COMMON BANDED HOVERFLY or HUMMING SYRPHUS HOVERFLY (Syrphus ribesii) female, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Banded Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) or Humming Syrphus Hoverfly is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Syrphus. This is a common and widespread species which is found throughout the temperate regions of the Holarctic. Separate with care from Syrphus vitripennis and Syrphus torvus which are almost identical in appearance. 

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

Reference and highly recommended reading: 

Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris

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.

 

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

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 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.

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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.

ORANGE TIP BUTTERFLY (Anthocharis cardamines) a male nectaring on Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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 The Orange-tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Anthocharis. This common and widespread species is on the wing from early May to late June. The larval food plant is Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) which is also known as Lady's Smock. It overwinters as a chrysalis.

 

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HAIRY HAWKER DRAGONFLY (Brachytron pratense) male, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Hairy Hawker Dragonfly is of the family Aeshnidae which is in the genus Brachytron. Alternative names include Hairy Dragonfly and Spring Hawker. It has a scattered distribution in Europe and parts of western Asia. It is absent from Iceland and other northern latitudes. In the warmer part of its range, it is on the wing from late March to early August but has a shorter flight season elsewhere.

 

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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.

 

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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.
 

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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

GREEN TIGER BEETLE (Cicindela campestris) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris)  is of the family Carabidae which is in the genus Cicindela.

WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) is of the family Phylloscopidae which is in the genus Phylloscopus. This insectivorous leaf warbler is a common and widespread summer resident from mid April to late September which breeds throughout the northern and temperate regions of Eurasia. It is strongly migratory, with almost all of the population wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a bird of open woodlands with a preference for habitats that include birch, alder and willow trees as well as ground cover for nesting.

    

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DINGY SKIPPER BUTTERFLY (Erynnis tagesi) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages) is of the family Hesperiidae which is in the genus Erynnis. It occurs in Europe and most of western Asia. The flight season is normally from late April to early June but in the warmer parts of its range there is a second generation on the wing during July and August. 

 

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HAIRY HAWKER DRAGONFLY (Brachytron pratense) female, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Hairy Hawker Dragonfly is of the family Aeshnidae which is in the genus Brachytron. Alternative names include Hairy Dragonfly and Spring Hawker. It has a scattered distribution in Europe and parts of western Asia. It is absent from Iceland and other northern latitudes. In the warmer part of its range, it is on the wing from late March to early August but has a shorter flight season elsewhere.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BROAD CENTURION SOLDIER FLY (Chloromyia formosa) male, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Broad Centurion Soldier Fly (Chloromyia formosa) of the family Stratiomyidae which is in the genus Chloromyia.

SIX SPOT BURNET MOTH (Zygaena filipendulae) pair mating and a third individual struggling to emerge from its pupal casing, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Six Spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena filipendulae) is of the family Zygaenidae which is in the genus Zygaena.

BLACK DARTER DRAGONFLY or BLACK MEADOWHAWK DRAGONFLY (Sympetrum danae) teneral female, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Black Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum danae) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum. It occurs in northern Eurasia as well as parts of North America where it is know as Black Meadowhawk Dragonfly. The flight season is from July to September.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

CLOUDED BORDER MOTH (Lomaspilis marginata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Clouded Border Moth (Lomaspilis marginata) is of the family Geometridae which is in the genus Lomaspilis.

COMMON FIELD GRASSHOPPER (Chorthippus brunneus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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 The Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) is of the family Acrididae which is in the genus Chorthippus.