Insects couldn't really celebrate National Insect Week last week due to incessant rain or cloudy, cold weather. They came out today, a sunny, warm day and this gallery shows they did celebrate in the end. I spent some time trying to get a focused shot of a beautiful velvety male
Eristalis intricarium, the first I have seen in the garden.
He hovered at about 1 m of height over a patch of Red Valerian, swiftly chasing away any insect that invaded his airspace. The top shot is the best I got, by pre-focusing on a plant and then approaching the hovering fly. Not perfect but I was quite pleased with it.
A Silver Y moth, part of a local influx today.
A Merodon Equestris hoverfly covered in pollen.
The shiniest bluest bluebottle I have ever seen!
A soldier beetle on Feverfew in my local wildlife garden
Colletes bees on Oxeye Daisy
Bombus hortorum feeding on Linaria purpurea
A male Tree bumblebee Bombus hypnorum shows its colours
Bombus pascuorum feeding in Birds Foot Trefoil
One species that does not seem to be celebrating is the Wool Carder Bee, Anthidium manicatum. They didn't have a good year last year. Could they still be late? I do hope so.
