True bug, completely adapted for camouflage in this boreal sand pit.

#insectmacrophotography #bugs #entomology #macrophotography #insects #naturelovers #forestfriends

Mrs C D in profile, gold and brown body, wings outstretched as is usual with dragonflies

Look at those big brown eyes. Wings outstretched and slightly tilted own. The tip of the left wings are bent back just a little but not enough to affect her ability to fly.

In this shot she looks as if she's standing on her head, gold and brown body straight up.

250725 OM1ii 90mm +x2 ext Millennium Fields York First Dragonfly to pose for me this year, Mrs Common Darter #odonata #inverts #naturelovers #insectmacrophotography #aurelians #york #bugsky #bugfriends #uknaturalists

Aaron's garden always has nasturtiums so always attractive to Mrs Large White. These larvae are second instar.

A very handsome and pristine Red Admiral on a loca buddleia showing the beautiful ancient tapestry of the underwing. It's incredibly complex and always a joy to see.

One of about 4 Gatekeepers on small area of Walmgate Stray where we walked this morning.

Still Speckled Wood on our small Walmgate Stray patch, I can no longer easily manage the full Stray, age has wearied me just as it's wearied this butterfly. Hasn't stopped it flying though!

230725 OM1ii 90+x2ext @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #entomology #inverts #insectmacrophotography #aurelians #york #naturelovers Not many butterflies today, Peacocks nearly all gone, some Speckled Wood & Gatekeepers locally. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography

Holding hands with a pink Elephant, always a great joy when they sit so calmly and pose for photos. Stacked in camera OM1ii 60mm lens

It flew into the self seeded path blocking Gallium and then further into the depths of my jungle

A profile crop a beautiful deep pink and olive green moth with big brown eyes which clearly states that all moths are NOT dull and grey!

A full face crop. It looks a bit cross, I think. Curled proboscis below the pink area between the eyes. Wings were vibrating as were the antennae as it prepared for flight.

180625 2 EHmoths in the trap 17th. Very friendly as always, perfect subjects for very close photos. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth #gardenmothscheme #muchadoaboutmothing #insectmacrophotography #inverts #lepidoptera #naturelovers

Pale green cylindrical egg with vertical ridges, changes colour as the caterpillar develops. There were visits from 8 females and at least 100 eggs laid. The most larvae I found was 24 and I rescued 10 to raise inside. Found no pupae on the Alder Buckthorn

Mr B was the last of 7 males to eclose and along with 2 females safley flew away. Sadly one female's wings did not inflate.

Detail of the browm spot on the wings.

Head, shoulders, eye and antennae in close up

180625 Mr Brimstone. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #york #insectmacrophotography #uknaturelovers #ukwildlife #aurelians #naturalists started life as a beautiful egg and became a glorious butterfly

It may be difficult to see but there is a tiny gap behind the "nose" as the chrysalis starts to open. Eclosion has begun and for once I was ready!

It's more obvious now and a little bit of the body is out of the chrysalis, the eye clearly visible. Then things happen in a great hurry. 2 minutes maximum from the flap lifting to the imago (adult) fully expelled from the chrysalis.

Almost out, the wings, antennae, head visible.

Out, clinging to the empty chrysalis, swinging and turning to help pump fluid from the abdomen into the crumpled wings to inflate them. The brown drop at the bottom of the wing is excess meconium passed from the abdomen. It takes several minutes for the wings to fully expand, the butterfly twisting and turning to help the process. Once the wings have fully inflated it will simply rest and after a few hours will become restless and then I release it. This one waited 4 hours. Stay safe, little one.

130625 Mr B ecloses @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #lepidoptera #entomology #insectphotography #wildlifephotography #insectmacrophotography #OMSystem OM1ii 60mm lens Pro cap 700+ shots gradually being reduced in number. Brilliant buffer.

The chrysalis is transparent which means the butterfly will eclose (emerge) within a 24 hour period. The yellow wings are clearly visible. The moulted final caterpillar skin is gathered at the bottom of the chrysalis where the caterpillar was anchored by a silken pad

MISSED IT! Once they start to emerge it's about 2 -3 minutes and of course I was doing something else. The wings are not fully inflated and at the bottom of the front wing there is the red fluid which is pumped from the abdomen into the wings to expand them. Any excess is expelled as meconium.

Wings fully inflated now by a twisting and turning process which helps pump the liquid from the abdomen. Although they are inflated, they are not yet fully hardened and the butterfly will not be released until tries to escape its cage.

It was happy on the purple flower but now has disappeared. Is probably still in the garden and will fly tomorrow.

120625 Brimstone eclosion, raised form caterpillar. OM1ii @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #entomology #insectmacrophotography #aurelians. #naturelovers #uknaturalists #york

a ragged Large White butterfly on a purple nameless flower in my garden. It flowers early spring to late autumn.

Raised from a caterpillar, male Vapourer moth eclosed today. Didn't get very good pictures before he headed off in search of adventure so this is a picture of one form last year, also newly eclosed.

120625 OM1ii @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #entomology #insectmacrophotography #teammoth #muchadoaboutmothing #uknaturalists #york #wildlifephotography #aurelians

270525 has shed the final caterpillar skin and is suspended by a silken girdle around the abdomen and securely fastened to the leaf by a silken pad created by the cremaster. The new pupal skin is still damp and will gradually dry to form the protective chrysalis

260525 This one decided to pupate on the jar. The final caterpillar skin is gathered at the tail. When eclosion is due the jar will be raised to give the butterfly the height it needs to inflate the wings.

110625 2 weeks later. The chrysalis dried properly and now signs of the butterfly within are clearly visible. About 2 days before eclosion the chrysalis will become transparent and I'll know exactly when to expect the imago to emerge. No doubt it will do the usual thing and emerge when I HAVE to be somewhere else!

From the side.

110625 Brimstone butterfly larva OM1ii Stacked images. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #lepidoptera #naturephotography #insectmacrophotography #entomology #aurelians #lepidoptera #uknaturalists #naturelovers