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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Insects (assorted) Page 20
Image Taken on 07 Jun 2015
at 16:20 Image of day on 07 Aug 2015
Tree Bumble Bees are gradually introducing themselves to the UK.
We are finding dozens on a stretch of Green Alkanet along our
farm track. This individual would fly for us but she always took
off flying backwards. The left and right images are about 150mS
apart from the same flight, and we have slipped in another flight
between them to make a satisfactory montage. We would have
'photoshopped' the insects box on the right for something more
natural if we could have done it convincingly, but in the end
'truth' won out. Nobody got stung - we handle our guests with kindness.
 in flight backwards away from launch (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20150807_da1_20150607_1620_427+1621_430+1620_426_ft1 tree bumble bee (q) in flight backwards away from launch (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Jun 2015
at 18:15 Image of day on 05 Aug 2015
We believe this 'Tree Bumblebee' to be new species here for us, and is
a 'self introduction to the UK over the past 10 years.
No bee like this appears in any of our now venerable insect ID books.
Along the track edge in sunshine is a strip of 'Green Alkanet' with
pretty blue flowers that was hosting about 50 similar bees - the most
bees we have seen on this patch for years. Hurrah!
We didn't recognise them at the time but took some photos as they fed on the
tiny flowers, just measured as 1cm across, and showing a bit lighter here than
as viewed by the eye because the exposure is adjusted for the dark Bee body.
 (1 of about 50 - 1st id) feeding on green alkanet flowers (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20150805_df3_20150603_1815_180 tree bumblebee (bombus hypnorum) (1 of about 50 - 1st id) feeding on green alkanet flowers (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Jun 2015
at 18:16 Image of day on 05 Aug 2015
A Tree Bumblebee flying to a Green Alkanet flower. The partly
shaded flower at top left more represents the flower's colour than those
in full sunlight overexposed to properly image the bee.
 (1 of about 50 - 1st id) feeding on green alkanet flowers (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20150805_df3_20150603_1816_190 tree bumblebee (bombus hypnorum) (1 of about 50 - 1st id) feeding on green alkanet flowers (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 15 Jun 2015
at 15:23 Image of day on 17 Aug 2015
As the Green Alkanet along the track side finished flowering the Tree Bumblebees have
moved into the centre of our site and this one is enjoying one of
thousands of white Clover flowers.
.jpg)
Ref: 20150817_df3_20150615_1523_028 tree bumblebee on white clover flower(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 23 Mar 2012
at 16:11 Image of day on 26 Apr 2012
We haven't identified this Bumble Bee, but love the dusting of pollen
from the willow catkin.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20120426_df1_20120323_1611_063 unident bumble bee on willow catkin (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Oct 2011
at 13:03 Image of day on 19 Nov 2011
This appears to be a Cuckoo Bee but we don't have enough
experience or the right books to definitively ID it. Cuckoo Bees
do what their name says - they lay eggs in another bees nest.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20111119_da1_20111003_1303_139+20111001_1605_043_ft1 unident cuckoo bee in flight with yellow buddleia (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 09 Sep 2007
at 13:14 Image of day on 12 Oct 2007
This little creature landed on Marie while picking blackberries.
We now have an experts confirmation that this is a Palomena prasina nymph
that will be adult at it's next stage.
Thanks to Judith K. for getting the expert assessment for us
 by clover leaf next to self-heal flower(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20071012_p34_20070909_1314_216 unidentified shieldbug (10mm long) by clover leaf next to self-heal flower(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Nov 2012
at 10:50 Image of day on 08 Dec 2012
We are not sure which this wagtail is, but here it was chasing the insect
you clearly see just ahead of it. Insects emerge from under the slates as
they get warm in the sun and along come the Wagtails to feast for a while
(r+mb id@432).jpg)
Ref: 20121208_df1_20121102_1050_166 wagtail chasing fly (crop)(r+mb id@432).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Jun 2023
at 15:47 Image of day on 29 Jul 2023
A new insect for us, lurking on a twig, is a 1.5 cm (half inch) Wasp Beetle.
It is a Wasp Mimic as a form of defence.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20230729_d72_20230602_1547_061 wasp beetle about 15mm body (clytus arietis)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 18 Aug 2013
at 19:23 Image of day on 09 Oct 2013
The local Wasp formation flying Team?
