Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Natalia on July 03, 2013, 07:56:08 PM
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Open a new month...
Ants...
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ant and its extraction
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Brilliant images, Natalia.
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A Common Blue male spotted at the orchid site on Tuesday.
The topside was a grab shot, he wasn't too keen to keep his wings open. The underside photo is credited to MrsG.
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Met this strange fly the other day. I think he tries to look like a bumble bee?
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Limenitis populi, the biggest butterfly in Sweden. I have been trying to take a picture for five or six years, bringing sweaty socks and stinking cheese to the woods, but no success. ( It stays all it´s life high up in the trees). But, a fresh "poop" on the road the other day made the trick!
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Your strange fly is a bee beetle (Trichius fasciatus) Susann.
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Oh, thank you very much for the information! I have not even started to look it up yet. Perhaps you can also help me with this little friend I met the other day? I thought it was a Zygaena, but apperently it is not. Or, if it is, it is a species that is not described in Sweden yet. But I do not think I have that much luck, I guess it is a genera I just don´t know about?
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I am sorry for the very bad picture, I had only brought a small pocket-camera "in case of".
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Thi s looks like a wood tiger moth (Parasemia plantaginis)?
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Wow, I am very impressed! I think you are right about this one too. I never saw it flying, just sitting on a grass straw. When I tried to get closer it got aware of me and escaped, but as I was concentrating on the camera I missed seing its wings.
Thank you so very much! May I keep showing more pictures of strange bugs that I have, although they are not from this year?
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Please post away. I enjoy looking at them, and love the challenge. 8)
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A leaf-cutter taking a rest on the way back to the nest.
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Are those parasites (creamy white ) at the back of its "neck"?
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I am with terrible insects today.
Somebody's caterpillar
(https://pp.vk.me/c424119/v424119879/1a29/fsRkZmgKWGo.jpg)
Chrysomela vigintipunctata
(https://pp.vk.me/c419131/v419131879/7114/IjF12I4t3pY.jpg)
(https://pp.vk.me/c419131/v419131879/7104/d3sR22elyDo.jpg)
One of Psychidae laying
(https://pp.vk.me/c419131/v419131879/7124/1FHlvxbFGS0.jpg)
Wild teasing cat :)
(https://pp.vk.me/c424119/v424119879/1a21/RWB6nCiupeY.jpg)
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I am usually no scared of insects, but that cat...I would not like to meet it either in darkness or broad daylight!
OK, Anthony, as you are being so nice, here comes three more interesting friends. Although, I have to admit I already know the answer of one of them, but I will not tell you which one. Unfortunally, there is no prize if you can tell all three of them, just the glory.
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I think this one had chosen a very nice place to show himself, it is like he was waiting for a camara to pass by
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Not really as scary as Olga´s cat, but no far from it I think?
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Oops, something went wrong-again-. This forum is not made for dummies like me. I do not know why the golden insect came out that small, I hope you will see his very interesting face anyway. And the scary bug´s. I´m sorry...
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I am usually no scared of insects, but that cat...I would not like to meet it either in darkness or broad daylight!
Once you will meet, sure, another one. ;)
(http://cs424119.vk.me/v424119879/1abc/80-B86dw1YQ.jpg)
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Olga, your 'somebody's caterpillar' is the larva of the moth Cerura vinula - known in the UK as the Puss Moth, as the adult has a very hairy body, like a cat. They don't grow as large as the furry creature you pictured. ;) The larvae are generally greener than that, but I believe that they turn brown as they prepare to pupate.
Susann - I can't help you with any of yours, I'm still a beginner with most insects. However the moth that looks like a twig seems familiar, I'm sure that I should know what it is....
I like your little green beetle - some form of ladybird (Coccinellidae) perhaps?
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Olga, your 'somebody's caterpillar' is the larva of the moth Cerura vinula - known in the UK as the Puss Moth, as the adult has a very hairy body, like a cat. They don't grow as large as the furry creature you pictured. ;) The larvae are generally greener than that, but I believe that they turn brown as they prepare to pupate.
Thank you Peter!
It was a very obedient photo-model. :)
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I'm even more of a beginner than Peter - but this little moth on Viola 'Boughton Blue' has ridiculously long antennae. I feel as though I should know what it is!
