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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Insects (assorted) Page 20
Image Taken on 30 May 2022
at 07:08 Image of day on 03 Jul 2022
This is the clump of Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars in the middle of the above image,
but photographed with flash from the other side.
.jpg)
Ref: 20220703_d72_20220530_0708_051 spindle ermine moth caterpillars on hanging silk threads(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Jun 2022
at 08:44 Image of day on 08 Jul 2022
The mass showing this year of Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillar has effected every
one of our Spindle Trees - we haven't counted, but we planted 25 about thirty years ago
and most of them 'took'. Damage varies from perhaps 30% loss of foliage
to about 10 of the trees stripped completely bare of leaves.
.jpg)
Ref: 20220708_df3_20220607_0844_020 spindle ermine moth caterpillars wrapped in spindle leaves(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Mar 2021
at 10:13 Image of day on 28 Apr 2021
We have been seeing 7-spot Ladybirds intermittently for some weeks now,
But on this sunny day they were out in numbers.
This one is on some unidentified thorny bush of the trackside hedge.
.jpg)
Ref: 20210428_df3_20210330_1013_030 7 spot ladybird(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 09 Apr 2020
at 15:14 Image of day on 02 May 2020
Several sightings of these 7-Spot Ladybirds so far this year - more than for
the occasional invasive (if now inevitable) Harlequin Ladybird.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20200502_df3_20200409_1514_001 7 spot ladybird (1st of 2020)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Apr 2006
at 14:19 Image of day on 22 Apr 2006
First time we have observed a two spot ladybird with 'inverted' colours.
 (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20060422_d10_20060414_1419_244 2 spot ladybird (orange spots on black wing case) (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 29 Sep 2009
at 11:16 Image of day on 05 Nov 2009
A visitor spotted a 7 spot ladybird hiding in the depth of one of
these fir cones, and search revealed several out and about.
.jpg)
Ref: 20091105_p34_20090929_1116_360 7 spot ladybird on fir cone(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Mar 2014
at 16:29 Image of day on 20 Apr 2014
We are seeing quite a lot of 7-spot Ladybirds (and so far very
few Harlequins). We rather like this portrayal on the top of a
Hazel catkin along with 2 of the tiny red (female) flowers. The
ladybird is visible speckled with the air-dispersed pollen.
We have used flash here to make the shaded insect visible.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20140420_p10_20140307_1629_577 7 spot ladybird on hazel catkin & 2 female flowers (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Jul 2018
at 15:32 Image of day on 13 Sep 2018
An unusual sighting for us is this 22 spot Ladybird walking over the sharp
spines of the thistle leaf with zero concern. Despite its outlandish appearance
this is a wholly British species rather than a Harlequin variant.
.jpg)
Ref: 20180913_d72_20180724_1532_013 22 spot ladybird on thistle leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image of day on 05 Apr 2005
The ladybirds mating on an evergreen on an unexpected warm
and sunny day.
.jpg)
Ref: 20050405_d12_02438 7 spot ladybird pair mating 2005mar26_12-38-48(r+mb id@576).jpg
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.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
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.
 on concrete with shadow (crop 2)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
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.
.jpg)
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.
 on oxeye daisy flower(r+mb id@576).jpg)
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.
 on white flower head(r+mb id@768).jpg)
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
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
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 .
.jpg)
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.
 into nest in loft (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
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.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
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.
 parasitic fly on knapweed flower (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
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.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20100929_db1_20100820_1216_104 tachina fera parasitic fly on unripe blackberry fruit (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
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