Still Catching Up on IDs

 Another batch from the garden last week. The Hemiptera (plant bugs) give quite a challenge as they are generally small and move fast. If I find a new garden species, such as the second image (Closterotomus trivialis),  I look it up in the search text facility in Lightroom to see if I have recorded it before and was interested to find I saw this bug first in Crete. I researched it and found it was discovered in UK in 2009 but has now spread widely - another sign our climate is warming.

Catching Up On Garden Species

As usual at this time of year, I have got a bit behind with recording my garden species and I am also still trying to standardize a method of recording species name with the image that will make it possible to collate past years easily. Here is a set from May 22nd after a rainy night (all single exposures).

Paxton Green-eyed Hawkers and Flight Shots

I spent some considerable time trying to get good flight shots of insects and I have still not got an image where everything is right! The first damselfly would be fine if the nearer wing was positioned in the space behind the legs and the beetles are soft on the wing cases. While photographing the Four-spotted chasers, a coupled pair of Green-eyed Hawkers arrived and then a second male waiting to get in on the action if he can. Pyramidal orchid included as first one I have photographed at Paxton Pits.

Strawberry Fair Cambridge

The overcast skies and strong northerly wind didn't deter people from attending the Annual Strawberry Fair in Cambridge , a volunteer-organised event that raises money for charities as well as giving a platform for local performers and artists. Certainly the place to go to buy and display colourful clothing and accessories. Just a shame the sun didn't shine for the event to add that sparkle to the scene. This is the owner of shoopdooplondon proud to show off his wares. 

 

Spiders Galore Lakenheath

Spiders were certainly the most prominent creatures in the vegetation at Lakenheath - here 12 ?identified species plus some images of what extra was on the menu for Xysticus spiders. The first two images show Xysticus cristatus consuming its male suitor (hopefully after a successful attempt at mating) and Xysticus ulmi with a 14-spot Ladybird