Insectivarious

The weather in Orkney has finally improved a little, almost like it is Summer. Which means it is insect time!

A Large Red Damselfly at Happy Valley (with less crime and drama), Stenness

 

Tipula maxima, rather a large cranefly at Happy Valley, Stenness

Cheilosia illustrata, a hoverfly at Lyness, Hoy

A pool by the track to Wee Fea, Hoy. Home to many damselflies

Three small holes in a sandy bank, each home to a larva of the Green Tiger Beetle. The heads (ok, jaws) of the larvae are visible, waiting for some poor unfortunate invertebrate to wander by. Wee Fea

A Four-spotted Chaser which Megan found at Wee Fea

Whilst there are historic records of this species at this site, we had never seen one in this location before

Prime Odonata habitat, Wee Fea

A female Common Blue Damselfly, Wee Fea

An atrocious photo of (possibly) a Thistle Root Borer moth, Wee Fea

A pair of Red-necked Footmans... er... Footmen... er... Feetmans... er... Podpersons. And yes, they are propagating the species. Wee Fea

And finally, another Pug Moth. Don't ask.
However, apparently this one's a Grey Pug, Happy Valley