Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Insects (assorted) Page 21

Image Taken on 28 May 2022 at 09:06 Image of day on 03 Jul 2022

Looking up we see the same nets of silk we saw in the hedge, but this time several metres up in the Spindle tree.

Ref: 20220703_df3_20220528_0906_142 spindle ermine moth caterpillars (yponomeata cagnagella) cling to metres long 20 silk threads on spindle tree 3 of 4 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 May 2022 at 12:41 Image of day on 08 Jul 2022

Here a dozen Spindle Ermine Caterpillars seem to arrived at the 'End of their tether' - quite literally.

Ref: 20220708_df3_20220527_1241_062 spindle ermine moth caterpillars clumped at end of vertical silk thread(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 18 May 2023 at 10:40 Image of day on 02 Jul 2023

First seen 4 days earlier (14 May 2023) as a single infested stem of a Spindle tree, we now see that this years infestation of Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars has moved to several Spindle trees and the sunny side of the south hedge. The Caterpillars appear identical to last years.

Ref: 20230702_df3_20230518_1040_012 spindle ermine moth caterpillars infesting a few metres of south face of south hedge (crop + insert)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 30 May 2022 at 07:08 Image of day on 03 Jul 2022

2 days later only a few of the threads used by the Spindle Ermine Moth Caterpillars remain. Here a camera flash makes them clearer.

Ref: 20220703_d72_20220530_0708_050 spindle ermine moth caterpillars on hanging silk threads(r+mb id@576).jpg

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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