PALE SADDLED LEUCOZONA HOVERFLY (Leucozona glaucia) female Abbeyleix Bog, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Ireland

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The Pale Saddled Leucozona Hoverfly (Leucozona glaucia) is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Leucozona. This Palearctic species has a scattered and local distribution in Ireland.The flight season is from early May to mid September. The larval food source are aphids. The pollen eating adults are commonly found on umbellifer plants.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds  

 

Reference and highly recommended reading:

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

BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (Calopteryx virgo) male Abbeyleix Bog, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Ireland

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The Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly (Calopteryx virgo) is of the family Calopterygidae which is in the genus Calopteryx.

BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (Calopteryx virgo) female Abbeyleix Bog, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Ireland

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The Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly (Calopteryx virgo) is of the family Calopterygidae which is in the genus Calopteryx.

EURASIAN WHIMBREL (Numenius phaeopus) Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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

The Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is of the curlew family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Numenius.

BATMAN HOVERFLY (Myathropa florea) female Curraghchase Forest Park, Co. Limerick, Ireland

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The Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Myathropa. This common species occurs in Europe as well as  parts of North Africia.The flight season is from from mid April to late October. Even darker individuals show the diagnostic "batman logo" shape on the lower half of the  thorax and hence its common name.

 

 

Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax) or Tapered Hoverfly male on left and Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) female nectering on Common Blackberry flowers  (Rubus fruticosus).

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds  

 

Reference and highly recommended reading:

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

FURRY HOVERFLY or FURRY DRONEFLY (Eristalis intricaria) female Curraghchase Forest Park, Co. Limerick, Ireland

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The Furry Hoverfly (Eristalis intricaria) or Furry Dronefly is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Eristalis. This sexually diamorphic (♂ and ♀ have different characteristics) European species is on the wing from April to September. Males in particular need to be separated with care from other hoverfly bumblebee mimics. Id feature; hind legs dark with partially pale tibiae.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds  

 

Reference and highly recommended reading:

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

EMERALD DAMSELFLY or COMMON SPREADWING (Lestes sponsa) male Curraghchase Forest Park, Co. Limerick, Ireland

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The Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) or Common Spreadwing is of the family Lestidae which is in the genus Lestes.

RED UNDERWING MOTH (Catocala nupta) on 17-08-2021 attracted to security light Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Red Underwing Moth (Catocala nupta) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Catocala. This is a large macro moth with a wingspan of 80mm and occurs in the temperate regions of the Palearctic. There are less than fifteen Irish records. The first record was from Co. Cork on 16th September 1906. There were no further reports until September 2016 when it was found in Co. Louth. All subsequent reports have been from that county as well as several from Co. Dublin and there is a single record from Co. Meath.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds 

MARSHAM'S NOMAD BEE (Nomada marshamella) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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 The Marsham's Nomad Bee (Nomada marshamella) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Nomada. This cuckoo bee is a wasp mimic and is a cleptoparasite of the Chocolate Mining Bee (Andrena scotica) as well as other mining bees in the genus Andrena. The flight season is from April to early September and its food source is pollen.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

TAPERED DRONEFLY or TAPERED HOVERFLY (Eristalis pertinax) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, 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

MEADOW SPIDER (Pardosa saltans) female with egg sack Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Meadow Spider (Pardosa saltans) or Meadow Wolf Spider is of the family Lycosidae which is in the genus Pardosa. This is a small dark species but there are a number of similar wolf spiders so it can only be identified with 100% certainty by microscopic examination.

"Requires examination at high magnification in good lighting, typically examination of the genitalia." Bee, L., Oxford, G., & Smith, H. (2020). Britain's Spiders: A Field Guide. Second Edition. Princeton University Press.

HAIRY BINDWEED WILDFLOWER (Calystegia pulchra) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Hairy Bindweed Wildflower (Calystegia pulchra) is of the family Convolvulaceae which is in the genus Calystegia. This perennial species has large trumpet shaped pink flowers with pale white stripes as well as slightly downy or hairy stems and bracts.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

CARNIVAL CANDY SLIME MOULD (Arcyria denudata) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Carnival Candy Slime Mould (Arcyria denudata) is of the family Arcyriaceae which is in the genus Arcyria. This is a very striking pink species which was formally consider to be a fungus but has now been reclassified as a slime mould. It is found on dead and decaying wood in damp habitats.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SMALL TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY (Aglais urticae) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, 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.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BLACK DARTER DRAGONFLY or BLACK MEADOWHAWK DRAGONFLY (Sympetrum danae) female, Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, 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

GOAT MOTH (Cossus cossus) caterpillar on 12-08-2020, Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Goat Moth (Cossus cossus) is of the family Cossidae which is in the genus Cossus. This large species occurs in broad leaved woodland across North America and Eurasia. In mid summer when the lava (caterpillar) hatches it bores into a deciduous tree. Having spent up to five year feeding inside the trunk or branch, the fully grown 10cm long larva emerges from the tree during August. It then makes a cocoon among debris on the ground where the pupal stage takes place and remains there until June the following year when it becomes a moth. The flight season, during which the adults don't feed, peaks in June and July. There is a strong musky smell reminiscent of goat from the larva (caterpillar) hence the adults name.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

With thanks to the local lady and her two children who found the caterpillar and pointed it out to me.

FLOWERING RUSH Wild Plant (Butomus umbellatus) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) is of the family Butomaceae which is in the genus Butomus. This perennial rhizomatous wild plant is native to Europe as well as Western Asia and is found as an invasive species in parts of North America. It occurs in aquatic habitats along fresh water lakes, streams and rivers. The flowering season extends from July to late August.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe /Raw Birds

FOURTEEN SPOT LADYBIRD (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) on STINGING NETTLE (Urtica dioica) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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 Click external link here for detailed Fourteen Spot Ladybird information

 Click external link here for detailed Stinging Nettle information

 Click external link here to see identification guide to Irish Ladybirds

 

The Fourteen Spot Ladybird (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) is of the family Coccinellidae which is in the genus Propylea.

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

KEELED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum coerulescens) male Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly (Orthetrum coerulescens) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Orthetrum.

KEELED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum coerulescens) female Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly (Orthetrum coerulescens) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Orthetrum.

KEELED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum coerulescens) pair copulating Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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 The Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly (Orthetrum coerulescens) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Orthetrum.

COMMON CENTAURY WILDFLOWER or EUROPEAN CENTAURY WILDFLOWER (Centaurium erythraea) white form, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Centaury Wildflower or European Centaury Wildflower (Centaurium erythraea) is of the family Gentianaceae which is in the genus Centaurium.

COMMON CENTAURY WILDFLOWER or EUROPEAN CENTAURY WILDFLOWER (Centaurium erythraea) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Centaury Wildflower or European Centaury Wildflower (Centaurium erythraea) is of the family Gentianaceae which is in the genus Centaurium.

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

SELF HEAL WILDFLOWER (Prunella vulgaris) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Self Heal Wildflower (Prunella vulgaris) is of the family Lamiaceae which is in the genus Prunella.

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