ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Friday, 14 August 2015

TWO ELLs. (14/08/15)

It is a bit wet today. Yesterday was superb with sunshine dawn till dusk. I was hoping for a still windless morning for macro video but before I got set up saw some butterflies so decided to sit and try for some pictures. It wasn’t a very successful attempt they would not settle for more than a second or two.

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Small Tortoiseshell. Aglais urticae.

I spent about half an hour watching these and a couple of Large Whites kept me amused but the dogs were not impressed. I decided to wander back into the forest to see what there was to be seen. I struck lucky and found this tiny creature.

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Larch Ladybird. Aphidecta obliterata. It is a number of years since I've seen one of these I don’t think they are rare but they are small and inconspicuous. I was just making a sandwich for a belated lunch when I noticed another one, it had flown in through the window and was sitting on my mouse pad. 

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Having mislaid my bit of cardboard that I move such creatures around with I offered it my pencil to climb onto. It liked it so much that I couldn’t persuade it to climb off. The pencil lead is 0.7mm.

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Here it is wandering around on a bit of card. I was thrilled to find it then noticed it has my initial on it’s pronotum. I’m easily pleased but it did make my afternoon.

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Does anyone know what this is. I have several blurry images of them and this is another one. I wonder if it is a female Robber Fly?

Have a good weekend.

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22 comments:

  1. Margaret Birding For Pleasure14 August 2015 at 07:09

    Hi AdrianI love the Larch LAdybird on the pencil and the second shot oof the butterfly. Have a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mersad14 August 2015 at 08:06

    The shot with the pencil is great. The details are incredible!

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN14 August 2015 at 08:51

      Mersad, it saves legwork does macro. I didn't rate the pencil shot but am starting to see it's appeal.

      Delete
  3. Midmarsh John14 August 2015 at 08:42

    Another grand set of macro shots Adrian.

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    Replies
    1. ADRIAN14 August 2015 at 08:52

      Thanks John. I was lucky as the butterflies were being very uncooperative.

      Delete
  4. CountryMum14 August 2015 at 08:44

    Sorry, I can't help you identify the last insect, but I am learning so much from your blog. I love your macro photos.

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    Replies
    1. ADRIAN14 August 2015 at 08:54

      Lynda, I have been seeing them for a month or more but can't identify her. With an oviposter that long it ought to be easy.

      Delete
  5. The Herald14 August 2015 at 08:59

    A nice warm sunny day and you're kicked back and chilled out watching the butterflies as they gently flutter by......it's an easy life for some!!
    And then you've got your very own 'personolised' ladies calling on you too...things just get better?

    It's an Ichneumon Wasp....it's one a large family and a lot of them are endoparasites of butterfly and moth larvae...there's lots of similar looking ones but check out....

    Pimpla hypochondriaca (a parasite of the Large White Butterfly!!)

    or maybe the Black Ichneumon Lissonota setosa

    Have a good one...[;o)




    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN14 August 2015 at 09:08

      Thanks for that Trevor. I never thought to look at wasps. I recalled that Ichneumon wasps fly with their legs hanging down but this one doesn't. I'll check the pages.

      Delete
  6. Author R. Mac Wheeler14 August 2015 at 13:04

    I am partial to flutter bys, and beetles...like tiny dinosaurs.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Red14 August 2015 at 14:09

    I guess one reason the ladybird is not often seen is due to the size. Very few people would notice it. I'll bet you were surprised when this bug clung to the pencil lead.

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    Replies
    1. ADRIAN14 August 2015 at 16:22

      Red, I was more surprised to find two in a day.

      Delete
  8. Bill 14 August 2015 at 17:54

    I was tempted to write: "Two ells with you, too," but I thought it was beneath my dignity. Great photos, for sure. Since the typical ladybird (bug) is red, that would make them easy to spot. These guys blend in!

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    Replies
    1. ADRIAN15 August 2015 at 05:55

      Bill. I did think someone would. They are difficult to find but I suspect there must be hundreds here for me to see two.

      Delete
  9. Linda W.14 August 2015 at 19:57

    Love today's butterfly and beetle shots!

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  10. Yorkshire Pudding14 August 2015 at 21:54

    HEALTH WARNING: There may be some tiny droplets of toxic larch ladybird sperm on the end of your pencil!

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    Replies
    1. ADRIAN15 August 2015 at 05:57

      YP, I never thought of that. I'll get stuck in and write someone a poison pencil letter.

      Delete
  11. Douglas Mcfarlane14 August 2015 at 22:42

    Never seem nor heard of the larch ladybird, I would've thought it was a beetle if I'm honest. Great images

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    Replies
    1. ADRIAN15 August 2015 at 05:58

      Douglas, they are bugs or beetles. I had forgotten about them. A welcome find.

      Delete

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