Could you benefit from funding to support your entomological research?
The next deadline to apply for our grants is upcoming on 30th April 2026 - find more information on the grants and awards page of our website.
Common Flower Bug, Anthocoris nemorum. Pale forewings, characteristic hourglass mark on membrane.
Common Flower Bug, Anthocoris nemorum.
Pale forewings, characteristic hourglass mark on membrane.
#Bugs #Hemiptera #VC55
Thanks for your help. I'll see if I can contact Victor.
Oh dear :-)
Here's a better photo and I was thinking aculeator? Punctures very small, separated by about double their diameter??
Thanks. What do you think?
I'm struggling to get this Cryptoserphus to species. Help please?
@arnoldtortoise.bsky.social @davidnotton.bsky.social
#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55
Toothwort, Lathraea squamaria.
Toothwort, Lathraea squamaria.
#Plants #Flowers #VC55 #Leicestershire #Wildflowerhour
This is absolutely key. Some of them will eventually get to microscopy when they realize the limits of phones/cameras (but it will always be a minority).
Damn, I was going to say that.
Epistrophe eligans, male hoverfly.
Epistrophe eligans.
A lot of these attractive hoverflies about at present.
#Diptera #VC55 #flies
I think it's a perfectly reasonable thing!
This looks like one of the tricky ones though (Nomada).
A pair of flies smashing their heads together with front legs clasped. The have black on the abdomen, brown on the thorax, and bright red eyes, They are fighting on the top of a mushroom.
The fight continues with the challengers evenly balanced. A pair of flies smashing their heads together with front legs clasped. The have black on the abdomen, brown on the thorax, and bright red eyes, They are fighting on the top of a mushroom.
The fight continues with the fly on the right seeming to gain an upper hand and pushing the fly on the left backwards. The fly on the right is putting all his might into the battle, back legs in the air. A pair of flies smashing their heads together with front legs clasped. The have black on the abdomen, brown on the thorax, and bright red eyes, They are fighting on the top of a mushroom.
The fly on the right emerges victorious with the fly on the left exiting toward the back of the scene. A pair of flies smashing their heads together with front legs clasped. The have black on the abdomen, brown on the thorax, and bright red eyes, They are fighting on the top of a mushroom.
We noticed these fruit flies are behaving like tiny big horn sheep of fly world so we went back today to see if I could get some photos of the action. Here you have it, a play in 4 acts! Make me wonder if they evolved the elongated eyes for this purpose.
Zygothrica sp.
Intag Refugio, Ecuador
Finessing focus stacking
I've been experimenting to see if I can improve the quality of microscope images I generate. The answer is - yes, but...
More: ajcarthropoda.blogspot.com/2026/04/fine...
#Microscopy #focusstacking #HeliconFocus #DxO #photography
Thanks to Sander Bot for sharing a new (and very well-illustrated) key to Cheilosia hoverflies in Europe - looking forward to trying it out www.researchgate.net/publication/... #flies #diptera @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
:-)
Chalcid wasps on a UK £5 note.
Chalcidoidea: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.
#Wasps #Hymenoptera #Insects #Entomology
I'll try again.
I tried them after watching your video. Sadly you need an academic email though?
Yes that's true, I've only found one male!
Torymus rubi aedeagus
Teeny-tiny wasp willies
It's a specialist interest, I have to admit, but what's the deal hymenopterists - why the reluctance to dissect? Read more: ajcarthropoda.blogspot.com/2026/04/teen...
#Wasps #Hymenoptera #Entomology #Insects
Hairy Shieldbugs, Dolycoris baccarum (left), and Brassica Shieldbugs, Eurydema oleracea (right).
Getting friendly.
Hairy Shieldbugs, Dolycoris baccarum, and Brassica Shieldbugs, Eurydema oleracea.
#Bugs #Hemiptera #VC55 #macrophotography #macro #OMSystem
Wood-sorrel, Oxalis acetosella.
Wood-sorrel, Oxalis acetosella.
#Wildflowerhour #WoodlandPlants #Rutland #flowers #VC55
Torymus rubi male
Torymus rubi vertex
Torymus rubi - ocellar triangle punctate
Torymus rubi, parasitoid of Diastrophus rubi & Lasioptera rubi galls.
#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Insects #Entomology
He's only gone and bought *another* camera...
Learn more: ajcarthropoda.blogspot.com/2026/04/hes-...
#macrophotography #macro #OMSystem
Not here. They turn up unpredictably in the house. I find them outdoors in conifers more often.
Harpocera thoracica male
Harpocera thoracica male
A wet day is rescued by the Harpactea hombergi in the bath.
#Arachnids #Spiders #VC55
Marsham's Nomad Bee, Nomada marshamella
Marsham's Nomad Bee, Nomada marshamella
Marsham's Nomad Bee, Nomada marshamella
#Bees #Hymenoptera #VC55
Gooden's Nomad Bee, Nomada goodeniana
Gooden's Nomad Bee, Nomada goodeniana
Gooden's Nomad Bee, Nomada goodeniana
#Bees #Hymenoptera #VC55
