Fri 2010-08-13 
The rather splendid bug Corizus hyoscyami (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae), on a thistle seed-head. Not to be confused with the similar firebug Pyrrhocoridae apterus, nor with the rarer Arocatus longiceps.
Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-08-01.
Thu 2010-08-12 
A pale-faced black Tachinid fly, probably Exorista rustica (Diptera: Tachinidae). Similar to Voria ruralis but the hairs between the eyes are arranged in two neat lines down the face.
Here is a side view of one from a couple of months earlier:
Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-30 (top) and 2010-05-30 (bottom).
Wed 2010-08-11 
A small Chalcid wasp, probably Sycophila biguttata (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae, order Hymenoptera), on an oak leaf.
The black 'bar' across the wings is actually two black spots, one on each wing.
Initially, I thought this was the first time I had come across this species, but it turns out that I had actually seen one last November, see here.
Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-30.
Tue 2010-08-10 
I initially thought this was a Calliphorid and it was only a week later when I got round to trying to identify the species did I realize that it was more likely to be a Tachinid, probably Pales pavida (Diptera: Tachinidae). [Note added 2011-09-19: This identification was confirmed by Theo Zeegers here).]
Note hairs on the lower halves of the eyes (yes, hairs actually on the eyes!).
Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-18.
Tristram Brelstaff
Note the slight red tip to the scutellum, which is also shown in this image by Cor Zonneveld (near the bottom of this page on his site), and in this image by 'crex' at diptera.info.
Mon 2010-08-09 
A black wasp, probably Pompilus cinereus (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), a spider-hunting wasp. See here for a different species of spider wasp that I had seen four weeks earlier.
Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-28.
