David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

Heathland Insects

                         SMALL RED DAMSELFLY Ceriagrion tenellum (m)

                  GOLDEN-RINGED DRAGONFLY Cordulegaster boltonii (m)

                        DOWNY EMERALD DRAGONFLY Cordulia aenea (m) 

              BRILLIANT EMERALD DRAGONFLY Somatochlora metallica (m)

               KEELED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY Orthetrum coerulescens (m)

                        WHITE-FACED DRAGONFLY Leucorrhinia dubia (m)

                            BOG BUSH CRICKET Metrioptera brachyptera (f)

                        MOTTLED GRASSHOPPER Myrmeleotettix maculatus

                                             GRAYLING Hipparchia semele

                    SILVER-STUDDED BLUE BUTTERFLY Plebejus argus (m) 

                                        GREEN HAIRSTREAK Callophrys rubi

                                   EMPEROR MOTH LARVA Saturnia pavonia

                           COMMON HEATH MOTH Ematurgia atomaria (m)

                                HORNET ROBBERFLY Asilus crabroniformis

                                            VELVET ANT Myrmilla europaea

            SOUTHERN WOOD ANT Formica rufa and RED WASP Vespula rufa

                           MOTTLED BEE-FLY Thyridanthrax fenestratus

                                          HEATH BEE-FLY Bombylius minor

                                           HOVERFLY Sericomyia lappona

                                         HOVERFLY Sericomyia silentis

                                BEE-KILLER WASP Philanthus triangulum (f)

                                        DIGGER WASP Cerceris rybyensis

                                  SAND WASPS Ammophila sabulosa (m,f)

                                    HILL CUCKOO BEE Bombus rupestris (f)

                                  HEATH TIGER BEETLE Cicindela sylvatica

                                           EYED LADYBIRD Anatis ocellata

• The above selection of photographs illustrate just some of the many interesting insect species which inhabit British heathlands. Some of the examples shown are highly specialised and rare, others may be found in a broader range of habitats.

• Many thanks to George Else for providing a positive identification for the atypically marked queen Hill Cuckoo Bee Bombus (Psithyrus) rupestris. This uncommon species mimics (and is a social parasite of) the Large Red-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus lapidarius and the tip of the abdomen is normally much more obviously marked with red. Bumble bees have pollen baskets on their hind legs but these structures are absent in Cuckoo bees.

© David Element.

     LINKS...

-> Chalk Downland Insects

-> Wildlife of the Wandle Corridor - Insects

-> Wildlife of the Wandle Corridor - Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals

-> http://www.english-nature.org.uk/science/nature_for_schools/links_2.asp#8

-> David Element's Wildlife Web Pages Home Page

-> David Element's Wildlife Web Pages Site Index

-> COPYRIGHT INFORMATION