Opomyzid Fly

A small brown fly, possibly Opomyza germinationis (Diptera: Opomyzidae).

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-09-04.

Dark-Winged Hoverfly

A male hoverfly with unusually dark wings, probably a Chrysogaster solstitialis (Diptera: Syrphidae).

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-18.

Soldier Beetles

A pair of mating Rhagonycha fulva soldier beetles (Coleoptera: Cantharidae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-13.

From My Mother's Sketch Book

A sketch by my mother, Clare Brelstaff, dated 1959-06-11.  The baby is me.  I was then about 10 months old.  We were living in Barrow-in-Furness at the time and my father thinks that the drawing was probably made in the grounds of Furness Abbey. 

Blue Bug Nymph

From back in late spring: a final instar nymph of the oak leaf bug, Cyllecoris histrionius (Hemiptera: Miridae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-05-31