Ergot Fungus

Ergot fungus, Claviceps purpurea, growing on a grass seed-head.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-07-20.

Tachinid Fly

A female Sturmia bella (Diptera: Tachinidae).  Identified using Chris Raper and Matt Smith's 2014 draft v5c update of the key of Belshaw.

Taken on wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa).

Specimen take in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2014-08-09.

Tachinid Fly

A male Eurithia anthophila (Diptera: Tachinidae).  Identified using the key of Belshaw (1993).

It was on wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa).

 

Specimen taken at Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2014-08-09.

Tachinid Fly

A male Eurithia connivens (Diptera: Tachinidae).  Identified using the key of Belshaw (1993).

It was taken on wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), which now that the hogweed and hemlock water dropwort have gone to seed, is the only remaining plant that attracts large number of flies.

This specimen is noticably blacker and heavier than the Eurithia anthophila which in this area are more common.

Specimen take at Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2014-08-09.

Purple Loosestrife

A flower of purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria.

The full plants look like this:

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2014-08-09.