Pipunculid Flies

A pair of Pipunculid flies (Diptera: Pipunculidae) mating on the wing.

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-08-19.

Robin's Pincushion

Robin's pincushion, a plant gall that is caused by the larvae of the wasp Diplolepis rosae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae).   The host plant is a species of wild rose (Rosa sp).

Photo taken in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-08-24.

Moth

An angle shades moth, Phlogophora meticulosa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-08-24.

Centaury

Common centaury, Centaurium erythraea.  Note the spirally twisted anthers.

The leaves look like this:

 Photos taken in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-07-22.

Hoverfly

A rather grey female Eristalis arbustorum (Diptera: Syrphidae).  This must be one of females in which the orange markings are absent "resulting in some females being black with only thin white apical rims on each tergite" (Stubbs and Falk, British Hoverflies, page 289).

"The presence of a completely pale-dusted face distinguishes this species very easily." (also Stubbs and Falk, page 289).  See here for another face-on view of a female of this species.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-07-23.