Insects in a Daisy Patch

A selection of insects photographed mainly in a large patch of daisies in my local churchyard including a well-camouflaged Hairy Shield bug. Lots of different nomad bees with some of their Andrena hosts plus a lot of different flies including Greenfly - always a challenge to photograph. Another 'sleeping' Nomad bee this time clasping a daisy petal.

Toft Bees and Butterfly

 I am a bit behind with sorting images from the garden so here is a batch from last three days of various bees and a beautiful Orange Tip Butterfly taken in various light conditions. The cold conditions have meant that lots of the bees are resting up and in some cases 'sleeping' clinging on to leaves etc with their strong mandibles. Here Nomada flava attached and Nomada goodeniana preparing to rest. The fourth image is N. marshamella then a selection of Andrena species

Insects in the Rain

 With the wet and cooler conditions, most of the insects were resting up on or under leaves or in the grass during the last few days just coming out with the sun. Here a selection - most identified!

First Damselflies and Other Garden Inverts

First Large Red Damselflies of the year (April 13th same early date as 2020) plus a host of other insects and spiders active in yesterday warm temperatures. The buttercups are just coming out in the meadow area so lots of photographic opportunities, including favourite hoverflies (Melanostoma mellinum, Platycheirus manicatus, Mythropa florea and Pipiza noctiluca) and lots of bug, bee and spider species!

Bee Flies, Bees and Birds in Toft

A miscellany from the last couple of days in Toft - bee flies taken at 1/800th and1/6400th second and still not quite stopping wing movement; three Andrena species of mining bees (A,nitida, A. heamorrhoa and A. cineraria); three migrant species (Chiffchaff, blackcap,Willow warbler) and a Dunnock.