RED TAILED BUMBLEBEE (Bombus lapidarius) queen nectaring on Hawkweed wildflower species (Hieracium sp.) at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Click external link here for detailed Red-tailed Bumblebee information

Click external link here for detailed Hawkweed Wildflower information

 

Click here to see identification guide to Irish Bumblesbees

 

The Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.

The Hawkweed Wildflower species (Hieracium sp.) is of the family Asteraceae which is in the genus Hieracium.

PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (Aglais io) at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Aglais. It overwinters as an adult with its wings closed and the dark cryptic under wing pattern help it avoid detection by predators.

 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SMALL TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY (Aglais urticae) freshly emerged from hibernation, a minimum of 8 were present at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Aglais urticae) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Aglais. It has a widespread distribution in the Palearctic region but is absent from southern Asia.  

 Overwintering as an adult, its cryptic under wing pattern helps to avoid detection by predators. It emerges from hibernation in the spring to lay eggs on its larval plant. The caterpillars (larvae) feed on Common Nettle (Urtica dioica).

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY (Gonepteryx rhamni subspecies G. r. gravesi) male at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) is of the family Pieridae which is in genus Gonepteryx. It occurs in Europe, Asia and parts of northern Africa. The presence of its larval host plants, Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) and Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus carthartica) influences its geographic range and distribution. 

The Irish Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni subspecies G. r. gravesi) is endemic to Ireland. This hardy species can live for up to a year. There are two flight seasons, March to mid June and July to mid September. It then goes into hibernation and emerges in early spring the following year.
 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

Reference and very highly recommended reading:

The Irish Butterfly Book available directly from the author Jesmond M. Harding ISBN 978-0-9560546-1-6 

LARGE WHITE BUTTERFLY or LARGE CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris brassicae) at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae) or Large Cabbage White Butterfly is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Pieris. It occurs very commonly through out Eurasia and North Africa as well as an introduced species in South Africa. Although larger, it can be confused with the Small White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) which has a much reduced black edge to the upper forewing.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Speckled Wood Butterfly (Pararge aegeria) is of the family Acanthosomatidae which is in the genus Pararge. This is a very common species and is found throughout the Palearctic region. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats including urban gardens with a preference for shaded areas. Overwintering either as a lava or a pupa enables an extended flight season from April to October.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON MILKWORTH WILDFLOWER (Polygala vulgaris) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Milkworth Wildflower (Polygala vulgaris) is of the family  Polygalaceae which is in the genus Polygala.

COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY (Enallagma cyathigerum) immature male Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Enallagma. The flight season is from early May to early September.

AZURE DAMSELFLY (Coenagrion puella) male Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Coenagrion. It is the most abundant bluet in Europe and also occurs in parts of northern Africa and western Asia. It is absent from northern latitudes and from eastern Iberia. The flight period is from April to September, peaking in June and July.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

FOUR BANDED LONGHORN BEETLE (Leptura quadrifasciata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Four Banded Longhorn Beetle (Leptura quadrifasciata) is of the family Cerambycidae which is in the genus Leptura. It occurs throughout the northern and central Palearctic region. In Britain it has a wide spread but local distribution. Based on published reports, it is an uncommon and very local species in Ireland and has only been recorded from fifteen locations.
The wood boring larvae feed on dead and decaying trees. The pollen eating adults feed on a variety of plants including umbellifers. The life cycle lasts 2 or 3 years but the adults are short lived which might account for the lack of records.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds 
 Reference:  https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/Species/75569

SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY (Argynnis paphia) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly (Argynnis paphia) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Argynnis. This very large species occurs throughout the temperate regions of the Palearctic. In Britain, it is found in the southern half of England and Wales. It has a very scattered distribution in Ireland.

Eggs are laid in tree crevices close of it's larval foodplant Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana). The larvae hatch in August and immediately hibernate. They emerge the following April and then feed on the foodplant. Pupation occurs during May and the adult flight season is from July to late September.

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GREEN SHIELDBUG (Palomena prasina) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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Click external link here to see identification guide to British and Irish Shieldbugs
 

The Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) or Green Stink Bug is of the family Pentatomidae which is in the genus Palomena. Shieldbugs go through five instar stages before becoming adults. In spring, separate with care from the Gorse Shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus) which has fully red antennae compared to this species where only the two outer segments of the antennae are red .

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FOUR SPOTTED CHASER DRAGONFLY or FOUR SPOTTED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Libellula quadrimaculata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Four-spotted Chaser Dragonfly (Libellula quadrimaculata) is of the family Aeshnidae which is in the genus Libellula. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It is also found in North America where it is known as the Four-spotted Skimmer. The flight season is from mid April to early September. 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON DOG VIOLET (Viola riviniana) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) or more simply Dog Violet, also known as Wood Violet, is of family Violaceae which is in the genus Viola. This perennial wild flower is native to Eurasia as well as parts of northern Africa. Separate with care from the closely related Early Dog-violet (Viola reichenbachiana) and Heath Dog-violet (Viola canina) as well other European Viola.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON REED BUNTING (Emberiza schoeniclus) male, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls

 The Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) or more simply known as a Reed Bunting is of the bunting family Emberizidae which is in the genus Emberiza.

NETTLE WEEVIL (Phyllobius pomaceus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus) is of the family Curculionidae which is in the genus Phyllobius. This small beetle has a scattered distribution in Britain and Ireland but can be locally common in some areas. It overwinters as a pupa and emerges as an adult in late April. The adults feed on the leaves of Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) and Meadow Sweet (Filipendula ulmaria) until late June.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SMALL COPPER BUTTERFLY (Lycaena phlaeas) male at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas) is of the family Lycaenids  which is in the genus Lycaena.

DOWNLOOKER SNIPEFLY (Rhagio scolopaceus) male typically found resting facing downwards on tree trunks, fence posts or walls Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Click external link here for details of Snipefly species found in Britain and Ireland

 

The Downlooker Snipefly (Rhagio scolopaceus) or Downlooker Snipe Fly is of the family Rhagionidae which is in the genus Rhagio.
Length 8 to 16 mm. This common species preys upon a wide variety of flies caught on the wing. Pollen is also eaten. Hedgerows, woodland rides and clearings with associated damp meadows are its typical habitats. The flight season is from early May to mid August. The larval stage, which occurs in soil and woodland detritus, feeds on earthworms as well as beetle larvae.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY (Gonepteryx rhamni) female egg laying on Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) is of the family Pieridae which is in genus Gonepteryx. It occurs in Europe, Asia and parts of northern Africa. The presence of its larval host plants, Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) and Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus carthartica) influences its geographic range and distribution. This butterfly can live for up to a year and the flight season is from April to August. It then goes into hibernation and emerges in early spring the following year.
 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

MARSH FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY (Euphydryas aurinia) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Marsh Fritillary Butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Euphydryas. It has a wide distribution in the Palearctic region and is protected under Annex II of the European Union Habitats and Species Directive. The gregarious larvae overwinter in a silken web formed at the base of the larval host plant Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis). In mid March they emerge from hibernation and disperse prior to pupation in late April. Three to four weeks later, the adults appear and are on the wing until late June or early July. After mating the female lays batches of up to 300 eggs on the underside of the leaves of the host plant The larvae hatch in mid June and then form a new silken web from which they feed on the leaves of the host plant before the hibernation period begins.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds