Wildlife mid 2009

[Ragged Robin]

Camouflaged and keeping quiet a very handsome hopper!

[Anthony Darby]

Handsome indeed. Not a British species, so I don't recognise it.

[Lori S.]

It's interesting that Chrysops spp. are called "horse flies" there.   How big do they get?  Here, we refer to them, logically, as "deer flies", since they are sort of the mid-size model of blood-sucking flying pests...  The term, "horse fly", is reserved for the full-size model, Hybomitra spp., which get to an inch long here, with sabre-toothed, flesh-eating mandibles.  

[Rodger Whitlock]

It's interesting that Chrysops spp. are called "horse flies" there.   How big do they get?  Here, we refer to them, logically, as "deer flies", since they are sort of the mid-size model of blood-sucking flying pests...  The term, "horse fly", is reserved for the full-size model, Hybomitra spp., which get to an inch long here, with sabre-toothed, flesh-eating mandibles.  

Either genus inspires me to recite the prayer begging God to spare me from boggles and beasties that go bump in the night - and from biting flies of all types, but especially the very little ones (noseeums) that emerge at dusk and make you feel like you are being dipped in acid, the blackflies that breed in running streams and painlessly gnaw holes in your integument, then inject an anticoagulant so that you still drip blood (in memory of the Passion, perhaps) after Mr/Mrs Blackfly has sucked your essential bodily fluids, and the deerflies that fly round and round and round and round hoping for an opening in your defenses, making it impossible to concentrate on the beauties of nature as you are more interested in protecting your physical integrity. God protect me from them all!

[Ragged Robin]

Roger, in your moment of agonising over biting flies you made me recall an incident in Cameroun, buried in my Psyche, when I thought I was going to be eaten alive with no help at hand!  We were heading through the rain forest jungle on a mud road with deep ruts and I was pretty impressed with my other half's driving skills until suddenly we skidded on top of a long rut and were left suspended with 4 wheels spinning.....we got out to discuss what to do    (no contact with the outside world and night drawing in)

Suddenly we disappeared in to a cloud of tiny black flies - thousands/millions of them - biting, biting, biting and it was impossible to get away....impossible to make any decisions....impossible to survive, from madness at least.....then through blurred vision we saw a cinque cento coming along the road, more importantly it stopped, and out popped 4 portly African Nuns!!!!!!  They literally helped bounce our car off the rut and saved our skins....

[Ragged Robin]

Handsome indeed. Not a British species, so I don't recognise it.

Anthony, when I saw your comment by you new Avatar for a split second I thought it was someone else!  Then I thought the comment made a good caption and fitted nicely  - if it was changed to the positive   

[cohan]

all makes me grateful for 'only' mosquitoes!

[Anthony Darby]

It's interesting that Chrysops spp. are called "horse flies" there.   How big do they get?  Here, we refer to them, logically, as "deer flies", since they are sort of the mid-size model of blood-sucking flying pests...  The term, "horse fly", is reserved for the full-size model, Hybomitra spp., which get to an inch long here, with sabre-toothed, flesh-eating mandibles.  

The term 'horse-flies' refers to the family Tabanidae which includes clegs. We have Tabanus sudeticus in Scotland, which is huge. T. bovinus is further south and not as big. One 'put the willies' up me in the Norfolk Broads 30-odd years ago before I manage to net it!

Handsome indeed. Not a British species, so I don't recognise it.

Anthony, when I saw your comment by you new Avatar for a split second I thought it was someone else!  Then I thought the comment made a good caption and fitted nicely  - if it was changed to the positive   

Spent the last week making the cap ready for the next ashes test. Good job it's not a big pic! I was going to show more than head and shoulders, but my bodyline is even less photogenic than my face.

[mark smyth]

Tabanus sudeticus  http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/pictures/showphoto.php/photo/63043/size/big I hate them

T. bovinus http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/pictures/showphoto.php/photo/82001/cat/external.php

Anthony which is the one that bites us? Brown with rainbow eyes

[ranunculus]

A few butterfly shots from a short walk on the moors this evening ...


Butterfly  Identifications appreciated

[mark smyth]

Anyone watching "Wildest Dreams" on BBC1? Brillant programme - imho. 5000 Amur falcons roost in one tree in the Drakensbergs

Anthony I've been talking cr*p with others for the last few days because of dirty swift nests. Swifts re known to eat 300+ species of insects here in the UK. Some of us are reporting very dirty wet nests this year and it has been suggested they are feeding on too many Lough Neagh flies resulting in diarrhoea. So today I broke some down in water and left of a slate to dry. The good news is there are many beetle cases present, lots of light relective bits, a ladybird wing case and some small bits I dont recognise that are very shiny and turquoise blue. Any idea what they are from?

[Armin]

Cliff,

picture 1 to 3: Maniola jurtina: Meadow Brown / Großes Ochsenauge (Kuhauge)
4 to 5: Aglais urticae: Small Tortoiseshell / Kleiner Fuchs

Both species nicely photographed.

[Anthony Darby]

Anyone watching "Wildest Dreams" on BBC1? Brillant programme - imho. 5000 Amur falcons roost in one tree in the Drakensbergs

Anthony I've been talking cr*p with others for the last few days because of dirty swift nests. Swifts re known to eat 300+ species of insects here in the UK. Some of us are reporting very dirty wet nests this year and it has been suggested they are feeding on too many Lough Neagh flies resulting in diarrhoea. So today I broke some down in water and left of a slate to dry. The good news is there are many beetle cases present, lots of light relective bits, a ladybird wing case and some small bits I dont recognise that are very shiny and turquoise blue. Any idea what they are from?

Oulema melanopus is a small, common beetle in meadows, and can even be a minor pest of cereals. The elytra can be blue?

[ranunculus]

Many thanks Armin and Anthony for your welcome identifications.

[tonyg]

Visiting a raised lowland bog at Ynys Llas in Wales today we met some interesting characters.  Sadly I do not have a pic of the Bog Cricket or the Raft Spider but here are a couple of beauties.

I think this is an emerald damselfly but would welcome help from the bug buffs.

The highland cattle are gorgeous .... and there hair is always immaculate    This one appears to be trying to tell me something.

Sundew and Bog Myrtle were the plant interest.