Partnered with Argyll Biological Records Centre (ABReC)
At first glance, Spotted Flycatchers might seem dull brownish-grey birds and therefore a bit boring. However, that is very much an understatement, as they are beautiful to watch. Observe them for a short period and you’ll be charmed by their fly-catching antics. Spotted flycatchers fly from a high perch, dash out to grab a flying Read More …
The Bonaparte’s Gull is the American equivalent of the Black-headed Gull. The shape of the dark hood and the white leading edge to the primaries are both strongly reminiscent of Black-headed Gull but the hood is actually sooty-black rather than brown, the legs are ‘bubble-gum’ pink and the underwing is much whiter, especially under the Read More …
The larva of the Elephant Hawk Moth is about 75 millimetres (3.0 in) long and green and brown in colour. Like most hawk moth caterpillars, they have a backward curving spine or “horn” on the final abdominal segment. The anterior of the caterpillar appears to have the shape of a trunk-like snout. It is this elephant Read More …
This medium-sized damselfly characteristically holds its wings open at 45 degrees when perched, unlike other damselflies. Males are metallic green with powder blue eyes, thorax sides and bands across first and last two abdominal segments. The females are similar but lack any blue colouring. This beautiful specimen was recorded during our field trip to Lochan Read More …
Even though the Pearl-band Grass Veneer flies by night only, it is easily disturbed during the day, especially in grasses. It is on the wing from mid-June to mid-August. It prefers boggy areas, but is also seen on drier heaths. The Pearl-band Grass Veneer is a species of Northern Europe. It is wide-spread and not Read More …
Among the best known wasp and bee mimics are the hoverflies, which do an impressive impersonation of their more dangerous distant cousins. Many hoverflies have evolved these black and yellow ‘don’t mess with me’ markings, but are just bluffing – they are completely harmless. The ruse is very effective however, and even humans who have Read More …
When freshly emerged like the photo above, the green colour of the forewing, combined with the wing markings, help to distinguish this moth from most others. This green colour fades to yellowish, whitish or even pinkish white with age. Widely distributed over England, Wales, Scotland, including the Hebrides and Orkney, and Ireland. Also found on Read More …
One of the more distinctive and beautiful members of the Pyralidae, this is another species whose larvae are aquatic, feeding on bur-reed (Sparganium) and other water plants. Beautiful China-mark, a micro moth is found fairly commonly around lochs, rivers and ponds throughout Britain, the moths are on the wing during July and August. It flies Read More …
Sometimes called Cleg Flies, adult horse flies feed on nectar and sometimes pollen. Females usually also feed on blood which aids in egg development. Males lack the necessary mouth parts for blood feeding. Most horse flies feed on mammal blood including humans, but some species are known to feed on birds, amphibians or reptiles. The Read More …
Exuvia are the cast-off skins or coverings of various organisms, such as the shells of crabs or the external coverings of the larvae and nymphs of insects. This one possibly belongs to one of the Four-spotted Chasers we saw chasing each other down at Loch Charn during our field trip on Tuesday 29th May 2012. Read More …
Like several similar species, this micro moth is to be found in grassy areas. One of the earliest Crambids to be seen during the year, these adults fly from May through to August. It flies naturally at night, though it is easily disturbed in the daytime. The larvae feed on various types of grass stem. Read More …
This hoverfly was found at, Gleann an Fhiodh near Ballachullish on 9th July 2012. Scaeva selenitica, is a rather scarce species which is at least a partial migrant, most frequently encountered among conifers The larvae are predacious upon pine aphids. The nearest conifers were half a mile away but I guess that’s nothing to an Read More …
A Crane-fly is an insect in the family Tipulidae. Adults are very slender, long-legged flies that may vary in length from 2–60 millimetres. In the United Kingdom this species is usually referred to as daddy longlegs. The larva of the European Crane Fly is commonly known as a leather-jacket. These larvae can cause damage to lawns Read More …
Only a few people realise that there are two species of Common Red Ants. Myrmica ruginodis looks a lot like Myrmica rubra, but there is one striking difference, the spines on Myrmica ruginodis are longer. They are about as long as the distance between the tips of the spines. In Myrmica rubra the spines are Read More …
This is the only British burnet moth with six red spots on each forewing, although care must be taken with identification, as in some cases the outermost spots can be fused. Rarely the red colour is replaced by yellow. It is found all over Britain, from June to August, mainly coastal in Scotland. Frequents flowery Read More …
Slow worms look superficially like snakes, but are actually legless lizards. One way to identify them is to see if they have eyelids. Lizards (and therefore slow worms) do, while snakes are lidless. This specimen was found in the Loch Nell area on 3rd July 2012. Photo by Carl Farmer Camera : Panasonic Lumix DMC Read More …