Slime Mould

A white slime mould growing on a decaying tree stump.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-07-28.

Conopid Flies

A pair of Sicus ferrugineus (Diptera: Conopidae) mating on birds-foot trefoil, (Lotus corniculatus).  Heads that look like they have been constructed from a pineapple chunk and two chestnuts.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-07-25.

Tachinid Fly

This rather spectacular fly is a male Phasia hemiptera (Diptera: Tachinidae).  I twice saw females of this species last summer: once in Reading and once in Barnard Castle, but this is my first male.  As the name suggests, their larvae are thought to parasitise various hemipteran bugs.

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-07-27.

Conopid Flies

A pair of Conopid flies, probably Conops quadrifasciatus (Diptera: Conopidae).  See here for my reasons for excluding the other Conops species that are found in the UK.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-07-23.

Tachinid Fly

Tachinid fly Gymnosoma rotundatum (Diptera: Tachinidae).  Gymnosoma nitens, which is also found in the UK,  is very similar in appearance but is distinctly smaller (3-4mm long, as opposed to 6-8mm).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-07-25.