A big THANK YOU guys for all your images, please keep them coming.
If you have an image that could be used as a Quiz Pic please send to Nick or Robin. (Only local /Northamptonshire stuff please).
Dave Jackson has sent in this image of three Thick-headed flies and thought it might be good as a Caption Picture. So if you have a humorous caption please let us know and we'll publish them.
If you also have an image that might be good for a Caption, please send it in. Cheerz Robin.
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| Two's company three's a crowd . DJ |
Bob Gill says..................Come on and do the Conga !!
Robin Gossage................Me next, me next !
So since most of us have an avid interest in birds, I thought that maybe this quiz pic might fit the bill or is that mandible.
In order to win yet another incredible prize just email me with your answer. Good Luck. PS this wasn't taken in Northants.
Okay Okay I thought that one or two birders might have deciphered what bird this might be. The most popular answer was a Purple Sandpiper, not bad guesses but in actual fact its a ..........White-rumped Sandpiper! So no prize this time.
A couple more images from deep, dark and dank, depths of Spratton. David Arden
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| Probably Buff-tailed Bumblebee |
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| White-letter Hairstreak. |
So something a little more difficult (but not that hard) for the latest Quiz Pic. Can anyone identify this........
Another wonderful prize awaits the first correct answer, just contact Nick or myself (Robin).
Okay so maybe it's a little difficult to name so I'm going to award the prize to Andy Astill, who got the closest. Andy guessed it being the rear of a moth, so rotating the image 90 degrees anticlockwise it may seem a little more obvious. As for the species, well the rear might be the tip and the colour is buff .
Buff Tip......
Andy asked if the underrated and derided copy of Nocturnal Insect Excretia. the Field Guide by I.P.Nightly might be his prize.
The Hardback version is sadly no longer available so I hope you will be happy with the IZAL paperback .
Well done Andy and i hope this should compliment your last prize winning book.
Many thanks to all those who entered, another Quiz soon.
Images from a Spratton Garden by David Arden.
The Emperor, one of our largest Hawkers ovipositing.
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| Flesh fly sp on Scabious |
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| Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort |
Andy Astill sent this interesting shot taken at Old Sulahay. I thought you might like.
The bug seems to have somehow latched on to the Bee's tongue, whilst the Bee is frantically trying to dislodge it. Thanks Andy.
Pond update. Living the high life
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| Ya know Frederick, I can see for miles. Robin Gossage |
Images from Mr Gill
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| Reddish Light Arches |
A rather nicely coloured Parasitic fly, Mintho rufiventris.
Phil Davies possibly a pair of Chalcid wasps Torymus sp?
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| female, note long ovipositor |
These are tiny (3mm) Parasitic wasps, with a beautiful green metallic colour and are mobile. Stunning little things, well photographed Phil.
Robin Gossage, running a moth trap can sometimes deliver something unusual like this
lovely Summer Chafer.
Or a STUNNING Privet Hawkmoth
More from the Pond Broad-bodied Chaser
Bob Gill
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| Garden Chafer |
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| Bird's Wing |
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| Small (but gorgeous) Ranunculus |
Frank Smith
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| Oak Bush-cricket |
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| Cinnamon Sedge Caddisfly |
Thank-you Frank.
More from the Pond..
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| A Chorus of Frogs Robin Gossage |
Amazing, well done Andy I really don't know how you managed to guess this, of course it's a Bee Orchid. Your prize is the now out of print but highly sort book on Worm Cast's by I B Wriggly, Enjoy.
Andy Astill Bee Orchid
A Hawthorn Shieldbug from Frank Smith.
Bob Gill with a couple of distant shots of Brown Hawker and he hasn't even got a pond.
So that's what they look like ! Nice shootin'
Robin Gossage
Marbled Minor
Marbled Minor
Salticus scenicus 'Zebra jumping Spider'
Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp, this male is just over half the size of the female
Common Shorebug Saldula saltatoria, new for me around the pond
View from David Arden's kitchen window
Bullfinch
Some Garden shot's from Phil Davies
One of Phil's nesting Blue Tits
Gaudy Starling
Weevil sp mating.
Any suggestion as to what species ?
Thanks Phil.
A few more moths from Bob Gill's Light trap
Dichrorampha alpinana (Micro Moth Tortricidae)
Agapeta hamana Micro Moth
Broad Centurion male (soldierfly) Females have bluish abdomen.
Common Footman
White Ermine
Campion
Rhyacionia pinicolana
Varied Coronet & Broad-barred White
Spinach
Light Emerald
Robin Gossage
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| Eristalis pertinax |
A common Hoverfly occurring everywhere, separated from E nemorum by yellow front and middle tarsi.
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| Early Bumblebee worker |
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| Helophilus hybridus |
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| Blimey you can see the rictal bristles! |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Wood Pigeon |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Blackbird |
So, more images from Dave's garden
Dave Jackson
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| Suillia variegata |
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| Muscid Fly sp |
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| Dasysrphus albostriatus |
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| Ichneumon sp |
Bob Gill
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| Fly Bug Reduvius personatus an Assassin Bug |
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| Green Silverlines |
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| Pale Tussock |
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| Hawthorn Shieldbug |
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| Shark |
Robin Gossage, (more tales from the garden pond).
While watching this frog it began periodically opening and closing its mouth, I could see some mucus/saliva in its mouth when opened. Having never seen the inside of a frog's mouth before, I thought this was normal.
However the penny dropped as it reached upwards stretching a membrane from the corner of its mouth to the foot of its front limb. It was eating the shed skin from its body, akin to sloughing with snakes (but they leave their shed skin behind).
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| Add caption |
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| Mating Pond Skaters |
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Clive Bowley
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| Queen Median Wasp |
Big and beautiful, very much like a Hornet, but told by the yellow tick marks on the thorax.
As usual Clive nice pic.
Robin Gossage
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| Happy |
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| Tiny flies (2-3mm) mating on exuviae (poss mayfly) |
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| Ophion obscuratus |
Bob Gill
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| Large Elephant Hawkmoth |
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| Small Elephant Hawkmoth |
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| Lime-speck Pug |
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| Rustic Shoulder Knot |
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| Green Furrow Bee Lasioglossum morio |
John Showers
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| Cockchafer or Maybug |
A large beetle up to 30mm, with feathery antennae
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| Red -headed Cardinal Beetle |
Robin Gossage
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| Starling |
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| upon reflection |
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| Greenbottle |
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| Teneral Large Red Damselfly |
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| Common Backswimmer |
Bob Gill
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| Eyed Hawk Moth. |
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| Chinese Character |
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| Eyed Ladybird. |
David Arden
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| Broad-bodied Chaser, male. |
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| Grass Snake |
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| Grass Snake |
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| Grass Snake |
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| Bathing Blackbird |
Clive Bowley
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| Dark-edged Bee-fly |
Quiz Pic No 2. Can you ID this critter, again please send your answer to Robin.
So Clive Bowley correctly identified the above as a Garden Snail.
Well Done mate, you win a get out of Jail free card.
Bob Gill
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| 10 Spot Ladybird |
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| Cabbage moth |
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| Hairy Shieldbug |
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| Merodon equestris Large Narcissus Fly |
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| Wrinkled Snail |
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| Anthocomus fasciatus (4mm) |
A Soft-winged Flower Beetle, what a great find, thanks for these Bob.
Robin Gossage
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| Lime Hawk Moth |
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| House Martin, my first just over a week ago. |
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| Trametes Hirsutum, on an old work-top. |
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| Amaurobius similis |
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| Epistrophe elegans |
Bob Gill
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| Pyrausta aurata |
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| Bee Moth |
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| Blue Mason Bee |
Robin Gossage
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| Common Buzzard |
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| House Mouse |
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| Woodpigeon. |
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| Muslin Moth. |
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| Hedge Accentor. |
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| Nutmeg. |
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| Cinnabar Moth. |
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| Many-plumed moth |
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| Eristalis pertinax |
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| Maiden's Blush. |
Long time since Bob's done that !
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| Speckled Bush-cricket. late instar. |
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| Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus |
My word another Box Bug, again with a missing leg.
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| Crucifer Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea in white form |
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| and in red form |
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| 14 spot Ladybirds mating. Propylea quattuordecimpunctata |
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| Take that and that |
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| Har! har! missed me! |
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| YUM,YUM. |
Clive Bowley
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| Starling in all its glory |
Philip Davies.
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| Blue Mason Bee Osmia caerulescens. |
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| Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis |
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| Green Shieldbug Nazara viridula |
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| Helophilus pendulus Hoverfly. |
So a little Quiz, for all you budding naturalists. I've taken a crop of the original. Can anyone ID it ?
Please send your answers to Robins email.
So the £10,000 prize winner is ....Bob Gill, who correctly identified a Slow-worm.
Well done Bob.
John Showers
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| Noble False Widow. |
unless of course you corner it, then it will go for the throat.
A beauty indeed. Thanks John.
Robin Gossage
David Arden
David , has that newt been drinking?
A few Bits from Mr Gill as he now likes to be known,
Cheerz Bob.
Phillip Davies
After finding one Phil and Sue eventually had three Hedgehogs visiting their garden. Looks like two parents and a youngster. Marvellous !
Clive Bowley
These Bee-flies have a great way of putting their eggs into their victims nest. They are parasitoids of Solitary Bees and wasps. By weighting down their eggs with soil they then throw them into the nest,
using their under-carriage as a sling shot.
Dave Jackson
Lots of these little critters about at the moment but keep your eyes open for the Dotted Bee-fly.
This replaces the dark edge on the wing with you guessed it, paler dots.
Robin Gossage
During the excessively wet weather early on this year my small pond expanded exponentially. A Heron visited one day and regurgitated a small carp into my pond.
Several weeks later whilst looking out over the pond having my morning coffee I noticed this unbelievable site!
Aerial dog fight over the garden.
Bob Gill
Another lovely shot of your Bank Vole Andy. He's so cute I think some one should name him.
Any suggestions ? ? let me know.
Close up of a Butterfly wing.
Phillip Davies
Really good find Phil, quite an unusual and rare bug in the county and surrounding areas.
Just goes to prove what can turn up in your garden !
Most of the spiders are quite difficult to I D, I'm going for Tegenaria gigantic. Please let me know
if you have an alternative.
Bob Gill
A little stunner of a beetle.
Andy Astill
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| Holly Blue. |
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| Pine Beauty. |
A beauty indeed. Thanks John.
Robin Gossage
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| Blue Tit |
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| Starling |
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| Robin (taken thro' patio doors) |
David Arden
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| Large Red Damselfly |
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| Common Newt |
A few Bits from Mr Gill as he now likes to be known,
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| Early Bumble Bee Bombus pratorum |
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| Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum. |
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| Honey Bee Apis mellifera |
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| Yellow-legged mining Bee Andrena flavipes |
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| Buffish Mining Bee Andrena nigroaenea |
What a load of pollen.............you must have in your garden.
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| Gracillaria syringella |
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| Argyrotaenia ljungiana |
Phillip Davies
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After finding one Phil and Sue eventually had three Hedgehogs visiting their garden. Looks like two parents and a youngster. Marvellous !
Clive Bowley
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| Dark-edged Bee-fly |
These Bee-flies have a great way of putting their eggs into their victims nest. They are parasitoids of Solitary Bees and wasps. By weighting down their eggs with soil they then throw them into the nest,
using their under-carriage as a sling shot.