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That's an easier one :D - a longhorn moth, genus Adela, probably Adela croesella
Lovely Viola as well!
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this little moth on Viola 'Boughton Blue' has ridiculously long antennae.
Tim, are you sure you are not just playing us a joke, having scratched the photo with your fingernail?
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No I think he's serious. The long antennae show that it is a male. Inevitably........ ;D
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Walking in a local wood on Sunday I came across a small pond in the hole left by the root of a fallen tree. There were a number of these ?Damselflies mating and egg laying in the water. The pictures are a bit blurry as they are substantially cropped. The ground was too wet to kneel on so I was in a wobbly crouch and the damselflies were quite active so I didn't get as close as I would have liked.
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Me too, Roma ...
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Roma, Cliff,
They're Large Red Damselflies Pyrrhosoma nymphula, generally one of the first species to emerge in spring.
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Roma, beautiful picture!
In Swedish that genera is called Summergirl dragonfly. I have no pictures of them. But I have some pictures of Dragonfly. I bought a book about them a few years ago, to find out which species they are. But I never came that far...
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This one is always around my pond. As I live in the inland, here are only lakes and sweet water. In my garden pond there are hundreds of hungry dragonfly maggots. They look VERY scary I think. If the fullgrown insect looks like an attack helicopter, the maggots look like stone eating monsters in their faces. At least as scary as Olga´s cat above. I have red that it takes two full years for an egg to become a flying dragonfly. This spring I was protecting my frog eggs with a net so the birds would not eat them, not realizing that the real danger dwelled in the depth. ( I can understand how the dragonflies reaches my pond, but can anyone explain howcome there are two species of frogs and two species of Triturus? One is T cristatus, it looks like a minatyre Dinosaur. I have never seen Triturus outside of the water in nature, how do thet reach my pond? Do they secrety fly in night?)
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This species was found on an island at the westcoast, where the water is salty. I do not know if it matters?
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Susann, your three pictures seem to have a juvenile shield bug, a burnished brass (Diachrysia orichalcea) and a long horn beetle. The only orange one I know is Leptura rubra, but not easy to see head on.
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Anthony, you did it again! You are right about the Diachrysia orichalcea and the juvenile Palomina prasina. I could not tell you what is Mr Long horn is, so I totally trust you on that one too. All glory to you! Now, I have only one insect left to show, a very nice furry little thing. Someone else will have to dare you after this one:
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Susann,
I think I can help with your dragonflies - with the aid of a book! The first one in your garden seems to be Aeshna cyanea - known in the UK as the Southern or Blue Hawker (although they always have a lot of green on them). The second one seems to be Aeshna juncea judging by the slightly different markings on the face: I too have seen them in a similar location; two landed on my shirt, far too close for a photo, last year when I was on Vrångö Island, near Göteborg. If your island was similar, then there are small freshwater pools and marshy areas in hollows amongst the rocks which are sufficient for them to breed in.
Your frogs and Triturus (newt) species probably walked in to the pond at night, they can cover quite significant distances over land, even Triturus. We had frogs appear in a pond I constructed from a sunken half-barrel in the garden, and they presumably did the same thing from a nearby garden pond (we live in the city, no natural nearby bodies of water).
I like your latest posting of the small furry (bee?). Very cute, but no idea of what it really is though; once I'm trying to identify insects other than butterflies and dragon/damselflies, I'm 'out of my comfort zone'. ;)
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Peter, thank you for your help. The area where I met the second dragonfly was exactly as you described it. It was on the rather big island Tjörn next to Göteborg. I do not know how far that is fram Vrångö,.
But now I have another question: Ar you sure that the Triturus come walking and not secretly flying in night,? They have so small legs? Are you sure they do not hide their wings in a pocket somewhere? Wouldn´t they get tired to walk long distances, I think it is a bigger effort than swim?
OK, to be serious; there must be many Triturus that walk around and do not find water and therefore die? I thought they need water to survive? Do you think it is possible for them to smell such a small amount of water as a regular garden pond from far away? Or how do they find it? Do they just walk around hoping to find a nice neighborhood, and if so, do they have the sense to return to wherever they come from before it is too late for them= too far away? I always wanted them to come, of course, but I was very surprised when I found them when emptying the pond this spring. The other three-I found four altogether to the delight of the neighbor kids- are a different species, much smaller and darker.
