Entries by Tristram Brelstaff (3025)

Monday
May072012

Tephritid Flies

Two flies, probably of species Tephritis neesii (Diptera: Tephritidae), on the leaf of an ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare).  I have seen quite a few of these flies on my walk on Wednesday (May 2nd).

This is a closer view of one, showing the wing pattern more clearly:

And this is a mating pair:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-04-30 (first photo) and 2012-05-02 (second and third).

Sunday
May062012

Longhorn Moths

A pair of longhorn moths, Adela reaumurella (Leipdoptera: Adelidae), mating on the underside of a leaf.  The female is to the left and has the shorter antennae.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-04-30.

Saturday
May052012

Sawfly

A black and white sawfly, probably Pachyprotasis rapae (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae).  Its larvae have been found growing on a variety of plants including figwort, betony, goldenrod,  ash and hazel (see here).

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-02.

Friday
May042012

Ichneumon Wasp

An orange Ichneumon wasp, probably a Netelia sp (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).  These orange Ichneumons with large ocelli and long antenna tend to fly at night but this one was out in daylight.

Normally it would not be possible to identify the genus of an Ichneumon from such photos, but in this case the second photo clearly shows the areolet on the wing which is one of the marks of Tryphoninae genus Netelia as opposed to Ophioninae (see this page at the American Entomological Institute for more details).  This is a magnified, contrast enhanced section of the second photo:

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-04-24.

Thursday
May032012

Ladybird Beetles

A pair of 14-spot ladybird beetles (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) mating.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-04-30.