There are said to be about 460 species of dung beetles in Europe (Byk & Piętka, 2018), with about 60 … More
Category: Morphology
Insect cuticle
We mammals are quite fortunate in having bones! They reside inside us, and our skeleton grows as we grow. Insects … More
Butterflies with black wings
Black. We all know what it is. The absence of light; the opposite of white. But are there gradations of … More
Iridescent feathers of pigeons
Rock doves, or common pigeons (Columba livia), like those shown here have iridescent green and purple feathers around their necks. … More
Insect tibial spurs: a highly versatile tool!
Tibial spurs are an ancient feature, found on most insects, from bees to moths, although in some species they have … More
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
The tiny brain of a fly!
Some people may have seen the image of a fruit fly brain published last month (January 2020), by C. Shan … More
Crunchy coneheads: edible insects
Coneheads (Conocephalinae) are not particularly common in the UK – there are three species in southern England – but head … 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
Paris Peacock butterfly scales
The tropical Paris Peacock (Papilio paris) butterfly – not to be confused with the temperate or European Peacock ( (Inachis io) – … More
