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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Insects (assorted) Page 20
Image Taken on 24 Sep 2007
at 10:41 Image of day on 16 Nov 2007
Another delightful bug photographed in September was held back
because we were unsure (& wrong!) about identification.
Kindly identified for us Sheila B via Judith K.
.jpg)
Ref: 20071116_p34_20070924_1041_762 shieldbug troilus luridus(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 20 Jul 2014
at 10:12 Image of day on 25 Sep 2014
The enormously long antennae tell you that this is a Cricket
rather than a Grasshopper. It is a pre-adult form (a Nymph)
probably a few moults before adulthood.
 winged conehead cricket nymph (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20140925_df2_20140720_1012_004 short (q) winged conehead cricket nymph (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 12 May 2022
at 13:53 Image of day on 20 Jun 2022
The stretch of hedge showing the density of the clusters
 3 of 3(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20220620_d72_20220512_1353_029 silk meshes in south facing hedge (poss ermine moth caterpillars) 3 of 3(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 12 May 2022
at 13:51 Image of day on 20 Jun 2022
One patch of the south side of the south hedge becomes a 'nursery' for
hundred of what we think are Ermine Moth caterpillars.
The caterpillars 'hide' behind sheet of silk in groups a a few dozen.
 with 2x insert 1 of 3(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220620_d72_20220512_1351_014 silk meshes in south facing hedge (poss ermine moth caterpillars) with 2x insert 1 of 3(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Aug 2025
at 11:37 Image of day on 27 Sep 2025
This Sloe Bug (aka Hairy Shieldbug) landed on Roy's bare arm in the conservatory,
and obliged with this photo along with Maries hair.
 found on arm in conservatory(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20250927_d72_20250807_1137_023 sloe bug (aka hairy shieldbug) found on arm in conservatory(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 21 Jul 2018
at 13:18 Image of day on 13 Sep 2018
On a cable lock was this less than 1 cm long Shieldbug identified with the image. It
will grow by shedding its carapace to become a handsome, if small, creature.
 early instar larva body length 8mm on gate cable lock(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20180913_d72_20180721_1318_005 sloe bug (dolycoris baccarum) early instar larva body length 8mm on gate cable lock(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Sep 2022
at 15:54 Image of day on 22 Oct 2022
In a self-set Mullen plant in a pot protected outside a window, this Sloe Bug
is wandering around.
Shieldbugs and Squashbugs are fascinating insects with multiple
appearances as they develop into adults.
 on mullen leaf (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20221022_df3_20220914_1554_156 sloe bug (dolycoris baccarum) on mullen leaf (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 17 Aug 2020
at 15:56 Image of day on 28 Sep 2020
In the top of a spiky teasel, this Sloe Bug quietly explores.
 on teasel head 1 of 2 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20200928_d73_20200817_1556_135 sloe bug (dolycoris baccarum) on teasel head 1 of 2 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 01 May 2023
at 17:47 Image of day on 13 Jun 2023
In a photo of Lilac in flower we find these two Sloe Bugs mating amid the blossom.
 mating on opening lilac blossom (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20230613_d72_20230501_1747_122 pair sloe bugs (dolycoris baccarum) mating on opening lilac blossom (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 17 Jul 2011
at 16:17 Image of day on 31 Aug 2011
Concentrating on the intended subject it is easy to overlook what
else is going on. The photo being taken was of the Small Copper
Butterfly but we only later noticed also the grasshopper (below
the butterfly's Proboscis) and 5 Red Soldier Beetles, 1 under the
butterfly on the right, and 4 more in the next flower along, one
pair mating as usual.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20110831_df1_20110717_1617_111 small copper butterfly on thistle + grasshopper + 5 common red soldier beetles (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 18 Jul 2013
at 18:04 Image of day on 04 Sep 2013
Sharing a thistle flower for a moment, this pair of mating Soldier Beetles are
joined for a few seconds by a Small Skipper Butterfly collecting supper.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20130904_df1_20130718_1804_042 small skipper butterfly & mating pair of soldier beetles on thistle flower (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Jul 2014
at 16:10 Image of day on 13 Sep 2014
This year we have a good number of Small Tortoiseshell
Butterflies. Here one is feeding on a thistle flower, surrounded
by 3 Red Soldier Beetles. While checking our IDs, we found the
Beetles described as the 'Hogweed Bonking Beetle' - a name very
appropriate to how we often see them!
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20140913_df2_20140708_1610_129 small tortoiseshell butterfly + 3 red soldier beetles on thistle heads (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 15 Aug 2019
at 16:08 Image of day on 07 Oct 2019
This days particular juicy foods attracts an assortment of insects.
.jpg)
Ref: 20191007_d36_20190815_1608_008_fb4 speckled wood butterfly + flies + wasps on freshly baited tree-stump(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 28 Sep 2024
at 13:13 Image of day on 11 Nov 2024
A late is season Speckled Wood Butterfly perched on a Blackberry leaf that has
been the food source for some sort of caterpillars.
.jpg)
Ref: 20241111_d72_20240928_1313_099 speckled wood butterfly perched on caterpillar damaged blackberry leaf(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Oct 2013
at 10:47 Image of day on 04 Dec 2013
This spider has this Cranefly caught in its 'invisible' web at
the edge of a pond. We never really could get a good angle but
this should give you an idea. The Cranefly has the long body and
the much smaller spider is attacking the cranefly's head end.
 web (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20131204_a77_20131005_1047_039 spider attacking cranefly caught in its (invisible) web (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 26 Jul 2025
at 12:39 Image of day on 16 Sep 2025
A spider in the conservatory has a 7-spot Ladybird caught in their web,
and secures the hapless insect before drinking it's fluids and then cutting
the husk free to crop to the ground.
.jpg)
Ref: 20250916_d72_20250726_1239_013 spider wrapping ladybird inside conservatory on window(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Sep 2025
at 10:20 Image of day on 26 Oct 2025
Against the outside of the conservatory window this spider has captured a
wasp in their web, and is now wrapping up their prize.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20251026_d72_20250905_1020_053 spider wrapping up wasp caught in web (crop 2)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Jun 2023
at 13:00 Image of day on 28 Jul 2023
Illustrating the damage Spindle Ermine Moths do, here is a silky bagful of soon to
leave caterpillar along with half a leaf completely stripped.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20230728_d72_20230602_1300_028 spindle ermine moth caterpillar infestation (id only)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Jun 2023
at 13:00 Image of day on 28 Jul 2023
The Spindle Ermine Moth infestation this year is not as bad as last year (we estimate
about 30% of last years) , but some of the trees are very badly smothered.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20230728_d72_20230602_1300_024 spindle ermine moth caterpillar infests whole tree (crop with insert)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 28 May 2022
at 09:05 Image of day on 03 Jul 2022
Continuing the story of the Ermine Moth caterpillars: a walk down a 20 metre
long path found our way blocked by about 20 silk threads hanging from a Spindle
Tree about 4 metres above. Clinging to the thread were hundreds of caterpillars
we have to believe to be Spindle Ermine Moths. Much harder to photograph than
to see, here is an attempt to catch the hanging wall of threads.
 cling to metres long 20 silk threads on spindle tree 1 of 4 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220703_df3_20220528_0905_131 spindle ermine moth caterpillars (yponomeata cagnagella) cling to metres long 20 silk threads on spindle tree 1 of 4 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
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