Common Red Soldier Beetle

A common red soldier beetle, Rhagonycha fulva (family Cantharidae, order Coleoptera).

Photo taken in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-07-01.

Field Pansy

A field pansy (Viola arvensis) growing on recently (past 6 months) disturbed ground.  According to W. Kebel Martin (The Concise British Flora in Colour, Ebury Press, 1965) this species is distinguished from the similar Viola tricolor by the fact that its sepals are longer than its petals.  In North America the term 'field pansy is also used to refer to a third species, Viola bicolor.

Photo taken in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on

Ichneumon Wasp

Another ichneumon wasp.  I have no idea of the species nor genus.  Out on the web, I was only able to find one image of anything similar (here), and there the front and middle femurs are much darker than on the above specimen.  However, these little red-bodied ichneumons seem to fairly common in the long grass, this year at least (I can't speak for previous years).  They seem very restless, flying this way and that, between the grass talks, pausing only occasionally, for no more than a few seconds at a time; frustratingly difficult to photograph.

Photo taken in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-06-16.

The Evolutionary Approach to Ethics

This BBC radio program almost passed by without me noticing.  I put this down to its unpromising title: Thought Experiments.  In it, Oxford philosopher, Janet Radcliffe Richards explains how experiments inspired by evolutionary thinking are shedding light on moral attitudes and how people make moral decisions.  The program should be available for listening to until Sunday 5th July, but there is a program transcript here, which should be available permanently. I feel the need to do some reading in this area now.

Scarlet Pimpernel

Scarlet pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis, growing on recently (last 6months) disturbed ground.

Photo taken in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-06-21.