Tue 2012-07-17 
A woodlouse with pale yellow markings: an Armadillidium sp, most probably A. vulgare but the similar A. nasatum and A. depressum also occur in the south of England but in smaller numbers.
Woodlice are not insects but belong to the sister class Malacostrata where they are placed in the order Isopoda.
Photo taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-07-15.
Mon 2012-07-16 
Another tiny black soldier fly: this time a female Pachygaster leachii (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Distinguished from Pachygaster atra by having all-yellow legs and all-clear wings.
Photo taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-07-15.
Sun 2012-07-15 
A female Tephritid fly with clear wings, probably Terellia serratulae (Diptera: Tephritidae). Terellia longicauda is similar but has an oviscape that is as long as the adbomen.
This is a male of the same species. Note the pale blue swellings on either side of the abdomen. These are pheromone sacs that the males use to attract females (see here).
Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-07-13.
Sat 2012-07-14 
A male hoverfly, probably Riponnensia splendens (Diptera: Syrphidae). Distinguished from the other metallic-green hoverflies, Orthonevra sp and Lejogaster sp, by the 2 longitudinal whitish stripes on the top of the thorax:
and the white dusting on the face:
Photos taken beside the lower end of the top lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-06-17.
Fri 2012-07-13 
One of several small blackflies which I came across on the underside of leaves of burdock (Arctium sp): a female Pachygaster atra (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). A female because the eyes are well separated on top of the head:
At first glance they look like beetles that have failed to properly pack away their wings. This species is characterised by the black basal half of each wing and the femurs being mainly black. Note also the thick ridges behind the eyes.
Photos taken in the field to the west of Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-07-08.
