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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Insects (assorted) Page 21
Image Taken on 31 May 2011
at 12:30 Image of day on 01 Jul 2011
While we were watching the butterfly, this Thick-legged Flower Beetle
got in on the act. According to some books this is the male, the females
not sporting the leg bulges, but the descriptions get muddled into another
species & we are not sure.
 male in buttercup flower(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20110701_df1_20110531_1230_094 thick-legged flower beetle (oedemera nobilis) male in buttercup flower(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 09 Jun 2019
at 15:27 Image of day on 23 Jul 2019
This is the first sighting here for 8 years (last time in May 2011)
of one of these Thick-legged Flower Beetles. Several seen since this sighting.
 on hogweed (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20190723_df5_20190609_1527_102 thick-legged flower beetle (oedemera nobilis) on hogweed (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 May 2024
at 13:45 Image of day on 20 Jun 2024
These small green beetles catch the eye with both their iridescent green
and, for the males only, their strange bulging thighs that give them
the name Thick-legged Flower Beetle. This one is on a Buttercup flower.
.jpg)
Ref: 20240620_df3_20240524_1345_005 thick-legged flower beetle in buttercup flower(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Jul 2016
at 13:32 Image of day on 16 Aug 2016
A collection of insect life on a Cow Parsley flower head.
The bulbous green legs of the Thick-Legged Flower Beetle only appear on the male.
It is almost unusual to see a single Red Soldier Beetle - they are usually seen as a riot
of mating pairs!
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20160816_df3_20160702_1332_034 thick-legged flower beetle male + red soldier beetle + ants (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 12 Jun 2022
at 12:20 Image of day on 30 Jul 2022
On an Oxeye daisy flower are 3 Thick-legged Flower Beetles.
Only the 2 males here have the leg bulges.
.jpg)
Ref: 20220730_df3_20220612_1220_240 3 thick-legged flower beetle on oxeye daisy flower(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 06 Jun 2020
at 13:47 Image of day on 09 Jul 2020
This montage shows a couple of Oxeye Daisy flowers attracting the attention of
Thick-legged Flower Beetles.
The flower on the right is harbouring the male with the bulges on his rear legs,
while on the left the female has an ordinary pair of legs
 female (left) + male on oxeye daisies (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20200709_df3_20200606_1347_052+20200605_1528_012 thick-legged flower beetles (oedemera nobilis) female (left) + male on oxeye daisies (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Jul 2007
at 14:50 Image of day on 23 Jul 2007
These iridescent beetles really catch the eye. At the time we
unknowingly photographed male (bulbous legs) and female 3 minutes
apart on the same patch. Get to it!
 and female (right) on blackberry flowers (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20070723_d10_20070708_1450_095&1453_112 thick-legged flower beetles male (left) and female (right) on blackberry flowers (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 18 Aug 2024
at 12:53 Image of day on 07 Oct 2024
Its the time of year for plant Galls.
This one on a Thistle was made by the aptly named 'Thistle Gall Fly'.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20241007_d72_20240818_1253_113 thistle gall - made by thistle gall fly (urophora cardui)(r+mb id@576).jpg
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 13 Jul 2024
at 09:48 Image of day on 26 Aug 2024
Our first ever sighting (or rather ID of) a Two-banded Wasp Hover-fly (one of
several variations of common names).
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20240826_r70_20240713_0948_101 two-banded wasp hoverfly (chrysotoxum bicinctum)(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
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