Saturday
Sep012012

Wasp

A female parasite wasp of species Gasteruption jaculator (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae).  A iaculator was a spear-thrower in the Roman army.

Photo taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-08-26.

And this is probably a male of the same species.

Photo taken in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-08-26.

Friday
Aug312012

Moth

A green carpet moth, Colostygia pectinataria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).  When I first saw it, it was resting on a nettle leaf.

Photo taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-08-26.

Thursday
Aug302012

Blue Wasp

A small blue wasp, probably Trichrysis cyanea (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae).

The wasp was captured in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-08-26.  The photos were taken 20 minutes later and then the wasp was released.

Wednesday
Aug292012

Meadow Sweet

Flowers of meadow sweet, Filipendula ulmaria.  The stems are reddish:

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-08-05.

Tuesday
Aug282012

Moth

A tortrix moth, probably the light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).  Originally from Australia, this species first appeared in Britain in the 1930's.  It is apparently fairly variable in its colour and the plants it associates with.

Photos taken in Reading, UK, on 2012-08-01.