Hoverfly

A female hoverfly of species Melangyna cincta = Meligramma cincta (Diptera: Syrphidae).

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-04-17.

Flesh Flies

From two years ago: a pair of black flesh flies mating.  A possible identification as Sarcophaga pumila (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) was suggested by Chris Raper here at Diptera.info.

Note that the gap between the eyes is slightly narrower in the male.

And this is the female after the male had flown off.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-06-27.

Slime Mould

From two years ago: slime mould Lycogala epidendrum growing on decaying wood.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-08-15.

Shieldbugs

Pied shieldbugs, Tritomegas bicolor (Hemiptera: Cydnidae).  Distingushed from the similar Tritomegas sexmaculatus, which has recently arrived in Britain, by the shorter white 'shoulder-patches' and the pale wing-membrane at the end of the abdomen.

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-04-13.

Tachinid Fly

From a few days ago: a small black Tachinid fly, probably Phasia pusilla (Diptera: Tachinidae).  The flight periods for these flies are listed as late May/early June and early July to early September, but this year some flies are coming out 4 to 6 weeks early early (see here for an example).

Photo taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-04-13.