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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Insects (assorted) Page 20
Image Taken on 17 May 2022
at 08:46 Image of day on 25 Jun 2022
The first appearance this year of a 'Scorpion Fly' - this is a female that doesn't
have the scorpion-like tail tip that gives the species it's name.
.jpg)
Ref: 20220625_df3_20220517_0846_033 scorpion fly female - 1st of 2022(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 18 May 2009
at 13:23 Image of day on 08 Jun 2009
The female Scorpion fly doesn't have anything that suggests a
scorpion. The face ends in a 'beak' pointing down and left here.
The body is about 2 cm long.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090608_dc1_20090518_1323_037+1331_046 ft1 scorpion fly female in flight with blackthorn (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 20 Jun 2018
at 17:58 Image of day on 03 Aug 2018
This is called Scorpion Fly - only the male has the curled tail that gives the
species it's common name. And no, it isn't a stinger!
.jpg)
Ref: 20180803_df3_20180620_1758_094 scorpion fly male(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 22 May 2009
at 11:48 Image of day on 08 Jun 2009
But this is the male with a harmless (its said - we are not going to try
it out) 'scorpion' tail complete with gap between the 'pincers'
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090608_d01_20090522_1148_111+1124_035 ft1 scorpion fly male in flight with blackthorn (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 21 Mar 2009
at 16:16 Image of day on 15 Apr 2009
Our first ladybird of the year is a BRITISH 7-spot ladybird - not one of
those Harlequin things that are beginning to become dominant.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090415_p34_20090321_1616_631 seven-spot ladybird on ne corner cherry tree bark (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Aug 2019
at 09:29 Image of day on 19 Oct 2019
This Sexton Beetle, with bright orange patches, made its first recorded appearance here
caught in the overnight moth-trap.
We released the Sexton Beetle onto the grass for a photo against something
natural. We adore the orange tips to the antennae at the bottom.
After a couple of minutes he flew away just fine.
 (crop))(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20191019_d73_20190825_0929_014 sexton beetle (nicrophorus vespillo) (crop))(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Aug 2019
at 09:21 Image of day on 19 Oct 2019
Before releasing the Sexton Beetle out of doors (see above) we tried to get him
to fly for us. But Beetles are generally reluctant to 'fly to order', and these are the best we got.
 in flight & perched on vertical stick (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20191019_da1_20190825_0921_127+0918_123_ft1 sexton beetle (nicrophorus vespillo) in flight & perched on vertical stick (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 31 Aug 2018
at 15:56 Image of day on 24 Oct 2018
On the rotating clothes-line this little (maybe 1cm long) Shieldbug was perched
on a sheet. Our first record of this (apparently) common insect.
 on drying bedsheet(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20181024_df3_20180831_1556_052 shieldbug bishops mitre (aelia acuminata) on drying bedsheet(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Feb 2021
at 07:13 Image of day on 24 Mar 2021
This little Shieldbug nearly got flattened as we replaced this protective slate
that shields the window of the camera box looking at the tree-stump.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20210324_d73_20210222_0713_213 shieldbug hawthorn adult on slate covering fb4 2 of 2 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
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
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