I have to admit I know the genera of the furry insect, but I thought it would be more fun not telling it as you guys seem to be so good in identifying insects. ( I keep to my plants, keeps me busy enough). However, I do not know the species of our furry friend. The picture is taken in Czech Republic but the genera live here in Sweden too.
So you are interested in butterflies, Peter? Lets see if you know this one. Philip Duplock and I made the acquaintance this spring. ( Wow, Iwonder if I spelt that correctly?)
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Great photos Susann - you are teasing us with the furry fly (only one pair of wings) - Bombylius major? - but does it pollinate pulsatillas! (probably not). My favourite has to be the Humming Bird Hawk Moth which likes salvia flowers amongst others, but I've never managed to photograph this.
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Susann, I think that the Triturus and other newts would be able to find a sufficiently damp environment by travelling at night and in rainy conditions - I'm sure it must rain occasionally in Sweden. ;) They hide out during the day under logs, leaf litter and the like where it can be surprisingly damp even on a sunny day. As to how they find new ponds, that I do not know, guesswork maybe?
My first guess with your butterfly was a Morpho butterfly, and after a little research, I'm going to go with Morpho peleides . Obviously you photographed this locally, somewhere in Sweden's tropical belt. ::)
By the way, when I found Tjörn on the map and it's a big island, with proper lakes! Vrångö Is slightly south of Göteborg, just about as far as you you travel on their tram/bus/ferry pass and tiny in comparison.
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Yes Peter, you are right, I think I might have heard of something called "rain" :) Actually, I do believe we have an average of rain here in my valley, that is higher than in any spot in Scotland.
OK, lets leave our tropical belt for a while ( which is very nice by the way). This one might be a little tricky, at least it was for me to find out what it was. I ask you to please excuse the bad picture. Butterflies does not always behave as nicely as Olga´s larvae.
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@Athony, we are still waiting for the correct identification for the furry one!
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I'm hampered by the fact that I'm currently at 'work' and have no identification book with me, but I'm going to say it's what we know in English as a White Admiral - Limenitis camilla. A somewhat faded form from late in the season.
By the way, if you are looking for a good website to help identification, I can recommend this one:
http://www.eurobutterflies.com/index.htm (http://www.eurobutterflies.com/index.htm)
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I would say a tatty summer form of the map butterfly Araschnia levana. Tim identified the furry bee fly.
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Oops, got that one wrong! ;D
It's one I've seen before as well.
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Sorry Peter, Anthony was right. It is the summer generation -or 2nd generation- of Araschnia levana. It took me a while to understand the butterflies can look different not only because of the sex but also that one generation can differ from the next.
Thank you for the link, Peter. This far I have been able to do all the identifications thanks to our incredible government paid work of classifying all the flora and fauna existing in Sweden. They have discovered many new lifeforms while working on this project. Unfortunally the government decided this spring to not continue printing books, the rest- which is the mayor part- will be only in digital form.
you are teasing us with the furry fly (only one pair of wings) - Bombylius major? -
Dear Tim, I am so sorry, I totally missed your post! it was so short, usually you write long philosophical texts. Please excuse me. Bombylius is correct, the species I do not know. Actually it is not a Swedish one, the picture was shot in Czech Republic some years ago, in Mr Ota Vlasak´s garden. But we do have the genera here as well.
Now I have run out of interesting pictures of insects. My last contribution will be this picture from Peter Korn´s garden, but it is not even photographed in July but in early spring.
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I hope it is big enough to make all the frogs and their eggs visible?
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Went up to Bernwood Forest and saw one (or two) Purple Emperors. Didn't get a shot of the upper side but here is the underside
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Looks like that was is a recent emergence, having overwintered as a caterpillar on that sallow bush.
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Anthony it was flying around (mainly the dog poo bins) and then going into the bushes. Not sure it it was a male or female, there was definately a male there but it's sometimes hard to work out if you are just seeing the same individual or not.
We saw about 30-40 silver washed frittilaries but sadly failed to see any White Admirals. They seem to be going through a bad time locally. Ironically it's now easier to find Purple Emperor's up at Bernwood than White Admirals it seems. We seem to have also lost the Wood Whites locally - I photographed several at a nearby site a few years ago and was dismayed to here they have now gone.
