Wednesday 31 May 2017

Friday 26 May 2017

Chrysis sp. Ruby-tailed Wasp

This tiny but beautiful Wasp is commonly found looking for nest sites in the exterior brickwork and mortar of the  peoples homes.

male
male
All photographs are the copyright of Nick Broomer

Monday 15 May 2017

Pearl-bordered Fritillary


Female
Female
Male

Male
All photographs are the copyright of Nick Broomer




Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth

This beautiful Hawkmoth can be seen on the wing from the middle of May.

A Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth [possibly a male] feeding on Bugle, it's favourite woodland flower.








All photographs are the copyright of Nick Broomer




















Friday 12 May 2017

Tuesday 9 May 2017

Dingy Skipper

The Dingy Skipper is the most commonly spread of all the U.K.'s Skippers. The sexes are alike. But, the coloration on the top of their wings can vary.

HABITAT. Meadows, sunny woodland rides / clearings, sand dunes and chalk downland with south facing slopes.

LARVAL FOOD PLANT. The eggs are mainly laid on Bird's-foot Trefoil, the larval food plant.

FLIGHT SEASON. The first brood normally start to appear late April and, fly until about the middle of June. In some very hot years there could be a partial second brood in August.

LIFE SPAN. About 20 days, [ref. Edmund Sandars]

Male

Female

They are commonly found roosting on these old dead flower heads of Common
Knapweed from the previous years growth
Some wing colour variations.









All photographs are the copyright of Nick Broomer

Monday 1 May 2017

Chrysotoxum festivum, Hoverfly


Male

Osmia bicornis [Red Mason Bee]


Female
Female

Male
Male
All photographs are the copyright of Nick Broomer



Nomada goodeniana [Goodens Nomad Bee]


Female
Female
Female
The male as depicted in this photo has black markings on the antenna
All photographs are the copyright of Nick Broomer




Wood White [Leptidea sinapis]

                                                    1st brood Wood Whites


Wood Whites always land with their wings closed. The males are easily identified by the white tips to their antenna. The males have dark grey spots in the upper corner of their forewings. The females are lighter in colour.
Male, closed wings
male closed wings
Male, opened wings
Female, closed wings, notice the absent white tips to the antenna

Female with opened wings

All photographs are the copyright of Nick Broomer



Episyrphus balteatus, Hoverfly


female
Photograph is the copyright of Nick Broomer