I'll start this years thread off with a couple of insects from a walk in the woods with my homemade beating sheet & a stick
a few 12-spot ladybirds
& a sleepy Weevil that I think is Lixus pulverulentus
Last years thread is here https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/all-creatures/206718/all-about-insects-2020
The bees are becoming more active as the warmer and sunnier weather becomes more prevalent. Both photos are heavily cropped, and surprisingly very crisp.
I had a Green Tiger Beetle the other day
Photo well-cropped as it kept flying on ahead of me.
That seems early ... by our standards anyway! Lovely critters and I shall be out looking for them when they arrive here (lockdown relaxation permitting), as there is a local spot for them. Like you say, they can be jittery considering how ferocious they are!
Edit - I should have added this, a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Queens always seem to be mite-infested and you can just make out her two passengers. She had another two on the other side.
Unknown said:
Wow, the detail in the photo of the mites, absolutely fabulous.
WendyBartter said:& moffs too please!
You know me, I'll photograph anything daft enough to sit in front of the camera, although I only tend to get a few day flying moffs
That's my scenario too Nige, if it stays in front of the camera long enough, snap and I've a piccie, or two, or three, or more.....
First Bee Fly of the year on my lounge ceiling ... few seconds only but drastically slowed down!