Robber Flies

A male robber fly, Dioctria rufipes (Diptera: Asilidae), with a smaller fly prey.

A bit further along my walk I came across another male displaying in front of a female.  The female was sitting on an ox-eye daisy and the male was flying back and forth in front of the female.  Each leg of the male's flight was about 10cm long and was performed about 10cm in front of the female.  After 3 or 4 repeats the male flew down and they mated:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-30.

Another Moth

Another small moth, this time probably a female Elachista canapennella (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae).  The males of this species lack the white spots and are quite drab in comparison.  The larvae mine the leaves of various grasses.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-05

Moth

A small moth, probably Dichrorampha sequana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).  This species is characterized by the rectangular white patch on its back.  Its larvae feed on the roots of yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-30.

Another Beetle

A rose chafer beetle, Cetonia aurata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-30.

Leaf Beetle

A dark blue leaf beetle, probably Chrysolina oricalcia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).  The swollen first tarsi signify that this is a male.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-30.