Insects and Spiders

Next up, I was watching these really smart Spectacled Berry Flies (Anomoia purmunda) this morning. The males use their spectacularly patterned wings like semaphore flags to signal to passing females. There is also an iridescent blue spot in the centre of the wing that I'm sure must be intended to enhance the display.

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This one is the charming Little Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus asiliformis)

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and the last fly for today is one of the Deer flies (Chrysops reilctus). I found this one at Dungeness the other week - I didn't let this one bite me this time.

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Lacking your skills in taxonomy I allowed one of those to bite me last week, it hurt and proceeded to itch for several days. Taxonomy by experiment is not recommended.

In hindsight, I agree - mine itched for days too

A less voracious visitor last night, a Garden Carpet moth, neither in the garden nor on the carpet. 🤷

Also spotted a nice Green Lacewing, but it fluttered away before I could get a picture.

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Spotted this on my walk yesterday.

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Some great pictures of Death-head Hawkmoth shrub smashers here.

Getting the washing in last night this funky eyed thing was chilling on my t shirt

Have somehow filled up best part of a 64gb memory card with Greek insect photos. Mostly baby praying mantises, suspect 99% will be out of focus once I get back and get them onto a computer.
Praying mantises are amazing. Phone pic attached.

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Coooooool

Can't wait to see all the other Greek insects

Just took the worst photo of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth in our garden.

The first time I have seen one in the UK fyi.

I’ve not tried to capture the hummingbird hawk moths we’ve visiting our garden this year as they are so fast. Here’s one from four years ago.

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Yes. I saw my first one in France many moons ago.

I was perplexed as what it was.

I bumped into an elephant hawk moth caterpillar earlier today. Phone camera failed to get a good still but I have a couple of videos that I'll upload soon.

Noticed this on my t-shirt earlier

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Nice, it's a Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes)

Saw this very colourful spider when digging the allotment, please excuse grotty mobile phone photography.

Edit: female Argiope bruennichi I think, aka wasp spider

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Apparently new research has found that spiders dream 🛌

This one will be giving the rest of the household nightmares.

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Found this Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) yesterday evening. It was giving me a bit of the evil-eye while trying to get a photo ot it!

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Anyone know what this is?

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Looks like a ♀︎ false widow to me Steatoda grossa

Thanks. I was a bit nervous getting close to take the photo!