Life in a Barley Field

It was cold and breezy for out RPS Nature Group visit to Strumpshaw - not ideal for dragonflies or flying insects so we struggled in the morning to find good subjects for our macrophotography. In the afternoon some of us visited a local barley field which was sheltered from the wind and full of insects. here a few more successful images among quite a few more!!

Paxton Survey Great Meadow Saturday 15th June

Unfortunately we only managed half the survey on Saturday before rain stopped play but there were some good finds including this amazing pupal case of a small Weevil beetle attached to a thin blade of grass. various Hemiptera, Flies and a single Four-spot Chaser hiding in the grass

Trumpington Meadows - Banded Demoiselles etc

Eventually the chilly and blustery weather during our walk round Trumpington Meadows was replaced by sunshine and the Banded Demoiselles took to the air for a bit of hunting and display. I have long wanted to get them in flight with the wings well displayed and at last here are some shots both against the sky and in vegetation. Several Mayflies hanging around as well as serving as meals for the Demoiselles. Several other photogenic subjects including the Black-headed Mason Bee - possibly quite a rarity. At the end a fly infected with Entomophthora fungus - seen quite a few this year - perhaps the damp conditions are favouring the fungus.

 

Beetle Mania Lakenheath

The first images are of Athous haemorrhoidalis, a Click Beetle, taking off - they use the legs and wings to get airborne rather than the spring (Click) mechanism which allows them to jump rapidly when threatened. A variety of other beetles and plant bugs found on Wednesday including some eggs (?Hemiptera species) and first instar Spiked Bugs.

Insects from Royston Heath

Here a few images from our afternoon visit to Royston Heath on Friday in a sheltered spot where there were flowering Berberis bushes and Alexander plants plus lots of nettles supporting many different species. I was pleased with the accidental capture of a beetle taking off, mating Bibio flies, Nursery spider with Crane Fly, Brown-tailed Moth caterpillars which will strip all the hawthorn bushes etc, Andrena fulva, Lygos Bug, two species of Click Beetles, Ichneumon wasp, Hawthorn Bug, Common Carder bee and Ashy Mining Bee