A Painted Lady

A Painted Lady enjoying the last vestiges of an English summer yesterday, with its proboscis inserted into into buddleia. Painted Lady's are immigrants and do not survive an English winter.

Water droplets suspended . . .

Water droplets suspended on a cobweb that is attached to the black grass Opohiorogen Planiccarpus Nigrescens. The Nursery spider, Pisaura mirabilis, is hiding among the leaves on the far left side.

A male Helophilus pendulus . . .

A male Helophilus pendulus feeding on Allysum. This is a common insect that can be seen on many varieties of flowers, including gardens,  and different habitats.  It is known to travel a long way from its breeding areas.

A Forest bug . . .

This is a Forest bug (Pentatoma rufipes) at Hillier's.  As its name suggests, it lives on trees and feeds on sap and occasionally fruit. It also eats wiggly creatures such as caterpillars and small insects. 

A spider reminding one of Tolkien's Shelob in Lord of the Rings . . .

A  spider with its prey, a wasp. It should remind everyone of Tolkien's Shelob in Lord of the Rings.

Life in . . .: Is this an alien from the Green Planet?

Life in . . .: Is this an alien from the Green Planet?: Is this an alien from  the Green Planet  which is about 500 light years from us on planet Earth? Notice the four dots, that make a squ...

Is this an alien from the Green Planet?

Is this an alien from  the Green Planet  which is about 500 light years from us on planet Earth? Notice the four dots, that make a square pattern,

Dancing partners at the "Ugly Bug Ball"

This adorable and loving couple of Squash bugs are in the spotlight and have all the right moves at the "Ugly Bug Ball" , and though this photograph could be better, if you look closely, you will see that they only have eyes for each other. 

Knot Grass caterpillar . . .

Another view of the Knot Grass caterpillar munching its way through our strawberry plants this morning.

This upside down Knot Grass moth caterpillar is decimating our strawberry plant; look at its head !

Is this a Mexican stand-off . . . ?

Is this a Mexican stand-off or insects sun-bathing?

A Red Admiral butterfly

An English Red Admiral butterfly that many people say is "beautiful". However, look at its face and eye. It has fine markings, good antenna, and a well curled proboscis. It is feeding on buddliea.

Speckled Wood butterfly

  

This Speckled Wood Butterfly is sun bathing. 

Hover-fly feasting on Allysum

This is a harmless hover-fly Eristalis nemorum feasting on honey scented Allysum. Entomologists are emphatic that it does not have political views, and does not sting, however, we can see it has it eyes on us.