Insects and Spiders

It’s certainly spider season

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Looks like it's off to its first day at school

And damselflies

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Very good match as far as shape goes. Thanks!

Nice photos as always! I think it's Platydracus stercorarius - one of the Rove beetles (and related to Devil's Coach Horse). Some more details here https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000023513 and here https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/platydracus-stercorarius

Ah, brilliant, thanks for the info - ( and review. :-) )

Wow! Fantastic shot!

Impressive (both the creature and the photography)

Amazing. Please Tell us how you took that!

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Wow! Incredible shot

Luck and an obliging subject, it was moving fairly predictably and hovering on the spot for what seemed like quite a long time but probably was only 5 seconds or so but was a very sunny day so could get away with 1/3200 but am guessing 1/4000 would freeze the wings even better. Next time would be good to try and get the focus point on the head but it is such a small subject I was happy to get any of it in focus.

Thanks for correcting me.
I could see from the red elytra is was something I had not seen before.
Glad I was at least close-ish.

BBC News article about the move northwards of Dragonflies ...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58462181

The underside of a thing on my window a few minutes ago. It's about 8mm long.

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Young horsefly? Cool feet!

I've got no idea what it is. Yes, the feet are cool, aren't they? Tiny and clingy.

I reckon you're right about a fly of some sort.

Is it me or can I see a face :)

Yeah. If a horsefly instar that's a face with a knife for a tongue. #babyfacedassassin

I thought leaf hopper?

Yes, definitely one of the leaf hoppers. Take your pick from one of these https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery/homoptera/Cicadellidae/Cicadellidae.html

I saw this one last year, Cicadilla viridis, looks like it should be in a manga comic strip ...

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Holly Blue

A couple from a walk earlier today:

A handsome Red Admiral

Looks like the bastard of all flies - a Horse Fly

More nice photos. The second one is a hoverfly, probably Rhingia rostrata
https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/albums/72157629849058963/

I'll let it off then!! I hate Horse Flies!!