Insects and Spiders

Little baby grasshopper today.

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I know my photos are pretty crap, but I'm really enjoying keeping an eye out for little critters.

He looks well happy.

What is this? It came in to the house today and was very very angry. He also has a natty moustache

Looks like a big arse horsefly. Best to introduce to bottom of shoe or rolled up newspaper if in proximal vicinity.

I've been bitten by one of these, very painful and incredibly itchy.

Thought it was but it was a big one. Angry fucker

Basically a shank under his big interested eyes.

With a heat sensing mustache to boot.

This fella sitting on my dads wall.

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Looks like a Tree Bumble Bee (Bombus hypnorum). Recent colonist from continental Europe probably helped by global warming. They are unusual for bumble bees in that they nest on holes in trees rather than in old mouse holes on the ground. See https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/tree-bumblebee-bombus-hypnorum/

I would rather be stung by a wasp than bitten by a horse fly. Horse fly bites last for over a week on me and result in a massive hard, painful, itchy lump.

Lots of happy Leps making best use of a buddleja in an Austrian retail complex. The hummingbird hawk moths are my absolute favourite

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Yeah I got bitten on the bottom of my leg, rolled my trouser up and within an hour my leg was too swollen to roll it back down.

Out in the midday sun

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Some kind of fecking massive hoverfly

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Hornet hoverfly

Not as big as it looks.

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Banded demoiselle posing nicely just now. Still not as nice as the paintwork on my Klein, but quite good blue-green flip effect.

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A Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) drinking nectar and enjoying the evening sun

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Garden still pretty devoid of anything unusual, but getting better results using two diffusers.
On holiday in Greece in a few weeks so will hopefully have some more exciting subjects soon.

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Jumping spiders are my favourite spiders.

Check out the ovipositor:

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Yes they're great, I really want to get some proper close up face photos of one, but have had no luck finding one that'll stay still/out in the open for long enough. Particularly as I think it's going to need focus stacking and my atttempts at quick handheld stacks haven't been great so far.

Lots of pollinators about

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Little back garden green thing. Stenodema something or other?

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