No - we didn't cheat - this is a genuine, if bizarre, single frame.
 around food on tree stump(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20131009_d36_20130818_1923_261_fb4 9 wasps (4 in flight) around food on tree stump(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 31 Aug 2020
at 16:24 Image of day on 10 Oct 2020
Neither of us are keen on wasps, but we don't interfere with them unless they
become a problem, but we have to admit that this is a wonderful show of
yellow and black.
.jpg)
Ref: 20201010_d73_20200831_1624_068 wasps on rotting apple peel(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Jun 2017
at 12:18 Image of day on 27 Jul 2017
In a bright sunshine this double White Iris flower looks wonderful
but is quite hard to see the structure in the harsh lighting.
 beetles(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20170727_df3_20170603_1218_070 2 white flag iris flowers entwined and a few (not lily) beetles(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 09 Jun 2020
at 12:57 Image of day on 12 Jul 2020
It took a while to identify this caterpillar as that of the White Satin
Moth.
We met a pair of Imago (i.e. the finished moth) 7 years ago (2013) that you
can see two-thirds of the way down page
arch 2013 sep.htm.
 caterpillar (orig)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20200712_df3_20200609_1257_062 white satin moth (leucoma salicis) caterpillar (orig)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 28 Oct 2014
at 12:41 Image of day on 27 Dec 2014
One of a pair of White Wagtails caught an insect taking off
from the roof ridge. The top image shows the White Wagtail launching
towards the fly just above the surface of the ridge cap.
The second image (about 140mS later) the insect was fleeing but
the bird has caught it anyway already within the open beak.
It is clearer in the shadow than in the direct image!
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20141227_df2_20141028_1241_044-045 white wagtail catching fly from roof ridge 1+2 of 3 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 28 Oct 2014
at 12:41 Image of day on 27 Dec 2014
This was our first attempt at the above montage. The initial
position of the insect was muddled in with the shadow of the foot
of the flying bird, so we didn't include it. The third image was
obviously delayed but it sort of finishes the sequence.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20141227_df2_20141028_1241_044-046 white wagtail catching fly from roof ridge 1-3 of 3 (impression montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 31 Oct 2014
at 12:22 Image of day on 30 Dec 2014
In the conservatory we hear the scrabbling feet of Wagtails
exploring the roof. By leaving through the front door and
walking round the house we can sometimes get to see & photograph
them from the outside. This White Wagtail has shortened the usual
'wait for a fly to emerge and dive on it' strategy - it just
picked this torpid fly out of the crevice!
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20141230_df2_20141031_1222_036-038 white wagtail picking fly out of crevice in conservatory roof 1-3 of 4 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Jun 2016
at 16:22 Image of day on 24 Jul 2016
A week after the initial flourish of white wild rose, we get the
more conventional pink flowers with much less perfume - even a
whole bush with 100 flowers produces less perfume than a handful
of white flowers in the hedge. The Honey Bee is making the most of the pollen.
 with bee collecting pollen(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20160724_df3_20160610_1622_203 wild rose (pink petals) with bee collecting pollen(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 27 Aug 2023
at 13:15 Image of day on 23 Oct 2023
In the same bowl of blackberries were several Woundwort Shieldbugs, only
about a quarter of an inch long.
Bowls of fruits and other harvests are spread out on a tray for a day to let
any animate life escape the washing and cooking.
 about 6mm long in blackberry pot (id only)(r+mb id@432).jpg)
Ref: 20231023_d71_20230827_1315_016 woundwort shieldbug (eysarcoris fabricii) about 6mm long in blackberry pot (id only)(r+mb id@432).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Jul 2019
at 10:32 Image of day on 27 Aug 2019
Details of Yellow Meadow Vetchling flowers complete with the
ever present Hover-fly (which seem atypically numerous this year).
 flower with hover-fly(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20190827_df3_20190707_1032_026 yellow meadow vetchling (lathyyrus pratensis) flower with hover-fly(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 26 May 2006
at 13:05 Image of day on 02 Jun 2006
This yellowhammer female has a cranefly in its beak so must be feeding
young on a nest somewhere.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20060602_d3e_20060526_1305_017 fb1 yellowhammer female with cranefly in beak (processed)(r+mb id@576).jpg
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