Drunken Admirals!
When landlords turn the drunken beeOut of the foxglove’s door,When butterflies renounce their drams,I shall but drink the more! (Poem 51: ‘I taste a liquor never brewed’ quoted from The Selected … Continue Reading Drunken Admirals!
Who ate the dung beetles?
In September this year, I was walking along a forest ride in Galicia, NW Spain, looking out for insects and butterflies. I particularly like photographing these beautiful dung beetles (Trypocopris … Continue Reading Who ate the dung beetles?
Spiders and mites on gorse
Gorse is beautiful plant, although best viewed from a distance, rather than walked through, as it is incredibly spiny and prickly. The sharp spines are, however, a tremendous advantage if … Continue Reading Spiders and mites on gorse
Gerrids bearing water mites
If anyone is looking for a new hobby, I can thoroughly recommend gerrid-watching! It might not be as popular as bird or butterfly watching, but observing the movements and behaviour … Continue Reading Gerrids bearing water mites
Asian hornets feeding on tree sap
The Asian hornet arrived in Galicia (NW Spain) in 2012, and since then it has expanded and spread, becoming very common and highly visible. It is particularly attracted to the … Continue Reading Asian hornets feeding on tree sap
Leave me alone! I’m laying an egg. Holly blue oviposition.
I came across this little female Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) butterfly, depositing her eggs on bramble buds on 16th June 2019 in Galicia, Spain. It possible that she was a … Continue Reading Leave me alone! I’m laying an egg. Holly blue oviposition.
Dragonfly wings: tried and tested over millennia!
Dragonfly wings are thin and light and have a corrugated-like structure. There are lots of tiny cells between numerous veins and cross veins, which together form a stiff, yet relatively … Continue Reading Dragonfly wings: tried and tested over millennia!
Small, brown and moving north!
Just as you think the butterfly season is coming to an end, some second generation individuals appear. I was very happy to come across these second brood Brown Argus (Aricia … Continue Reading Small, brown and moving north!
Mating damselflies; there’s a lot going on, unseen!
One day, earlier in the summer (on 28th June 19), I came across huge numbers of common blue damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum) which had emerged from a lake – Felmersham gravel … Continue Reading Mating damselflies; there’s a lot going on, unseen!
Courting brimstones: wing walking
Courtship in pierid butterflies, such as brimstones, is usually fairly brief, but can nevertheless, feature some interesting interactions. I happened across a short, unsuccessful courtship in this pair of common … Continue Reading Courting brimstones: wing walking
Polymorphic mating in bumblebee hoverflies
I was very fortunate, I think, to come across this mating pair of bumblebee hoverflies (Volucella bombylans), which are well-known mimics of bumblebees. The interesting thing is that they were … Continue Reading Polymorphic mating in bumblebee hoverflies
Carefree commas!
This month (July), we have seen the appearance of many bright orange comma butterflies; the so-called, hutchinsoni form of Polygonia c-album. These lovely orange-coloured butterflies are the first brood to … Continue Reading Carefree commas!
Tiny other lives – photographic insights into insect worlds
What I love about macro photography is that it allows you to enter the world of the insect; at least for an instance. It gives us a glimpse of lives … Continue Reading Tiny other lives – photographic insights into insect worlds
Courtship bowing in meadow browns
Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) butterflies, must, I think, be one of the most common and widespread butterflies in Europe. I am surprised therefore, not to be able to find any … Continue Reading Courtship bowing in meadow browns
Eucalyptus: one of the drivers of deforestation in Brazil
We have heard a lot in the news lately (Aug 2019) about the terrible forest fires burning in the Amazon. The forests are being cleared in order to grow ‘cash … Continue Reading Eucalyptus: one of the drivers of deforestation in Brazil
A stroll along the Rio Sor looking for butterflies
The Rio Sor or Sor Mañón is a small, tranquil river which flows between the provinces of A Coruña and Lugo, in Galicia, NW Spain.It flows north into the Bay … Continue Reading A stroll along the Rio Sor looking for butterflies
