are two separate groups a few metres apart making the most of
dried and broken annual weed stems.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20110405_p34_20110308_1608_947 5 off 7-spot ladybirds at joint of broken stem (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Jul 2016
at 12:41 Image of day on 16 Aug 2016
The Oxeye daisies are doing well this year, and are suddenly scattered
with Flea Beetles. Last year we assumed that this sudden influx was of
Corn Flea Beetles (with a (q) after the Corn to indicate a query - you can't
put '?' symbols in filenames) because the surrounding crop was wheat,
but these look the same and we are surrounded by Oil-seed rape.
So from now on - just Flea Beetle will have to do!
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20160816_df3_20160703_1241_030 oxeye daisy with flea beetles (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Jun 2016
at 10:49 Image of day on 07 Aug 2016
How can we have been enjoying Oxeye daisies for 30 years
and never realised that the centre flowers in rings that insects
can feed on as they provide pollination.
 (crop 1)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20160807_df3_20160624_1049_030 oxeye daisy with ring of opening flowers with feeding unidentified fly (q) (crop 1)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Jun 2016
at 10:49 Image of day on 07 Aug 2016
Here you can see the outer pollinated flowers, a ring of more
intense yellow 'open' flowers, and the centre 'flowers to come'.
 (crop 2)(r+mb id@432).jpg)
Ref: 20160807_df3_20160624_1049_030 oxeye daisy with ring of opening flowers with feeding unidentified fly (q) (crop 2)(r+mb id@432).jpg
Image Taken on 01 Jul 2021
at 15:54 Image of day on 24 Aug 2021
The Oxford Ragwort plants have just started flowering.
Just right of lower middle you can see the first Cinnabar Moth
Caterpillar that we have spotted this year.
The top flowerhead is massively deformed. There are several other
examples, and some years we see similar on Oxeye daisies.
We think it probably an insect converting the flower for breeding
purposes, but have been unsuccessful in finding out what species.
This plant is poisonous to most creatures, but the Cinnabar Moth
absorbs the poison to make itself poisonous, and has the warning
colouration to tell the bird not to 'try it for dinner'.
We also sometimes see Cinnabar Moths feeding on Groundsel where
they don't pick up the poison defence. They don't do as well on this
plant, and we haven't seen any on Groundsel so far this year.
.jpg)
Ref: 20210824_d73_20210701_1554_015 oxford ragwort deformed flower heads & small cinnabar moth caterpillar(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Jul 2009
at 10:37 Image of day on 23 Aug 2009
After a years absence we are seeing the migrant painted lady
butterfly this year. Most are rather tatty and faded but this
individual was still in good condition. The Soldier Beetles on
the thistle spent all 45 minutes of the photo-shoot mating in
happy oblivion!
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090823_da1_20090714_1037_075+1101_217 ft1 painted lady butterfly in flight with small thistle & soldier beetles (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 17 May 2022
at 10:46 Image of day on 20 Jun 2022
5 Days later there is not a caterpillar to be seen.
The previously occupied areas are completely stripped of leaves.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20220620_df3_20220517_1046_038 patches of hedge stripped of leaves by ermine moth caterpillars (orig & final)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Jul 2018
at 11:20 Image of day on 04 Sep 2018
Hover-fly, Peacock Butterfly, and a Soldier Beetle all caught by chance
in the same frame.
.jpg)
Ref: 20180904_df3_20180714_1120_067 peacock butterfly feeding on thistle flower as hover-fly is about to land and solder beetle to right(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Jul 2009
at 14:04 Image of day on 02 Sep 2009
The extremely dark underwing and dazzling top wing of this
Peacock Butterfly make an incredible contrast.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090902_da1_20090725_1404_507+1318_278 ft1 peacock butterfly in flight with thistle flower covered in tiny black beetles (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 18 May 2022
at 12:37 Image of day on 30 Jun 2022
A Peacock Butterfly feeding on a Buttercup almost entirely hidden by the insect.
On the adjacent Buttercup we see two female Thick-legged Flower Beetles.
The females don't have the characteristic legs bulges that give the species their name.
 females on buttercup (accurate montage for focus)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220630_d72_20220518_1237_072+073 peacock butterfly on buttercup + 2 thick-legged flower beetle (oedemera nobilis) females on buttercup (accurate montage for focus)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Oct 2016
at 11:11 Image of day on 25 Nov 2016
The Pied Wagtails are back on our roof, hunting the insects warmed under the
slates and emerging for the waiting Wagtails to try to catch. This fly looks
like 'the one that got away'. Each bird and fly are accurately positioned
relative to the roof and each other, but spread out along the
right.
The left hand fly was over the edge of the first frame so we have 'photoshopped'
in a whole fly at the correct place, along with the sky above.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20161125_df3_20161010_1111_454-454 pied wagtail on roof ridge hunting fly in flight 1-3 of 3 (left to right montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Comments and requests for image use
To make a comment, ask for information or to request a full
resolution image, send us an email including the reference or
the date for the image you are interested in.
All initial contacts should be made using the icon below:-
