Learning CodeIgniter

I have just come across this series of videos on CodeIgniter by Shawn McCool:

• Understand the Structure of CodeIgniter
• Development Environment and Framework Configuration
• Users Database Table and User Model
• The Login Process
• Admin Site CRUD

Having worked my way through the first three, I can say that they are better organised and better presented than the more extensive CodeIgniter from Scratch series by Jeffrey Way and Burak Guzel.  In addition, McCool seems a more experienced developer and provides a lot of background details and explanations that Way & Guzel just skate over.  McCool's videos seem altogether more 'professional'.

If you are looking to learn CodeIgniter I would recommend that you use both McCool's and Way & Guzel's videos, along with the online Codeigniter User Guide, which is excellent.  I would suggest that you avoid the currently available books, which seem to be superficial and riddled with errors.  At least, be sure to read the reviews on Amazon.com before you spend money on any of them.

Ichneumon Wasp

An ichneumon wasp, possibly an Agrypon sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).  Just a tentative identification based on similiarity with photos here and here.  The black 'lumps' are caterpillar droppings, presumably dropped by the caterpillar that ate the hole in the oak leaf.  I suspect that the caterpillar might have been hiding underneath the leaf and that I had disturbed the ichneumon as it was checking out a potential host for its eggs.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-05-17.

Conopid Fly

From a my morning walk a few days ago: conopid fly Conops vesicularis (Diptera: Conopidae). These seem to be quite variable in the color and extent of the dark markings on the thorax and abdomen: in some the markings are black, in others reddish brown; in some they extend less than half-way down the abdomen, in others they go right to the tip. However, the dark triangular markings on the wings, and the relatively long antennae seem characteristic of this species.  The reddish form is similiar to, but a bit larger than, Sicus ferrugineus which I saw several times last year.  The larvae are parasites of bees nests.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-05-18.

Rust Fly

A rust fly, Psila fimetaria (Diptera: Psilidae).  Rather distinctive markings on the top of the thorax, which I didn't notice at the time I took the photo.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-05-17.

Clouded Silver Moth

A clouded silver moth, Lomographa temerata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).

Why 'clouded silver'?  I would have thought 'clouded white' more appropriate.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-05-17.