Sun 2011-08-21 
A wasp-mimic soldier fly: a female Stratiomys potamida (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).
Photo taken on the dam at the lower end of the large lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-08-19.
Sat 2011-08-20 
A rather faded cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Normally these are as brightly coloured as the 6-spot burnet moths; this is probably an old specimen but to be old in early May, like this one was, suggests it might have over-wintered as an adult. I don't know how likely this is.
The caterpillars look like this and they were very common on ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) this year. See here for one fending off an ichneumon wasp.
Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-05-04 and 2011-06-26, respectively.
Fri 2011-08-19 
Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus (Diptera: Syrphidae), a female.
Photo taken in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-08-17.
Thu 2011-08-18 
The flowers of purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria.
These views more clearly show the leaves (above) and the whole plant (below).
Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-08-17.
Wed 2011-08-17 
Two 4th instar nymphs of the green shieldbug, Palomena prasina (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on the seed-head of a hogweed plant (Heracleum sphondylium). See here for a photo of a 5th instar nymph.
Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-08-14.