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| Pea-leaf Weevil, Sitona lineatus |
Dave Jackson
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| 14-spot Ladybird. |
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| Nomada marshamella, Marsham's Nomad Bee |
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| Dark-edged Bee-fly |
This replaces the dark edge on the wing with you guessed it, paler dots.
Robin Gossage
During the excessively wet weather early on this year my small pond expanded exponentially. A Heron visited one day and regurgitated a small carp into my pond.
Several weeks later whilst looking out over the pond having my morning coffee I noticed this unbelievable site!
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| ..............Or is it just a fishy tail ? |
Aerial dog fight over the garden.
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| one plucky crow! |
Bob Gill
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| Harlequin Ladybird |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Jay |
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| Long-tailed Titmouse |
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| Cream-spot Ladybird |
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| Blackcap Andy Astill |
Another lovely shot of your Bank Vole Andy. He's so cute I think some one should name him.
Any suggestions ? ? let me know.
Close up of a Butterfly wing.
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| Andy Astill. |
Phillip Davies
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| Box Bug |
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| Box Bug |
Just goes to prove what can turn up in your garden !
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| Large house spider Phil Davies. |
Most of the spiders are quite difficult to I D, I'm going for Tegenaria gigantic. Please let me know
if you have an alternative.
Bob Gill
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| Waved Umber |
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| Rosemary Leaf Beetle |
Andy Astill
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| BankVole |
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| Bank Vole Super, Thanks for these Andy. |
Clive Bowley
Having no bovver with the hover then Clive.
Bob Gill
Oh look it's waving at you.
Robin Gossage
David Arden
David was lucky enough to have a female Black Redstart in his garden for a couple of days. Lovely birds to see anywhere, but something special when it is in your own garden.
Stuart Mundy
Stock Doves are becoming more regular as garden visitors. Stuart grab a great photo of this visitor to his garden. Let us know if you see Stock Doves in your garden.
John Showers
Bob Gill
John Showers
Woodlouse spider, six eyes and large fangs (chelicerae). Nice one Clive.
Bob Gill
Appearing early in the year until about May. Note legs, nearly as hairy as Bob's.
Some shots from Andy Astill. Dark-edged Bee-fly.
and for those that like their macro a little extreme,
2019 (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE).
Jumping spider.
Long -horned Beetle.
Blimey, what a feat making love with the wife scoffing a bug, all the time hanging by two limb's.
more images from Phil Davies.
Both Male, below and female, right, Tawny Mining Bee.
Appearing early in the year, with the gorgeous female sporting an orange abdomen and a red thorax.
The male, being smaller and quite dissimilar.
Many thanks for these images Phil.
Some cracking Fungi from Phil Davies,
wonderful stuff Phil.
Thank you Phil.
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| Possibly Eristalis nemorum. Clive Bowley |
Bob Gill
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| Green-veined White. |
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| Forget-me-not Shieldbug. You Gripper. |
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| The Mullein. Bob Gill. |
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| Tephritis neesili. |
Robin Gossage
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| Lily Beetle |
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| Frederic the Frog |
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| Young Smooth Newt |
David Arden
David was lucky enough to have a female Black Redstart in his garden for a couple of days. Lovely birds to see anywhere, but something special when it is in your own garden.
Stuart Mundy
John Showers
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| Treecreeper |
Bob Gill
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| Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum |
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| Comma |
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| Lygus pratensis Capsid Bug. |
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| Cereal Leaf Beetle. |
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| The very smart Corizus hyoscyami, Rhopalid Bug |
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| Bruchus rufimanus Leaf Beetle |
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| Common Toad |
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| Green Shieldbug |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Small White |
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| Dark-edged Beefly |
Clive Bowley
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Woodlouse spider, six eyes and large fangs (chelicerae). Nice one Clive.
Bob Gill
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| Hairy-footed Flower Bee |
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| and in flight. |
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| Hebrew Character, Bob Gill. |
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| 7-spot Ladybird, Bob Gill. |
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| Bee-fly |
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| Bee-fly |
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| Bee-fly |
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| Chalcid Wasp (about 4mm) Andy Astill |
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| Eye of the Fly, Andy Astill |
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| Ant head Andy Astill |
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| A 3mm Grass fly sp. Stacked image. Andy Astill. Stunning Stuff ! |
2019 (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE).
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| Purple Emperor. Tim Newton. |
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| Fox. Del boy. |
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| Green Shieldbug nymph. Andy Astill |
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| Agelena labyrinthica with prey. Andy Astill. |
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| Silver-wash fritillary. RDG. |
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| Marpissa muscosa. RDG. |
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| Rutpela maculata Phil Davies (PD) |
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| Probably Empis tessallata. P D. |
Below, a favourite family of Flies for me, The Robber's, notice the white facial hairs.
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| Leptogaster cylindrica. PD. |
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| Wasp beetle (Longhorn) PD. |
more images from Phil Davies.
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| Dark-edged Bee-fly. |
Both Male, below and female, right, Tawny Mining Bee.
Appearing early in the year, with the gorgeous female sporting an orange abdomen and a red thorax.
The male, being smaller and quite dissimilar.
Many thanks for these images Phil.
Some cracking Fungi from Phil Davies,
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| Phallus impudicus, Phil Davis |
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| Stinkhorn, Phallus impudicus |
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| Yellow Stagshorn Phil Davis. |
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| Fungi sp Phil Davis. |
2018,
A nice change to have a couple of Mammals, firstly a Badger visiting Dave Jacksons garden. Lucky so and so !
A newcomer to digital photography Timmy "Carabid" Newton sent a couple of shots to share, taken on his new camera.
Keep them coming Tim.
A treat now for all you moth'ers out there, Stuart Mundy using pheromones catching some cracking Clearwings and others beside .
From David Arden, some shots I would have loved to have taken. Grass Snake taken in David's pond.
Thanks for these David.
Nice to see some young Common Lizards lounging around.
Within a split second this Hornet veered, caught this unfortunate fly took it to ground and started to dismember it
It really is a dangerous insect world.
Trichrysis cyanea a beautiful small metallic green cuckoo wasp, from Phil Davies
An uncommon Fungi, Mutinus caninas or Dog Stinkhorn.
Although this species below wasn't found in the county, but just in Warwickshire its so good and close to Northants I thought it deserved to be shown.
It was caught and (sadly) pinned by Timmy, images from Bob Gill.
The Cimbex connatus (very similar to C luteus ) is a very large Cimbicid Sawfly a Hornet mimic, it is also very rare and harmless.
A couple of bits from Phil, I think the first image maybe of a Rove Beetle larva of some kind, but if you know different please let me know. the second image is a Broad Damsel-bug.
Some great stuff from Phil Davies including a rare ant like wasp.
Well found and captured mate, something I've never seen...
Thanks for these Phil.
Several Interesting and well taken shots from Bob Gill.
Don't you just luv a good Robber !
Just look at those eyes...fabulous, nice shooting mate.
From the depths of deep Spratton, thank-you David for reminding me what a brilliant reptile
this is.
Some more captures from Phil Davis.
This may be the male Phil as I can't make out the red band on the abdomen but needs to be
A nice change to have a couple of Mammals, firstly a Badger visiting Dave Jacksons garden. Lucky so and so !
 |
| Barry Brock. Dave Jackson. |
Secondly a bright eyed and bushy tailed young Fox
 |
| Red Fox. Robin Gossage. |
A newcomer to digital photography Timmy "Carabid" Newton sent a couple of shots to share, taken on his new camera.
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| Probably imm Common Blue Damselfly. Tim Newton. |
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| Devils Coach Horse, fabulous name and fabulous image Tim. |
Keep them coming Tim.
A treat now for all you moth'ers out there, Stuart Mundy using pheromones catching some cracking Clearwings and others beside .
