Tibial spurs are an ancient feature, found on most insects, from bees to moths, although in some species they have … More
Category: Evolution
Forelegs and four legs in butterflies!
The subject of reduced or modified forelegs in butterflies might strike some people as being rather obscure, but it is … More
Yellow peril! Aposematic colouration in Troides butterflies
I was very pleased to come across this butterfly, the common birdwing, recently. Although it is fairly common, I had … More
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 … More
How to build a butterfly!
The upper wing surfaces of butterflies are often brightly coloured and visually highly apparent (above), whilst the undersides are usually … More
Tiger beetles: colour for a purpose
Tiger beetles (Cicindelinae) are strikingly beautiful predatory insects which come in a bewildering variety of stunning colours: iridescent, metallic greens, reds, blues … More
Common Blues – female colour variation
The Common Blue is a gorgeous little butterfly. Although the bright blue male is flashy and showy, it’s the female … More
Leaf butterfly: caught in the net!
When I first came across this large spider, I wondered what it was doing with a piece of old leaf. … More
The Bath White: a parapatric species or a peripatetic pierid?
If you go to college (I studied Zoology) you learn a lot of exciting new words and phrases – things … More
Ant-attended aphids
Many homopteran species, including aphids, have evolved mutualistic relationships with ants. Such symbiotic relationships are beneficial to both species and … More
