Insects and Spiders

More of the bush cricket family out tonight

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Spotted on a walk in Rivelin Valley

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Found a cream spot tiger moth caterpillar yesterday. Nice for pretty central Ldn.

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V cool

Anyone got any idea what this chap might be? Probably the biggest spider I've seen in the UK!

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Zoomed out version with edge of Ring doorbell for size reference.

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After @jupiz posted that Segestria florentina up thread I see there are a few native funnel web species and that v much looks like one of them?

That looks like it could be it actually! Cheers.

Almost certainly S. florentina from the looks of it but could be another unusually patterned Segistrid individual if you’re not based in the south.

http://britishspiders.org.uk/wiki2015/images/3/3f/Segestria_online.pdf

We're in South London.

If you’re feeling brave get a (longish) piece of grass this eve and gently tickle one of the trip wires coming out of the web.

They’re unbelievably quick and it makes me jump every time.

Don’t use your finger as they give a good nip. Similar to a woodlouse spider in terms of not wanting to repeat the feeling.

Yeah I'm not up for that at all, ha ha. I used to be absolutely petrified of spiders and whilst I'm mostly over it, that's still probably a bit much for me!

Some amazing slow motion footage of insects on Colossal. Even the scorpion 🦂 fly makes an appearance. 😎

https://youtu.be/Cnn9CfsYJqc

What an amazing photo!

Thanks, taken with my phone!

Two encounters this weekend. Firstly a dragonfly (there was actually two) clinging onto some gorse in high winds on Friday, then a large caterpillar (elephant hawk moth?) this afternoon.

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Emperor dragonfly and yes!

Having a drink

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any any idea what type of bee / wasp this chap is? It seemed pretty chunky for a wasp, but isn't hairy like most bee's

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A hornet hoverfly, I believe.

Not entirely sure, but looks like a hornet hoverfly.

I think hoverflies mimic a wide variety of Hymenoptera, some of which are really convincing!

More here. https://bna-naturalists.org/id-guide-hoverflies/

that's it! thanks both

A humble greenbottle in the sun today

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Saw one the other day in my garden and had to look it up (photo a page or two back)