Bog Asphodel

A couple of weeks ago I was walking across Great Ayton Moor with Zoe when I spotted this strange looking plant growing up out of the sphagnum moss.  It took quite a bit of looking through books and searching on the web before I was able to identify it as Narthecium ossifragum, or bog asphodel. The yellow petals, that are characteristic of this species, have dropped off and all that is left are the reddish fruits.

Photo taken on Great Ayton Moor, North Yorkshire, UK, on 2009-08-10.

Rust Fly

From last month, a rust fly (Diptera: Psilidae), probably of genus Loxocera (based on photos here and here).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-07-19.

Hoverfly

A hoverfly, probably Volucella inanis (Diptera: Syrphidae) on a thistle (Cirsium sp).  The photo below was taken further along my walk 20 minutes after the above one, and so is most likely not the same individual.  Identification based on this guide to British Volucella hoverflies at the OPAL West Midlands web-site.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-07-24.

Gall Fly

This afternoon I was busy photographing hoverflies feeding on yarrow flowers (Achillea millefolium) when I noticed this small fly flashing its wings.  It is a gall fly (Diptera: Tephritidae), probably species Chaetostomella cylindrica (based on pictures here and here). 

Chaetostomella cylindrica is known to parasitize thistles and knapweeds, and I have not been able to find any references to it parasitizing yarrow.  However, there were lots of thistles in the area where I took these photos, and it was quite a windy day, so maybe this one had strayed.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-08-16.

Mouse-Ear Chickweed

Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium sp.), on the western slopes of Hangingstone, near Guisborough, North Yorkshire.  Photo taken on 2009-08-09.