For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Friday 30 July 2010

Insects in the Long Plantation, the North Downs, Surrey

Clearings in a forest allow wild flowers to grow and attract insects.  This clearing in the Long Plantation, near Kingswood, Surrey on the North Downs is a spectacular example of such conservation work.  The flowers are lovely and the insect life awesome.
Nettle-leaved Bellflower lives up to its name.  You are careful not to brush against the leaves until you see the flowers.
Margoram, Origanum vulgare, was highly attractive to many butterflies and insects.
This is a Holly blue butterfly.
All of these flies will have to wait for identification until I get delivery of a new insect guide.




Bee
What a fine wasp...? ... on a wild parsnip.



Yet another species of hover fly.
The ubiquitous soldier beetle(?), or Hogweed bonking beetle, which seemed to be bonked out today.

Flies like wild parsnips too.

Tiny, weeny flies too.

What beauties.

????
 Holly blue.
Speckled wood.
A fritillary, which one though?  Click on this picture (and any other) to expand.  Above, just might be the finest butterfly photo that I have taken to date.
This looks like a Silver-washed fritillary.  In any case, the poor butterfly has taken a pounding.





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