COMMON BLUE BUTTERFLY [Pair copulating, male on right] (Polyommatus icarus) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information

The Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) is of the family Lycaenidae which is in the genus Polyommatus. This species has a widespread distribution across the Palaearctic region and in 2005 was found as an invasive species in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada where it has continued to extend and colonise new areas. In southern Europe, the flight season is protracted, from early March into November, over a number of generations. In Britain and Ireland, it is on the wing from May to late September, over two generations 
The male has striking blue upper wings and lighter brown and blueish washed under wings compared to the female's brownish upper and under wings although her upper wings can be blueish brown in some populations. Males are very territorial and are constantly in search of receptive females. When the sexes meet, copulation occurs immediately, usually without any courtship ritual. Eggs are laid on the preferred larval food plant Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) or on plants from pea and bean family (Leguminosae). It overwinters as a larva (caterpillar) which emerges from hibernation the following season to continue feeding on its larval plant.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds 
 Reference: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_blue

COMMON SNOUT HOVERFLY (Rhingia campestris) female, Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information

The Common Snout Hoverfly (Rhingia campestris) is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Rhingia. It commonly occurs in the Palaearctic region. The flight season is from late March to mid November and there are two generations. This is a very striking species with a long snout and its larvae are found in dung or silage.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Reference and highly recommended reading: 

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

COMMON BLUE BUTTERFLY [Male] (Polyommatus icarus) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information

The Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) is of the family Lycaenidae which is in the genus Polyommatus. This species has a widespread distribution across the Palaearctic region and in 2005 was found as an invasive species in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada where it has continued to extend and colonise new areas. The female lays eggs on the preferred larval food plant Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) or on plants from pea and bean family (Leguminosae). In southern Europe, the flight season is protracted, from early March into November, over a number of generations. In Britain and Ireland, it is on the wing from May to late September, over two generations. It overwinters as a larva (caterpillar) which emerges from hibernation the following season to continue feeding on its larval plant.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BUFF TAILED BUMBLEBEE [Queen] (Bombus terrestris) on RED CLOVER (Trifolium pratense) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click external link here for detailed species information

 

The Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus. This bumblebee is commonly found throughout the temperate regions of Europe, The Middle East, northern Africa and occurs as an introduced species in other countries including Australia (Tasmania), Japan as well as parts of South America.  

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

LARGE AMBER SNAIL (Succinea putris) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information

The Large Amber Snail (Succinea putris) is of the family Succineidae which is in the genus Succinea. This land snail has a widespread distribution in the temperate regions of the Palaearctic. The shell length is 12-17mm, 6-9mm wide and has up to three mottled whorls which are darker than the rest of shell. It occurs in the damp well vegetated margins of ponds, lakes, rivers and fresh water marshes.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

LESSER DIVING BEETLE (Acilius sulcatus) [female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information

The Lesser Diving Beetle (Acilius sulcatus) is of the family Dytiscidae which is in the genus Acilius. Also known as the Grooved Diving Beetle, it occurs on all continents of the world except Antarctica. In Ireland this water beetle has a very scattered distribution but as in other countries it is probably under recorded due to its aquatic life style. Separate with care from the almost identical but rarer Acilius canaliculatus by differences in face pattern. As a strong flier, it is not confined to a single body of water. It overwinters deep under water as an adult.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

CATSEAR (Hypochaeris radicata) stems infected by galls of the CATSEAR GALL WASP (Phanacis hypochoeridis) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information

The (Common) Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata) is of the family Asteraceae which is in the genus Hypochaeris. Alternative names include Flatweed, Cat's-ear and False Dandelion. This wildflower is a widespread perennial in the temperate regions of Europe and also occurs as an invasive species in the Americas, Japan, Australia as well as New Zealand.
The Catsear Gall Wasp (Phanacis hypochoeridis) is of the family Hymenoptera which is in the genus Phanacis. In the early part of the flowering season, the female lays her eggs in the stems of (Common) Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata) that subsequently turn into larvae. An elongated gall is then formed that can contain up to 50 larvae which causes the stem to swell. Later in the season the larvae pupate within the gall and remain encased there overwinter. They emerge from the gall as wasps in late spring the following year.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

LATTICED HEATH MOTH (Chiasmia clathrata) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information

The Latticed Heath (Chiasmia clathrata) is of the family Geometridae which is in the genus Chiasmia. This day flying moth occurs throughout the Palearctic region. It is on the wing from mid May to mid September over two generations, peaking in June/July. In Ireland it has a scattered distribution where it can be locally common but is largely absent from the southwest. It overwinters as a pupa (chrysalis).

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

RINGLET BUTTERFLY (Aphantopus hyperantus) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information

The Ringlet Butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Aphantopus. This species has a widespread distribution in the Palearctic region, but is absent from northern latitudes. The flight season is from mid June to late July, peaking in late June. It overwinters as a larva (caterpillar).

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON LOUSEWORT (Pedicularis sylvatica) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information

The Common Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica) is of the family Orobanchaceae which is in the genus Pedicularis. This short compact wildflower occurs in central and northern Europe where it grows in moist acidic soils. It is a hemi-parasitic biennial species which gains some of its nutrients from the roots of other plants. The flowering season is from April to late July.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds