CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information The Cryptic Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea juvernica) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Leptidea. |
Wednesday, 8 July 2020
CRYPTIC WOOD WHITE BUTTERFLY (Leptidea juvernica) [Pair, courtship display by male on left with extended proboscis] Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Tuesday, 7 July 2020
COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY (Sympetrum striolatum) [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 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 |
Sunday, 5 July 2020
FOUR BANDED LONGHORN BEETLE (Leptura quadrifasciata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map for Ireland
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 |
Saturday, 4 July 2020
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.
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
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_blue
Friday, 3 July 2020
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
Thursday, 2 July 2020
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
Wednesday, 1 July 2020
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.
|
Tuesday, 30 June 2020
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 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)