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| Orange Tailed Clearwing from near Bucknell wood Stuart Mundy. |
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| Currant Clearwing Stuart Mundy |
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| Raspberry Clearwing Stuart Mundy. |
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| Red Belted Clearwing Stuart Mundy. |
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| Red Tipped Clearwing Stuart Mundy |
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| Yellow-legged Clearwing Stuart Mundy |
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| Male Emperor Kingsthorpe allotments Stuart Mundy |
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| Emperor in flight Stuart Mundy. |
Wow Stuart, some rarely seen moths thanks for sharing.
From David Arden, some shots I would have loved to have taken. Grass Snake taken in David's pond.
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| Well hello szzzzz |
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| Just taking a snifter |
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| Grass Snake David Arden. |
Nice to see some young Common Lizards lounging around.
 |
| Common Lizard RDG. |
It really is a dangerous insect world.
 |
| Hornet and prey. RDG. . |
 |
| A Jewel of a Wasp |
An uncommon Fungi, Mutinus caninas or Dog Stinkhorn.
 | ||
A Dog Stinkhorn in its prime RDG.
|
Although this species below wasn't found in the county, but just in Warwickshire its so good and close to Northants I thought it deserved to be shown.
It was caught and (sadly) pinned by Timmy, images from Bob Gill.
The Cimbex connatus (very similar to C luteus ) is a very large Cimbicid Sawfly a Hornet mimic, it is also very rare and harmless.
 |
| Add caption |
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| Add caption |
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| Phil Davies. |
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| Broad Damselbug Phil Davies. Thank-you Phil. |
Some great stuff from Phil Davies including a rare ant like wasp.
 |
| A stunning find, Black-headed Velvet Ant. Phil Davis. |
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| Black-headed Velvet Ant, a wingless wasp.. Phil Davis |
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| Grey Dagger Phil Davis. |
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| Large Skipper Phil Davis. |
Several Interesting and well taken shots from Bob Gill.
 |
| Voilet Black -legged Robberfly. Bob Gill |
 |
| Yellow -legged Soldierfly Bob Gill |
Not quite the brilliant colouration as some Soldiers, but a little cracker just the same !
Lovely image of this tiny fly.
 |
| Nomada Ruficornis, Fork-jawed Nomad Bee Bob Gill |
 |
| Chequered Click Beetle. RDG. |
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| Clytra quadripunctata. RDG. |
From the depths of deep Spratton, thank-you David for reminding me what a brilliant reptile
this is.
 |
| Grass Snake David Arden |
 |
| Five spotted Club-horned Wasp |
checked against the Club-horned wasp. Either way a good find you must be running a high
class hotel.
Good Stuff mate.
Some wasps are very tricky especially Ichneumons, any help with all IDs grateful, Robin.
A Brilliant capture from Phil Davis,
Thanks Phil, nice shooting mate.
A couple of images from John Tilly, Stem (borer) Sawflies, these are rather slender bodied and
cylindrical with wasp-ish colouration.
Thanks for these John.
So the first images for 2018 supplied by Phillip Davis
Thanks for those Phil.
2017 images.
For those of you interested in moths Bob Gill has supplied a few recent images of some rather tasty
Micro Moths.
A couple of interesting shot from Phil Davies, not sure what it is Phil, my guess is a Spider Hunter, your insect hotel is doing rather well.
A parasitic fly Tachina fera about at the moment, its hosts being moth larvae .
One of our arguably nicest Shieldbugs having head and scutellum being a lovely metallic coppery tone.
Some Ground-hoppers from Bob Gill, we have three Ground-Hoppers in Britain here are two photographed in Northants a 3rd Cepero's is not likely to occur here, but if anyone has an image of one please send it in.
These Hoppers do not sing and are widely variable in colour tones.
So as promised some more images from Bob Gill.
Thanks for those mate.
Some nice moth shots, from insectorist ( I made that up ) Bob Gill. The Pine Beauty really lives up to it's name. Some more of Bobs shots soon.
Thanks Bob for this shot to complete the showing of the Buff tip's life cycle. The camouflage of this moth really does look like the broken tip of a twig.
From Clive Bowley, The Buff Tip moth caterpillars and a wonderful close up of their eggs.
pupation takes place in autumn in soil, the moths emerge in May.
Anyone have an image of the moth ??
please share.
Two of our largest Hoverflies, Great Pied and Hornet, by Phil Davies.
An interesting Nomad Bee sp, from Phil Davies.
Day flying moth, Mother of Pearl, Clive Bowley
Marbled White, refreshingly becoming more familiar these days and Six-sot Burnet on Devils bit Scabious from David Arden.
A couple of shots from David's garden pond.
Below stunning Parasitic fly, from Salcey Forest.
A couple of images from Mark Williams from his garden.
This is a Thick Headed Fly one of only 2 species of 'Sicus' in Britain, using their doubled up
under-carriage to place an egg onto a bumble bee whilst in flight.
A good find Mark, thank-you for sharing.
A female, Broad bodied chaser, image from Phil Davies. Thanks for sharing Phil.
Out and about at the moment on an umbellifer near you, Strangalia maculata a Longhorn beetle.
Feeling the bite, Clive Bowley bravely persevered the biting to get this shot.
As they say no pain, no gain, did it hurt much Clive?
Two Variable Longhorns doing what comes
naturally
A beautiful Click beetle Ampedus elongantulus
Araniella cucurbitina, a common and widespread spider but non the less a lovely arachnid from Phil Davies.
A widespread but very variable spider from Phil Davies, Nuctenea umbratica, sometimes called
Walnut Orb Weaver but I like the name Toad spider.
Probably our tiniest mammal, the cute Harvest mouse, from Martin Swannell. Taken in his back garden! Thanks for that Martin.
A super cool bee from Dave Jackson taken at Clifford Hill.
A couple of nice images from Phil Davies, of possibly Ashy Mining Bee, being taken from Phil's
insect hotel. Thanks for sharing Phil. (any bee experts out there?)
Some great insect shots from Clive Bowley, I particularly like the kissing picture winged flies.
HARE RAISING shots, Jacob Spinks. Pitsford.
 |
| Five Spotted Club-horned Wasp |
Good Stuff mate.
 |
| Umbellifer Longhorn Phytoecia cylindrica |
 |
| Nomad Bee sp |
 |
| Wasp sp Ichneumon ? |
Thanks Phil, the insects seem to be out with a bang now.
A Brilliant capture from Phil Davis,
 |
| Nomad Bee |
 |
| Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria with dinner |
A couple of images from John Tilly, Stem (borer) Sawflies, these are rather slender bodied and
cylindrical with wasp-ish colouration.
 |
| Calameuta filiformis |
 |
| Acorn Nut-Weevil ...RDG |
So the first images for 2018 supplied by Phillip Davis
 |
| Small soggy bee possibly Andrena sp |
 |
| Fly sp |
 |
| Birch Catkin Bug |
2017 images.
For those of you interested in moths Bob Gill has supplied a few recent images of some rather tasty
Micro Moths.
 |
| Rhyacionia panicolana |
 |
| Argyrethia goedartella |
 |
| Caloptilia Falchimiela |
 |
| Acleris forsskaleana |
Thanks for these Bob, some nice micro work.
A couple of interesting shot from Phil Davies, not sure what it is Phil, my guess is a Spider Hunter, your insect hotel is doing rather well.
A parasitic fly Tachina fera about at the moment, its hosts being moth larvae .
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| Tachina fera Bob Gill |
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| Woundwort Shieldbug Eysarcoris venustissimus |
Some Ground-hoppers from Bob Gill, we have three Ground-Hoppers in Britain here are two photographed in Northants a 3rd Cepero's is not likely to occur here, but if anyone has an image of one please send it in.
