PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Palomena prasina) on DEVIL'S BIT SCABIOUS WILDFLOWER (Succisa pratensis) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Vanessa.

GREEN SHIELDBUG (Palomena prasina) 3rd instar Nymph, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Click 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.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

KNOT GRASS MOTH (Acronicta rumicis) caterpillar Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Knot Grass Moth (Acronicta rumicis) is of the family Noctuidae which is in the genus Acronicta.

THE FOOTBALLER HOVERFLY (Helophilus pendulus) male, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Footballer Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Helophilus.

 

Reference and highly recommended reading:

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

GOBLET WAXCAP MUSHROOM (Hygrocybe cantharellus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Goblet Waxcap Mushroom (Hygrocybe cantharellus) or Chanterelle Waxcap is of the family Hygrophoraceae which is in the genus Hygrocybe.

COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY (Sympetrum striolatum) [Female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum. This is the commonest dragonfly that occurs throughout Eurasia. In the southern part of its range the flight season is year round. In Britain and Ireland it is on the wing from June to late October. Separate with care from the very similar Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) which has all black legs and a slightly tapered mid abdomen.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

HARVESTMAN (Opilio parietinus) [Male] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Harvestman Opilio parietinus is of the family Phalangiidae which is in the genus Opilio.

COMMON CARDER BUMBLEBEE (Bombus pascuorum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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  Click here to see identification guide to Irish Bumblesbees

 

The Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) or Common Carder Bee is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.

COMMON HEATH MOTH (Ematurga atomaria) [Male] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Heath Moth (Ematurga atomaria) is of the family Geometridae which is in the genus Ematurga.

EUROPEAN COMMON FROG (Orthetrum cancellatum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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  The European Common Frog (Rana temporaria) or Common Frog is of the family Ranidae which is in the genus Rana.

BLACK TAILED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum cancellatum) [Female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Black-tailed Skimmer Dragonfly (Orthetrum cancellatum) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Orthetrum.

BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY (Gonepteryx rhamni) [Female] 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 overwinters as an adult and emerges, after seven months, from hibernation.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

CRYPTIC WOOD WHITE BUTTERFLY (Leptidea juvernica) on HERB ROBERT WILDFLOWER (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Click here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information

 

The Cryptic Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea juvernica) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Leptidea.

The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.

MOTHER SHIPTON MOTH (Callistege mi) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Mother Shipton Moth (Callistege mi) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Callistege.

COMMON STRETCH SPIDER (Tetragnatha extensa) with dismembered AZURE DAMSELFLY (Coenagrion puella) prey Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Stretch Spider (Tetragnatha extensa) is a member of the Long-jawed orb weaver spider family Tetragnathidae which is in the genus Tetragnatha.

COMMON CLOVER SAWFLY (Tenthredo arcuata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Clover Sawfly (Tenthredo arcuata) is of the family Tenthredinidae which is in the genus Tenthredo. It is on the wing from April to late August over two generations. This pollen eating species is commonly encountered on thistles and umbellifers. The larval food plant is White Clover. 

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

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [Female with Blow-fly prey] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and North America where it is known as Goldenrod Crab Spider or more simply Flower Spider.  

Only the female can change colour normally either from white to yellow or visa versa but this can be a protracted process. The minute black and white male can be a real challenge to locate.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

MARSH CRANEFLY (Tipula oleracea) female infected with Orange Phoretic Mites at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Marsh Cranefly (Tipula oleracea) is of the family Tipulidae which is in the genus Tipula.
 Phoretic mites form a non permanent relationship with their host. This is known as phoresis or phoresy, in which one organism attaches itself to another species solely for the purpose of travel to new habitat and then drop off. In this case the orange phoretic mites have attached themselves to the side of the craneflys thorax. 

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

COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY (Sympetrum striolatum) pair copulating Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum. This is the commonest dragonfly that occurs throughout Eurasia. In the southern part of its range the flight season is year round. In Britain and Ireland it is on the wing from June to late October. Separate with care from the very similar Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) which has all black legs and a slightly tapered mid abdomen.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY [Female] (Sympetrum striolatum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum.

COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY [Male] (Sympetrum striolatum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum.

GREEN VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris napi) Lullymore West Bog, 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

GIANT TACHINID FLY (Tachina grossa) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Giant Tachinid FLY (Tachina grossa) is of the family Tachinidae which is in the genus Tachina.

TWO BANDED WASP HOVERFLY [Female] (Chrysotoxum bicinctum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Two Banded Wasp Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum bicinctum)  is of the family Syrphidaeum which is in the genus Chrysotoxum.

 

Reference and highly recommended reading:

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

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.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

RAFT SPIDER (Dolomedes fimbriatus) [Juvenile] Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is a semi-aquatic member of the family Pisauridaeone which is in the genus Dolomedes. It is one of Ireland’s largest spiders. Also known as the Hunting Spider or the Jesus Christ spider for its ability to walk on water. It occurs in sphagnum bogs. Main prey items include aquatic and terrestrial  insects, invertebrates as well as tadpoles

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

YELLOW BARRED BOG HOVERFLY (Sericomyia silentis) [Male wing stretching] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Yellow-barred Bog Hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis) or Bog Hoverfly is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Sericomyia.

 

Reference and highly recommended reading:

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

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

PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (Aglais io) caterpillars or larvae feeding Nettles at Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, 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