TAPERED DRONEFLY or TAPERED HOVERFLY (Eristalis pertinax) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax) or Tapered Hoverfly is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Eristalis. This hoverfly is commonly found in Europe. It has a long flight season over a number of generations which extends from February to early November and overwinters as an adult. Key identification features include: large size, distinctive genus wing pattern, tapered abdomen, black antennae, yellowish front and middle lower legs (tarsi).

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

Reference and highly recommended reading:

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

BLUE TAILED DAMSELFLY (Ischnura elegans) [Immature female, form rufescens] Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Ischnura. It commonly occurs throughout Europe. In this species the abdomen S8 is blue coloured. Separate with care from the very similar but smaller Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio) whose abdomen S9 is blue. The flight season extends from April to early October. Immature females have a number of colour variations including the pink form rufescens.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds 

RAGGED ROBIN WILDFLOWER (Lychnis flos-cuculi) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Ragged Robin Wildflower (Lychnis flos-cuculi) is of the family Caryophyllaceae which is in the genus Lychnis. This perennial wildflower occurs in Europe, Asia and as an invasive species in parts of Canada and United States. The flowering season is from May to late August.

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GREEN VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris napi) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Green-veined White Butterfly (Pieris napi) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Pieris. It commonly occurs in Eurasia as well as North America. This species is on the wing from March to October, over several generations, but in Ireland the normal flight season extends from mid April to mid September. It hibernates during the winter as a chrysalis.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

CHOCOLATE MINING BEE (Andrena scotica) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Chocolate Mining-bee (Andrena scotica) or Hawthorn Bee is of the family Andrenidae which is in the genus Andrena. It occurs in Europe and its range extends from Ireland eastwards to Poland. The flight season is from March to late June, peaking in May. The females are communal nesters with a group of them sharing a common entrance to a burrow in which each female tends her own eggs and larvae within a chamber off the main burrow, constructing brood cells within her tunnel and provisioning the cells with pollen and nectar collected from a wide range of flowers.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrena_scotica

FOUR SPOTTED CHASER or FOUR SPOTTED SKIMMER (Libellula quadrimaculata) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, 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

TWIN LOBED DEERFLY (Chrysops relictus) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Twin Lobed Deerfly (Chrysops relictus) is of the family Tabanidae which is in the genus Chrysops.This biting fly is commonly found in western and northern Europe including Britain and Ireland. Its on the wing from early May to late September, peaking in July.

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YELLOW RATTLE (Rhinanthus minor) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) is of the family Orobanchaceae which is in the genus Rhinanthus. This wild plant is found in Europe, western Asia and in the temperate region of North America. It is a hemi-parasitic annual species which gains some of its nutrients from the roots of other plants. Its presence in a wildflower meadow is essential in reducing the dominance of grasses, which are one of its main hosts. The flowering season is from June to early September.

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COMMON GREEN GRASSHOPPER (Omocestus viridulus) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus) is of the family Acrididae which is in the genus Omocestus.

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SMALL TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY (Aglais urticae) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, 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. The caterpillars (larvae) feed on Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). Overwintering as an adult, its cryptic under wing pattern helps to avoid detection. It emerges from hibernation in late spring to lay eggs on its larval plant.

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