These Hoppers do not sing and are widely variable in colour tones.
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| Common Ground Hopper Tetrix undulata |
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| Slender Ground Hopper Tetrix subulata |
So as promised some more images from Bob Gill.
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| Leafhopper, Cicadella viridis |
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| Grey Dagger , moth caterpillar |
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| Eared leaf hopper |
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| Fly Bug Reduvius personatus |
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| Hawthorn Shieldbug |
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| Bronz Shieldbug |
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| Allygus mixtus Leafhopper |
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| Capsus ater, Plant bug |
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| Terellia tussilaginis |
Thanks for those mate.
Some nice moth shots, from insectorist ( I made that up ) Bob Gill. The Pine Beauty really lives up to it's name. Some more of Bobs shots soon.
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| Pine Beauty |
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| Bordered Sallow |
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| The spanking Burnished Brass |
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| Coxcomb Prominent |
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| Buff Tip |
Thanks Bob for this shot to complete the showing of the Buff tip's life cycle. The camouflage of this moth really does look like the broken tip of a twig.
From Clive Bowley, The Buff Tip moth caterpillars and a wonderful close up of their eggs.
pupation takes place in autumn in soil, the moths emerge in May.
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| Clive Bowley |
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| Phalera bucephala |
Anyone have an image of the moth ??
please share.
Two of our largest Hoverflies, Great Pied and Hornet, by Phil Davies.
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| Volucella pellucens |
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| Volucella zonaria |
An interesting Nomad Bee sp, from Phil Davies.
Day flying moth, Mother of Pearl, Clive Bowley
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| Pleuroptya rural |
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| David Arden |
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| David Arden. |
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| A female Great Diving Beetle, coming up for a breather. The ribbing is for the male to gain purchase during courtship. |
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| Grass Snake David Arden. |
Below stunning Parasitic fly, from Salcey Forest.
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| Phasia hemiptera Robin Gossage. |
A couple of images from Mark Williams from his garden.
This is a Thick Headed Fly one of only 2 species of 'Sicus' in Britain, using their doubled up
under-carriage to place an egg onto a bumble bee whilst in flight.
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| Sicus furrugineus |
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| Sicus furrugineus Mark Wlliams |
A female, Broad bodied chaser, image from Phil Davies. Thanks for sharing Phil.
Out and about at the moment on an umbellifer near you, Strangalia maculata a Longhorn beetle.
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| Black and yellow longhorn Clive Bowley. |
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| Notch Horned Cleg Haematopota pluvialis, nothing to do with last of the summer wine |
As they say no pain, no gain, did it hurt much Clive?
Two Variable Longhorns doing what comes
naturally
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| Robin Gossage |
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| Robin Gossage |
Araniella cucurbitina, a common and widespread spider but non the less a lovely arachnid from Phil Davies.
A widespread but very variable spider from Phil Davies, Nuctenea umbratica, sometimes called
Walnut Orb Weaver but I like the name Toad spider.
Probably our tiniest mammal, the cute Harvest mouse, from Martin Swannell. Taken in his back garden! Thanks for that Martin.
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| Young Harvest Mouse. |
A super cool bee from Dave Jackson taken at Clifford Hill.
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| Sharp Tailed Mining Bee Coeloixys conoidea |
A couple of nice images from Phil Davies, of possibly Ashy Mining Bee, being taken from Phil's
insect hotel. Thanks for sharing Phil. (any bee experts out there?)
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| Phil Davies |
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| Grey Squirrel Phil Davies. |
Some great insect shots from Clive Bowley, I particularly like the kissing picture winged flies.
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| Nursery web spider |
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| Rosemary beetle |
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| St Marks fly |
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| I said no tongues. Picture Winged Flies. |
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| Sphecodes Bee Sphecodes ephippius ? |
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| PURPLE EMPEROR Fermyn Wood. David Arden. |
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| OTTER Ravensthorpe Res. David Arden. |
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