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Insects of the day

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  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,190
    That is not a skipper, it is a Painted Lady.
  • bullfinchbullfinch Posts: 692
    Oh thank you! We don't often see butterflies in our garden, except for cabbage whites so we're not good on names 😊
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    This morning I "rescued" a praying mantis caught in a spider web in a corner of my garden shed. This is the season when these insects seek refuge indoors. Relatively rare north of the Loire, this is only the third specimen I have seen here in 20 years!
    So I carefully placed it on one of my echinacea to photograph it. It took the opportunity to groom itself, conscientiously devouring the spider web strands that were still sticking to its legs.
    Just placed on the echinacea
    Hello, friends!
    No, I'm not smoking!
    The grooming of the legs continues....
    Allmost done...
    Now we are all cleaned up and ready for the GW forum.
  • bullfinchbullfinch Posts: 692
    What incredible pictures @Papi Jo, amazing creature!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Fab @Papi Jo  :)
    The painted ladies have been on a once a decade invasion this year @bullfinch.
    They've been in my garden dozens at a time.It's been terrific.  :)
    I was out on a hill at Braemar today, and caught this on the way back by the Clunie Water

    I haven't had a chance to look it up yet, so if anyone can shed light, I'd be very grateful.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    Is it a Meadow Brown?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've been looking it up just now on a site I use @pitter-patter, and that's the conclusion I was coming to.  Thanks so much for your prompt suggestion.  :)
    Maybe a female - they seem to be lighter in colour than the males. It was tiny  :)

    I couldn't get in any closer in case it skedaddled  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    I’ve recently looked them up as well. I see them quite often on my walks. 
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    These two were in our garden today.  Is the butterfly a small copper and the bee is I think a buff tailed bumble bee, perhaps.
  • Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
    Great pictures @Papi Jo Feeling bad for the spider though 🙁 
    I see a lot of spider webs around the garden but most seem empty. How do they survive with so little food. Or am I just overthinking it? 🤔😄
    Surrey
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