Oh well, no sooner said than done. All you budding entomologists or photographers or anyone who likes nature, you can put your insect photos here!
I'll kick off with a few that I've had lately. This first is called a Mantis Fly & is a cross between a Fly & Mantis (funnily enough) & is in the Neuroptera family, which is a mixed bunch anyway, my first & I had 3 of them around the moth trap
& a Rhinocerus Beetle which was also attracted to the light & are quite rare now around here, he really was fabulous, very impressive,
& this Frelon was also in the moth trap, but seemed quite docile as long as I kept my distance!
& some Damsel flies, an Azure Damselfly (thanks for the ID Aiki)
a Large Red Damsel
& from early may a proper fly from the Dipteras, anyone know the English name, I think it's latin name is Otites lamed,
I usually only take photos of flies with interesting wings as I am hopeless at identiying them!
Thanks for looking & maybe you can post some of yours!!
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France
You don't often see these are rest
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Fantastic pic TJ ... is it Convolvulus Hawk Moth?? IWOOT - Smuggle me one in your backpack!!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
WendyBartter said: Fantastic pic TJ ... is it Convolvulus Hawk Moth?? IWOOT - Smuggle me one in your backpack!!
No Wendy, it's one of these.
How about this one? I don't know what it is.
Lovely photos Paul, I've never even heard of a Black darter!!
I can't help with the wasp/hornet TJ, it doesn't look fierce though! I had 3 hornets in the moth trap this morning & had to be careful not to touch them by accident. They are not my favourite beastie.
Flabbergasted TJ, had no idea they looked like that at rest ... they never do that in my garden!!!
Returning home tomorrow. I'll post a few more when I get back. Not easy on a Nexus tablet.
Back in cooler climes. The typical temperature in the shade was 35 C and higher in the sun. I nearly melted.
A pair of Saddleback Bush Crickets (Ephippiger ephippiger. I think), so called because of what looks like a saddle. We interrupted their love making.
I think this must be the female with the ovipositor and she appeared to be carrying what I assume to be a package of sperm .....
...... and I'm assuming this is the male making his escape after doing the deed.
This is the critter that makes all the noise in southern Europe. Quite disproportionately sized for the volume of sound it produces.
A Cone-headed Grasshopper, not sure of the exact species
Hi TJ, good to have you back, it's very hot here too, you're very brave going out in that heat, I hibernate. The cone-headed grasshopper is really interesting looks like something out of Sky Wars!
I had loads of insects in the moth trap this morning, another odd Mantisidae eating a moth,
an Elm-leaf Beetle
& an Ant-lion
& a mottly group of Ladybirds (what is the collective name for Ladybirds? A spot of ladybirds perhaps?)
a bit weird really as there were hardly any anywhere else!
I think the collective for Ladybirds is a 'loveliness'. All in all a lovely variety from both TJ and yourself, Hazel.
My bird photos HERE
Some great bugs, Hazel. Never seen a Mantidfly or an Elm Beetle. Antlions were prolific in the Camargue - they were everywhere. Great collection of Ladybirds.
A couple more from me.