Ringlet Butterfly

A ringlet butterfly, Aphantopus hyperantus (family Nymphalidae, order Lepidoptera).

Photo taken in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-06-28.

Small Skipper Butterfly

A small skipper butterfly, Thymelicus sylvestris (family Hesperiidae, order Lepidoptera) on a corn cockle flower (Agrostemma githago).  Note the long thin proboscis which it proceeded to insert into the centre of the flower to feed on nectar.  In this species the tips of the antennae are orange, while those in the similar Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola) are black.  The large skipper butterfly (Ochlodes sylvanus) is also similar but has a pattern of lighter patches on its wings (as well as being slightly larger).

Photo taken in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-06-26.

Robber Fly and Prey

A red-legged robber fly, Dioctria rufipes (family Asilidae, order Diptera) feeding on a small hemipteran bug.  When I got too close with my camera, it flew off to another leaf, carrying the bug with it.  Initially, I was surprised that a small fly could bear such a burden through the air, but then I realised that these flies have to be able to carry their prey at least a short distance because they catch them on the wing.  However, it only flew a short distance each time I disturbed it, and I was able to get close to it again and again, and take more photos.

Photo taken in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-06-14.

Hoverfly

A hoverfly (family Syrphidae, order Diptera), most probably a Sphaerophoria scripta female.

I say it is a female because its eyes are well separated, its abdomen is thick and tapered, and it was apparently laying eggs on this flower head (in spite of the presence of several aphids).  [Note added 2009-12-06: It may be that the hoverfly deliberately lays it eggs on a flower head with aphids so that its larvae will have a source of food when they hatch out.]  For comparison, here is a photo of a male Sphaerophoria scripta that I took last year.

Photos taken Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-06-24.

Slender Robber Fly

A robber fly (family Asilidae, order Diptera), probably Leptogaster cylindrica (striped slender robber fly).  Michael Chinery (Complete British Insects, Collins, 2005) mentions Leptogaster guttiventris (dashed slender robber fly) as being similar, but comparison with the photos here and here at Morphbank gives a better match to L. cylindrica.

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

Update on Mon 2011-03-28 by Tristram Brelstaff

I can now confirm that this is Leptogaster cylindrica, and not L. guttiventris.  The above image clearly shows a dark grey longitudinal stripe running down the dorsal surface of (at least) the last 3 abdominal segments.  According to British Soldierflies and their Allies (Stubbs and Drake, 2001) this band is only continuous in L. cyindrica.  In L. guttiventris the band is broken at the posterior end of each segment.