Another Jumping Spider

Another jumping spider, this time Pseudeuophrys lanigera at The Lodge, 21st June 2007 by Steve Blain.

Zebra Spider

This is another jumping spider Salticus scenicus (or Zebra Spider) at The Lodge, 21st June 2007 by Steve Blain.

Hornet Moth part 2

Another photo of Hornet Moth from this am, an unattached female!
Photo by Andy Banthorpe

Hornet Moths - Sesia apiformis

Melissa found this pair of mating Hornet Moths at MVCP this morning on the trunk of a Black Poplar. Another female was nearby. The lower photo shows the pupal exuvia protruding from the base of the trunk of the same tree. Photos by Andy Banthorpe

Jumping spider

A fantastic little jumping spider Sitticus pubescens (male) I found in my shed. Many thanks to Ian Dawson for their id. Broom, 18th June 2007 by Steve Blain.

House spider

This beastie is Tegenaria domestica (a male) and is commonly found in houses. Broom, 18th June 2007 by Steve Blain.

MVCP Damselflies and Dragonflies 16-17th June

An Emperor Dragonfly and a selection of damselflies (Large Red, Blue-tailed and Red-eyed) at MVCP this weekend. The egg-laying Emperor Dragonfly was being constantly hassled by Common Blue Damselflies.

Agapanthia villosoviridescens

This longhorn was one of the species found on the BNHS Longhorn trip in King's Wood, Heath & Reach, on Sunday 17th June. It is Agapanthia villosoviridescens. Photo by Melissa Banthorpe

Burnet Companion

This Burnet Companion moth was sunning itself by a ride in King's Wood, Heath & Reach, whilst on the BNHS Longhorns trip on Sunday 17th June. Photo by Melissa Banthorpe

Dragon catches Damsel

A highly magified photo shows a male Emperor dragonfly catch and consume one of the hundreds of Common Blue Damselflies emerging at Willington today. Photo by Steve Cham

BBC

Female Broad Bodied Chaser egg laying at Sundon quarry. My hi res version shows a column of water from the tip of the abdomen to the waters surface. One can just see the eggs being released as it dipped down. Photo by Steve Cham

ShieldBugs

A pair of Dock Shield Bugs mating. Roxton.

Hedgehog

This little chap wandered up my drive mid-morning today. He was limping a bit, so I guess he may not last too much longer. Poor chap. Broom, 17th June 2007 by Steve Blain.

A.cyanea in the rain

Despite torrential downpours and a thunderstorm, two Southern Hawkers today emerged from my garden pond, on the stalks of Flowering Rush. There was just enough protection from the overhanging leaves. So far this year more than 20 have emerged over the last 3 weeks.

Emperor, The Lodge

Female Emperor ovipositing on the old swimming pool, RSPB The Lodge, Sandy

Odonata at The Lodge

Azure Damselfly

Broad-bodied Chaser

Heath pond, The Lodge, 12th June 2007 by Steve Blain

Snow in June!!!

It looked like snow over the fields at Roxton at the beginning of June. It was the Willows shedding their downy seeds early morning.

Common Spotted Orchid

This Common Spotted Orchid was near the edge of Stewartby Lake not far from the MVCP Vistors Centre. Photo taken by Martin Green.

I have been watching Adders at Maulden since early March. The pair below were sharing the first warmth of the sun after emerging from hibernaculum (07/03). During April (08/04) they were more adventurous with a male sunning out in the open.

After several years of trying I finally got a 4-spotted Chaser in flight. There are good numbers present at Sundon Quarry where this photo was taken.

Downy Emerald dragonfly

A flying Downy Emerald dragonfly at Sandhouse Lane NR. Photo taken by Martin Green

Downy Emerald in Flight

Last weekend at Jones Pit (small lake) the Downy Emerald was present in double figures. Each holding territory the males hover in suitable areas where they search for females. The only way to photograph them is in flight.

Caught in a web

Naturalists are not the only ones interested in the increased numbers of Scarce Chasers. Two weekends ago there were over 60 along the river at Tempsford. This included several such as this one that was caught in a spiders web.

And some butterflies...

A Common Blue Butterfly at Marston Vale. One of a series, this is the only shot with the dark mark over the fore-wing. Must be the shadow of a grass head, but doesn't it make it look a bit like a Large Blue :-0


A Dingy Skipper at Marston Vale. Rather a tatty individual, and also rather rushed the shot. A few minutes later, a much better posed one was chased off by a Common Blue just as I was lining up the shot.



Brown Argus, also at Marston Vale.


A Grizzled Skipper at Bison Hill, one of several I saw.


And finally, a Green Hairstreak at Bison Hill. Not a top shot, the green scales on this seem to have flared a bit, and focus isn't spot on.

Damselflies

These were at various sites and dates between Friday and Monday on the first weekend in June. This an Azure Damselfly at Marston Vale, most easily distinguished from the similar Common Blue by the U-shaped mark at the base of the abdomen.

This male Banded Demoiselle at Roxton was eating a Mayfly. I've cheated with this a little by rotating it to frrame the damselfly diagonally, which left a couple of white corners I had to clone out-of-focus veg over. Memo to self, shoot long thin subjects framed diagonally.

This female Banded Demoiselle was also at Roxton, but framed correctly in the camera.

After Roxton and Wyboston I visited Broom hoping for Red-veined Darter. I didn't know Steve Blain had seen one there earlier in the day, but all I got was this Red-eyed Damselfly sitting on scummy algae.

Finally a rather small image of Large Red Damselfly at Marston Vale.

Four-spotted Chasers

A couple of shots of a Four-spotted Chaser at Sandhouse Lane. I won't post the flight shots of Downy Emeralds I took as they look pretty poor next to Martin Green's (though they are recognisable).