Hoverfly

A male hoverfly of species Scaeva pyrastri (Diptera: Syrphidae).  Photo taken in my father's garden in Guisborough, North Yorkshire, UK, on 2009-08-05.

Yellow Slime Mould

A yellow slime mould, possibly Badhamia utricularis (based on comparison with photos here, here and here). 

At this stage of its life cycle, the slime mould is in effect a single giant multinucleate cell called a plasmodium.  In this form it spreads out to feed and, later on, it moves off to a drier location where it develops fruiting bodies and releases spores.

The slime mould in these pictures seemed to be attacted to the orange fungus that was growing on the same decaying log.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-01-23.

Mirid Bug

Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus (Hemiptera: Miridae).  Probably the longest name of any species I have photographed (14 + 20 = 34 letters).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-05-17.

Garlic Mustard

Another flower photo from last spring: garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).  Note the small wasp caught in mid-flight.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2009-04-18.

Orange Muscid Fly

Another female Muscid fly, this time probably Phaonia pallida (Diptera: Muscidae).  Thricops diaphanus is similar but has black between its eye, instead of orange.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-09-06.