Return to moorhen home page

Return to section index


Image-of-the-Day by Subject


Insects (assorted) Page 20

Image Taken on 14 Apr 2006 at 14:15    Image of day on 21 Apr 2006

These Ladybirds are definitely in the mood for love on the first really warm day.


Ref: 20060421_d10_20060414_1415_239 7 spot ladybirds mating on pine cone (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 10 Jul 2014 at 10:01    Image of day on 16 Sep 2014

This Spotted Cranefly is described as a common pest in gardens, but we think it is rather lovely.


Ref: 20140916_df2_20140710_1001_008 spotted cranefly (nephrotoma appendiculata) on concrete with shadow (crop 2)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 03 Jul 2015 at 12:52    Image of day on 06 Sep 2015

On the stem of an Iris at the main pond was perched this attractive Spotted Cranefly.


Ref: 20150906_df3_20150703_1252_212 spotted cranefly on iris leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 15 Jun 2020 at 12:32    Image of day on 18 Jul 2020

A new Beetle for our species list - a Spotted Longhorn Beetle, here perched on an Oxeye Daisy flower.


Ref: 20200718_d73_20200615_1232_084 spotted longhorn beetle (strangalia maculata) on oxeye daisy flower(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 29 Jul 2024 at 10:33    Image of day on 12 Sep 2024

Some insects are really rather spectacular.
This is a Spotted Longhorn Beetle on some white flower.


Ref: 20240912_r70_20240729_1033_001 spotted longhorn beetle (strangalia maculata) on white flower head(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 30 Apr 2011 at 10:56    Image of day on 02 Jun 2011

Why is the starling flying away from the hole leading to the nest in the loft?
Well he turned up, found his 'wife' already inside, flew off and perched on a nearby pipe, the lady departed and he then went in with this food


Ref: 20110602_db1_20110430_1056_109+112+113 starling male with caterpillar flies to hole & back + female exits + male returns 07-09 of 14 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 12 May 2013 at 08:44    Image of day on 23 Jun 2013

The Starlings in the loft space have been feeding the noisy youngsters from dawn until dusk. The parents sometimes stop on the roof ridge with their current offerings. Here is a photogenic load - a large caterpillar - rather than a bundle of squishy worms .


Ref: 20130623_df1_20130512_0844_065 starling on roof holding large caterpillar(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 10 May 2010 at 12:51    Image of day on 15 Jun 2010

Other beakful's include various caterpillars and mixes of flies, caterpillars and spiders.


Ref: 20100615_db1_20100510_1251_361 starling taking caterpillar(s) into nest in loft (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 22 Sep 2014 at 13:49    Image of day on 02 Dec 2014

Recently fledged juvenile Swallows perch on tree branches or cables, to be fed by the adults without them even landing
Here the adult in flight has delivered a beakful of insects to the perched juvenile, but a lucky one escaped and can be seen flying away. View the montage as pairs of birds left to right.


Ref: 20141202_df2_20140922_1349_171-173 swallow juvenile on cable being fed by adult in flight with a fly escaping 4-6 of 6 (mirrored montage @7fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 14 Aug 2011 at 14:40    Image of day on 30 Sep 2011

2 minutes later, without at the time making any connection, we took this image of such a parasitic fly nearby. These flies feed on nectar, but lay their eggs inside various (it seems mostly moth) caterpillars which the subsequent larvae eat from the inside. Yuck! We can't be sure of a connection, but we will be watching.


Ref: 20110930_db1_20110814_1440_061 tachina fera (q) parasitic fly on knapweed flower (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 20 Aug 2010 at 12:16    Image of day on 29 Sep 2010

This wonderful fly came to our attention. It is about 15mm long, looks wonderful, but is parasitic (lays eggs inside other creatures) so not very endearing.


Ref: 20100929_db1_20100820_1216_104 tachina fera parasitic fly on unripe blackberry fruit (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 12 Jul 2020 at 10:54    Image of day on 17 Aug 2020

A male Thick-legged Flower Beetle struts his stiff on Ragwort. Even the leg swelling manage to have a fine coating of 'hairs'.


Ref: 20200817_d73_20200712_1054_049 thick legged flower beetle male (crop 2)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 31 May 2011 at 12:30    Image of day on 01 Jul 2011

While we were watching the butterfly, this Thick-legged Flower Beetle got in on the act. According to some books this is the male, the females not sporting the leg bulges, but the descriptions get muddled into another species & we are not sure.


Ref: 20110701_df1_20110531_1230_094 thick-legged flower beetle (oedemera nobilis) male in buttercup flower(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 09 Jun 2019 at 15:27    Image of day on 23 Jul 2019

This is the first sighting here for 8 years (last time in May 2011) of one of these Thick-legged Flower Beetles. Several seen since this sighting.


Ref: 20190723_df5_20190609_1527_102 thick-legged flower beetle (oedemera nobilis) on hogweed (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 24 May 2024 at 13:45    Image of day on 20 Jun 2024

These small green beetles catch the eye with both their iridescent green and, for the males only, their strange bulging thighs that give them the name Thick-legged Flower Beetle. This one is on a Buttercup flower.


Ref: 20240620_df3_20240524_1345_005 thick-legged flower beetle in buttercup flower(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 02 Jul 2016 at 13:32    Image of day on 16 Aug 2016

A collection of insect life on a Cow Parsley flower head.
The bulbous green legs of the Thick-Legged Flower Beetle only appear on the male.
It is almost unusual to see a single Red Soldier Beetle - they are usually seen as a riot of mating pairs!


Ref: 20160816_df3_20160702_1332_034 thick-legged flower beetle male + red soldier beetle + ants (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 12 Jun 2022 at 12:20    Image of day on 30 Jul 2022

On an Oxeye daisy flower are 3 Thick-legged Flower Beetles. Only the 2 males here have the leg bulges.


Ref: 20220730_df3_20220612_1220_240 3 thick-legged flower beetle on oxeye daisy flower(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 06 Jun 2020 at 13:47    Image of day on 09 Jul 2020

This montage shows a couple of Oxeye Daisy flowers attracting the attention of Thick-legged Flower Beetles.
The flower on the right is harbouring the male with the bulges on his rear legs, while on the left the female has an ordinary pair of legs


Ref: 20200709_df3_20200606_1347_052+20200605_1528_012 thick-legged flower beetles (oedemera nobilis) female (left) + male on oxeye daisies (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 08 Jul 2007 at 14:50    Image of day on 23 Jul 2007

These iridescent beetles really catch the eye. At the time we unknowingly photographed male (bulbous legs) and female 3 minutes apart on the same patch. Get to it!


Ref: 20070723_d10_20070708_1450_095&1453_112 thick-legged flower beetles male (left) and female (right) on blackberry flowers (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 18 Aug 2024 at 12:53    Image of day on 07 Oct 2024

Its the time of year for plant Galls.
This one on a Thistle was made by the aptly named 'Thistle Gall Fly'.


Ref: 20241007_d72_20240818_1253_113 thistle gall - made by thistle gall fly (urophora cardui)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Backwards

Forwards

 

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:-

Mail Us