July - Sept '07

House Fly Terry Laws

Mesembrina meridiana is easily recognised by its black body and yellow wing bases. Found over all of Britain from March - October, this was basking in the sun on the ground at Shoreham Down.

Squash Bug Terry Laws

The oval abdomen with boldly chequered margins extend well beyond the edges of the folded wings, help identify Enoplops scapha. Found only in southern England, this was taken at New Hythe.

Hover Fly Terry Laws

This Hover Fly, Syrphus ribesh, is one of the commoner of the many wasp-like hover flies and is found over most of Britain. This was taken at Shoreham Down.

Common Blue Damselfly Terry Laws

Taken at New Hythe, this Damselfly was still on the wing in late September

Migrant Hawker Terry Laws

This Migrant Hawker was taken at New Hythe in late September

Garden Spider Terry Laws

This Garden Spider was taken at New Hythe. This is easily recognised by the white abdominal cross, which gives it its alternative name of Cross Spider. Abundant in gardens and hedgerows.

Wasp Spider Terry Laws

Another Wasp Spider found at New Hythe. This is possibly a female as the body is much broader than the previous picture.

Migrant Hawker Terry Laws

This is a medium sized, late summer and autumn dragonfly. In the late 1940s this species was an uncommon migrant from southern Europe, but it has gradually extended its range from a pioneering breeding population in south east England. It has now spread as far north as Hull, to south east Devon.

Bottlenose Dolphin Roger Oliver

These pictures were taken at Sandgate. This is a fairly common and widespread Dolphin but population declines have been noted recently in parts of  northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Note the shortish beak and slightly hooked tip to the dorsal fin. These features help to distinguish it from Common Dolphin which has a longer beak and more pointed dorsal fin.

Black Tailed Skimmer Terry Laws

This was taken at New Hythe. This species is quite common in southern England, parts of Wales and central Ireland. The flight season is from late May till August. Food items for this insect can range from butterflies, grasshoppers to damselflies as large as demsoiselles.

Wasp Spider Terry Laws

This was found at New Hythe. Argiope bruennichi is common in bushes and long grass in central and southern England. The web has two opposing zig zag lines which spread out from the center, called stabilimentum.

True Fly Terry Laws

Taken at New Hythe this is Volucella zonaria. The chestnut patches at the front of the abdomen and the chestnut scutellum readily identify this striking hoverfly.

Southern Hawker Terry Laws

Taken at New Hythe this Dragonfly is a fairly common sight in lowland England and Wales, becoming more local further north.There are a few isolated populations in Scotland.

Red Eyed Damselfly Terry Laws

This was taken at New Hythe. This Damselfly has a southern distribution in England and the Welsh borders, where it is locally common. It becomes less frequent in the south west. Normally having blood red eyes, this individual seems to have very dark ones.

Painted Lady Terry Laws

This was taken at New Hythe and shows the intricate underwing pattern of this migratory butterfly.

Edible Frog Terry Laws

This Frog was in the ditch outside the Wellmarsh hide at Elmley. The Edible Frog is a native of western and central Europe and was introduced to Britain in 1873 in Norfolk.

Slow Worm Terry Laws

Taken at New Hythe, this Slow Worm, which are limbless Lizards, are often mistaken as a Snake and are needlessly killed.

Roesel's Bush Cricket Don Taylor

This picture was taken at Wierton Hill Farm. Found mainly in southern Britain, this insect has a song consisting of long bursts of sound resembling a dentist's drill, from June-November.

Ruddy Darter Terry Laws

The Ruddy Darter can be told from the Common Darter by its dark red colour, its waisted abdomen and black legs.

Red-Eyed Damselfly Terry Laws

Green-Veined White Terry Laws

This butterfly may be confused in flight with the Small White, but at rest the grey green veins on the underwings distinguish it from all other butterflies.

Gatekeeper Terry Laws

The upper photo is of a male Gatekeeper which can be told from the lower photo of a female, by the broad band of dark scales on each forewing.

Emperor Dragonfly Terry Laws

This female Emperor was ovipositing, (egg laying) at New Hythe.

Bombus lapidarius Paul Larkin

This Red Tailed Bumble Bee was taken at Cliffe. Its hind legs are flattened, and only has hairs along the edge. This is predated on  by Bombus rupestris, which has been previously been shown.

Black Tailed Skimmer Don Taylor

This picture of  Black Tailed Skimmers was taken as they were mating, and this is called being in the 'tandem position', or 'the wheel'.

Four Spotted Chaser Don Taylor