Dangling Marsh Lover

 

I wonder what you imagined this post would be about when you saw the title...

The Latin name for the hoverfly in the first three images is Helophilus pendulus which means "dangling marsh lover". It is the most common species of hoverfly and has quite striking markings with bold colours.

The eagle eyed visitor to this page will have noticed that the fourth image is of a different variety of hover fly (I cannot specify which) which is busy sucking up nectar from the tiny flowers.

Greeny Blue

 I have said this before when posting photos of flies, they are ugly but really interesting when viewed close up.

Normally when we see a fly we swat it away as they are a buzzing nuisance and they have the most disgusting habits, but they do play an important role as pollinators and in helping get rid of decaying stuff so while I would much rather look at damsel flies and hover flies and bees every now and then it seems fair to share an image or two of the humble and iridescent bluebottle.

Bug

 

I went to Brockholes in Lancashire last week for a spot of wildlife photography as that is something I have not done much of lately. Unfortunately the weather conditions were shocking to begin with but as I had to pay for parking I wasn't going to leave without something. So between downpours I had a lovely time walking around the reserve and while there was not a lot of birdlife to photograph I decided to concentrate on bugs and managed to get a few decent images so all in all I had a productive day.

I have lots more images to go through but today I have also been out taking photos at the Hoylake Sand Yacht Regatta and i need to edit a few pics for the Sand yacht  club page so I will put the bugs on hold for a little while.

These are Hideous!

 I am not going to try to pretend that these are anything but hideous. On a hot day out in the countryside I am always plagued by flies and biting insects which  drive me mad, but that doesn't stop me from finding them fascinating. They are quite ugly too, but again that doesn't stop me from finding them interesting as subjects to photograph. I think it is because up close there is so much more to these pesky things. They are really quite complex and when we brush them away as they buzz past we don't ever see the detail.

So every now and then I do like to pause for a moment and take a closer look. It doesn't make them look any better and I still get annoyed every time they buzz around me but I do try to appreciate them a little more, as part of the complexity of nature and the fact that annoying as they are they still have a role to play.

Buzz Buzz Buzz

With all the wonderful spring flowers coming into bloom there is a feast of colour but also a feast of pollen for all the pollinating bugs and bees which are so important for the protection and propagation of our native flowers and fruits.

This coming May there is a wildlife trust project #NoMowMay during which people are being encouraged not to mow lawns and verges to give wildflowers and pollinators a chance to develop which seems like a really good idea. If I had a lawn I would definitely take part. 

Ugly Bug

I know this is really not a very pretty picture but nonetheless it is a fascinating shot of the fly which landed on my t-shirt. For a one-handed shot I am pleased with the clarity and detail and that is why I am sharing it.

Episyrphus balteatus

There are apparently over 250 different species of hover fly in the UK. Lots look like and are often mistaken for bees or wasps. This little beauty is actually one of the most common varieties with very distinctive colourful bands. It was feeding on the nectar of this little flower growing on the wall in my garden, they are quite harmless and very beautiful.

Bugs and Bees

Having posted a selection of butterflies yesterday I decided to continue with a bug theme today.

As with the butterflies getting a good image of flying insects is a real challenge as they seldom stay still for more than a few seconds at a time as they are always so busily engaged in their search for food.  So I am especially pleased with the third of today's pictures which is nice and sharp, and its wings look crystal clear.

In the fourth picture of a different honey bee you can see that it has extended its proboscis to feed on the nectar.  

I don't know what the beetle in the fifth picture is, it was creeping on a stone at Gelert's Grave at Beddgelert near the River Glaslyn in North Wales. It looks almost prehistoric.

I was really excited about the last two images.  This is the larva of a cream streaked ladybird.  It had hitched ride on the window of my car and I had expected it to crawl away. But as you can see from the final picture it didn't, it hung on and metamorphosed into the adult bug.  It held on for the whole journey to and from Wales even at speeds of XX MPH.

I am pleased to report that it has now completely hatched and the fully formed ladybird is now doing whatever ladybirds do...