Bird, bug, butterfly and a wild variety of photos from Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain by Irish wildlife photographer Patrick J. O'Keeffe and invited guests

Tuesday 29 December 2020

BLACK DARTER DRAGONFLY or BLACK MEADOWHAWK DRAGONFLY (Sympetrum danae) teneral female, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, 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

Monday 28 December 2020

CLOUDED BORDER MOTH (Lomaspilis marginata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click here to see distribution map for Ireland
 
The Clouded Border Moth (Lomaspilis marginata) is of the family Geometridae which is in the genus Lomaspilis.

Tuesday 22 December 2020

AZURE DAMSELFLY (Coenagrion puella) male infected with white Entomopathogenic Fungi, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Azure Damselfly information
 
The Azure Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) 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.
When an insect becomes infected with entomopathogenic fungi, the host species subsequently dies as a result.
 
 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday 21 December 2020

Saturday 19 December 2020

Friday 18 December 2020

WHITE TAILED BUMBLEBEE (Bombus lucorum) on Common Knapweed wildflower (Centaurea nigra) at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click external link here for detailed White-tailed Bumblebee information
Click external link here for detailed Common Knapweed Wildflower information
 
Click here to see identification guide to Irish Bumblesbees
 
The White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus  lucorum) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.
The Common Knapweed Wildflower (Centaurea nigra) or Lesser Knapweed is of the family Asteraceae which is in the genus Centaurea.

Wednesday 16 December 2020

COMMON GARDEN SPIDER (Araneus diadematus) [female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Common Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) or Cross Spider is of the family Araneidae which is in the genus Araneus. This widespread large orb-weaver spider occurs in Europe as well as North America. There are a number of colour variations and the pale distinctive cruciform markings on its back clearly identifies it.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds