THE UGLY BUG BALL 2012....THE 'MOVERS AND SHAKERS'

In the rare sunny spells that we've had over the last few weeks I've had the pleasure of photographing some of the 'stars' as they make their way to the annual gathering that is... The Ugly Bug Ball.

First on the scene is the Master of Ceremonies dressed in top hat and tails....

Beetle - oedemera nobilis

Now, you can't have a Ball without a man in a uniform...

Soldier Beetle - cantharis rustica

Then there's the 'hoverer' who spends their time just hanging around but never stays to get involved!...

Hoverfly - syrphus ribesii

Then you get the couple that are always late..'cause they had something better to do!!...

Spotted Crane-fly - nephrotoma appendiculata

Then there's the one who you can always 'see' right through...

Picture Winged Fly - oxyna parietina

You always get one individual who likes to draw attention to themselves by dressing in a garish outfit...

14-spot Ladybird - propylea 14-punctata

And the aloof couple with their smart clothes and their noses in the air, and he always has that harmless sting in his tail!...

Scorpion Fly - panopa germanica

No matter how the proceedings are going there's always someone who feels a little blue...

Nettle weevil - phyllobius pomaceus

Then there's the airy fairy one who flits about a lot but never seems to go anywhere...

May Fly - ephemera vulgata

The local 'Lady' always puts in an appearance, dressed in the finest of fabrics...

Lacewing - chrysopa perla

There's always someone buzzing around looking for the sweet things in life... 

Honey Bee - apis mellifera

Without fail there will always be a couple of 'bad boys' that try to ruin any good party...

Fly - phaonia angelicae

Flesh Fly - sarcophaga cameria

And finally the social climber who's always trying to make it to the top but no matter how hard you try you can never find out his name!!!...

??

Do you recognise him?

I hope you found it interesting meeting some of the guests to this years Ball and maybe, if the organisers manage to turn off the sprinklers and fire up that big glitter ball in the sky, I'll soon have the opportunity to photograph a few more!

 

A GARDEN SAFARI

While sitting in the garden a couple of mornings ago, enjoying the sun and a cup of coffee, I noticed a Large White butterfly paying a lot of attention to a plant I know as 'money plant' or 'silver dollars'  (lunaria annua).

After flitting around for about five minutes the butterfly disappeared under one of the leaves. After a further fifteen minutes or so the butterfly flew away and eventually  curiosity got the better of me and I went to have a look, on turning over the leaves this is what I found.

41 pristine new eggs.

Now, with my shutter finger itching, I decided to go on safari to see what I could find......

14 Spot Ladybird - propylea 14-punctata

Bluebottle - calliphora erythrocephala

Flesh-Fly - sarcophaga carnaria

Greenbottle - lucilia caesar

Lesser House-Fly - fannia canicularis

myathropa florae - a wasp mimic

Garden Spider - araneus diadematus    With breakfast, lunch and dinner!

pisaura mirabilis     a female hunting spider with an egg sack secured in her mouthparts.

And after operations were curtailed by a brief tropical storm!  (well, I was on safari!) this  Common Frog - rana temporaria came hopping across the patio.

So, not a bad 'bag'  for a 22ft. x 22ft. urban garden.