My garden, Swindon, U.K.
Family: Geometridae
Subfamily: Ennominae
Species : Abraxas grossulariata
Tags: insects lepidoptera moths macro nature wildlife Wiltshire UK Abraxas grossularata Magpie Moth moth animal insect
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My garden, Swindon, U.K.
Order : Hemiptera
Family : Acanthosomatidae
Species : Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Tags: hemiptera insects macro U.K. Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale Hawthorn Shield Bug Acanthosomatidae nature wildlife insect animal outdoor
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Stanton Park, Swindon, U.K.
Family : Noctuidae
Subfamily : Acronictinae
Species : Acronicta psi
Tags: moths insects macro nature Noctuidae Grey Dagger Acronicta psi wildlife Wiltshire U.K. Lepidoptera outdoor animal insect moth
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Savernake Forest, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK
Family : Aeshnidae
Sub-Family : Aeshna
Species : Aeshna cyanea
This is the rare 'blue form' of the female. Thanks to Damian Keith for pointing that out.
This species is found throughout most of central Europe but becomes scarcer in the south and in the north. It is commonly referred to as the Southern Hawker in the UK but elsewhere it is sometimes called the Blue Hawker. It is one of the larger UK species with a total body length of around 70mm+. The wingspan is in the region of 100mm.
The habitat favoured is forested areas where the adults hunt along woodland rides and clearings, flying rather erratically, close to the ground. It breeds mainly in small ponds, often stagnant or overgrown and murky. The eggs hatch in the spring and the larvae feed on tadpoles and small invertibrates. The larvae emerge as adults after 2-3 years. Flying period is at its peak during July and August but they are known to continue well into the autumn.
Tags: animal outdoor dragonflies dragonfly insects insect macro nature Southern Hawker Blue Hawker Aeshna cyanea Aeshnidae wildlife Wiltshire U.K. odonata Aeshna Savernake Forest live insects
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Lower Moor Farm NR, Wiltshire, U.K.
Family : Aeshnidae
Subfamily : Aeshninae
Species : Aeshna grandis
Tags: dragonflies insects macro nature odonata wildlife Wiltshire UK Aeshnidae Aeshna grandis National Geographic Wildlife Brown Hawker ovipositing Lower Moor Farm outdoor animal insect dragonfly
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