Fri 2011-10-28 
A pair of orange flies mating: a Pherbellia sp, possibly Pherbellia scutellaris (Diptera:Sciomyzidae). Identification by Stephane Lebrun here.
Photos taken in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-10-23.
Thu 2011-10-27 
From back in early May: a soldier beetle, probably Rhagonycha lignosa (Coleoptera: Cantharidae).
Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-05-01.
Wed 2011-10-26 
A dead male cluster fly, Pollenia sp (Diptera: Calliphoridae), infected with an Entomophthora fungus, probably Entomophthora muscae.
Found on the Warren, Caversham, UK, on 201110-23.
Tue 2011-10-25 
A tiny bug, probably a Scolopostethus sp (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae).
Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-10-22.
Mon 2011-10-24 
A female soldier fly, probably Sargus bipunctatus (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Sargus flavipes is similar looking but smaller (6-10mm against 12-13mm; this specimen was definitely longer than 10mm), and comes out earlier in the year (June - September against July - November; this specimen was found in late October).
This photo shows the metallic blue-green abdomen with the orange patches just visible on the first 2 segments. (The "black abdomen" in Stubbs and Drake might just be a result of them looking at faded museum specimens.)
This photo shows the two white spots (bipunctatus) between the eyes:
Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-10-22.
