Tephritid Flies

A tephritid fly, probably Tephritis hyoscyami (Diptera: Tephritidae) on a thistle (probably a Carduus sp).  There were quite a few of these of on a stand of thistles which were about to come into flower.  At first I thought that, with the two dark blocks on the wing, they might be Tephritis bardanae, but I had previously only seen the latter on burdock (Arctium sp) so I witheld judgment until I got home and had a chance to look up the wing patterns.  Then I discovered that they were most likely T. hyoscyami.

The name 'hyoscyami' suggests that these flies are associated with plants of the Hyoscyamus genus (henbanes) but this misleading and was possibly the result of a mistake by Linnaeus (see here).

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-05-22.

Planthopper Nymph

A nymph of Issus coleoptratus (Hemiptera: Issidae).  The white 'tail' consists  of strands of wax that are secreted from special glands.  Why these particular nymphs produce these strands is unclear but many adult planthoppers produce white fuzzy tangles of wax strands to protect themselves or their eggs from attack by predators or parasites, or from damage by rain or sunlight (see here).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-21.

Damselfly

A male banded demoiselle damselfly, Calopteryx splendens (Odonata: Calopterygidae).  The females are green rather than blue.

Photo taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-05-22.

Dolichopodid Flies

A pair of Rhaphium sp (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) mating.  Identification confirmed by Stefan Naglis here at Diptera.info.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-16.

Sawfly

A sawfly, probably Tenthredo maculata (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae).

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-18.