I'm learning not to take any butterfly for granted - even the small tortoiseshell is going /went through a bad time recently.
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These were much easier to photograph than the damselflies. I sat on the step at the back door and clicked the shutter when I heard a buzz.
Bumble bees - Bombus terrestris (I think)
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Nice pictures of the bumble bees, Roma. Interesting how one side of their entrance is cleared of 'debris', they must have a preferred direction of approach and take-off.
The bumble bees are easier to catch on camera than many other insects. When they are as plentyful as they seem to be this year it is sometimes difficult to take pictures of a flower without getting one in it, as was the case with the one in the picture below. A bit surprising that there are so many, as they got off to a slow start after the cold and dry winter/early spring. Very few wasps, though, compared to an average year.
Knud
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Teucrium fruticans at Ness Gardens.
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An on line article from the New Yorker on the subject of bird egg collectors. Some of you may find it of interest.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/07/22/130722fa_fact_rubinstein?currentPage=all (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/07/22/130722fa_fact_rubinstein?currentPage=all)
-Rob
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Fascinating article. You must have had a time machine to get a copy as the date of the article is 22/7/13. ;D
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An on line article from the New Yorker on the subject of bird egg collectors. Some of you may find it of interest.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/07/22/130722fa_fact_rubinstein?currentPage=all (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/07/22/130722fa_fact_rubinstein?currentPage=all)
-Rob
Interesting, yes, and horrifying too. Extraordinary the obsession of these criminals.
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I found this Pirata piraticus (complete with egg coccoon) running across the water on today's orchid site.
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I wonder if anyone will tell the commentators on the golf that the bird they positively identified as a song thrush in need of its nails cut, and with a beak full of caterpillars, was actually a meadow pipit. ::)
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Another sighting on an orchid site visit.
Geometra papilionaria - Large Emerald
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CHRYSALIS hanging out in a young European beech covered with leaf litter.
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Pupa.
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Not yet Arnold. It hasn't made its final moult out of its caterpillar skin.
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There we were just sitting enjoying a coffee. Out the corner of your eye you see a little movement in the orchid seedheads. Oh it's just ants, what are they doing up there.
They're farming is what they're doing. They have a herd of black aphids :o.
The more photos I took the more aphids I saw.
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Svalbard reindeer and arctic skua. The reindeer is common on Svalbard even inside the town of Longyearbyen.
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I 'catched' this butterfly a week ago at the Silberberg near Osnabrück -
I would be glad if I'll receive an identification. Thanks in advance!
Gerd
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Marbled white (Melanargia galathea). It's one of the 'brown' butterflies and broadcasts its eggs as it flies. The larvae feed on meadow grasses. Not really found further north than Yorkshire in England.
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Anthony, Thank you!
I must confess that I expected your answer - :).
Gerd
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Any ideas on this weird creature I found wriggling around in the bowl where I put water for the birds & squirrels? It must have been at least 8 inches long and very thin and thread like. It seemed to be lighter in colour towards the head end and had a slightly swollen darker head. It was a bit difficult to decide which end was which as both ends were writhing.
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It is probably a horsehair worm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematomorpha
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Thanks, Hoy. The description fits. It's not something I've seen before.
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I thought that before the month ends, I'd post a few wildlife pictures from a couple of weeks ago - trying out the new bridge camera bought for bird photography. No birds this time though!
Firstly a couple of photos of a Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus in Mallaig harbour - it would seem that this specimen has seen a few fights in his time, judging by the scars.
Then a male Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyanthigerum busy eating 'something' (hence the odd appearance around its mouth), and a Four-Spotted Chaser Libellua quadrimaculata both taken in the Trossachs on the next day.
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I know we're now into August, but the following damselflies aren't ususally flying around this late in the year. I heard of a local site for Banded Demoiselles (Calopteryx splendens) which I did not think occurred this far north in the UK, but a quick trip (15 minutes from home) there this afternoon revealed the reports to be true, and I've enclosed a couple of photos of males of the species (no females seen today).
Incidentally, they were taken whilst knee-deep in the stream - remarkably refreshing on a hot day like today, and with the added bonus of small fish nibbling my feet - people were paying good money for this until recently, it was deemed to be beneficial to get rid of dead skin! ;D
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That's a lovely dragon