Saturday
Oct092010

Digger Wasps

From midsummer: a digger wasp, probably Cerceris rybyensis (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae).  Photo taken in The Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-30.

Another from later in the summer:

Photo taken beside the top lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-08-22.

Friday
Oct082010

Hoverfly

A female hoverfly, probably Eupeodes luniger (Diptera: Syrphidae) on bindweed (Calystegia sp.).  The yellow hook-shapes on the abdomen are a characteristic of this species.

Photos taken beside the top lake in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-08-01.

Thursday
Oct072010

Longhorn Beetle

Longhorn beetle Paracorymbia maculicornis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on an ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-06-23.

Wednesday
Oct062010

Cluster Flies

A female cluster fly, Pollenia sp. (Diptera: Calliphoridae).  The gold hairs on the thorax wear off with time, and you sometimes come across individuals in which the thorax is completely black.

The following is a male cluster fly, probably of the same species:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-20 (the female) and 2010-07-18 (the male).

Tuesday
Oct052010

Rust Fly

A rust fly, probably a Loxocera sp.  (Diptera: Psilidae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-08-03.