LARGE RED DAMSELFLY (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) male Abbeyleix Bog, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Ireland

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The Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Pyrrhosoma. It is commonly found in Europe, smaller populations occur in northern Africa and western Asia. It is on the wing from April to early September.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

IVY BROOMRAPE WILDFLOWER (Orobanche hederae) Abbeyleix Bog, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Ireland

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The Ivy Broomrape Wildflower (Orobanche hederaeer) is of the family  Orobanchaceae which is in the genus Orobanche. It is a parasite of Common Ivy (Hedera helix) and is attached to the hosts root system. This uncommon wild plant does not have any chlorophyll of its own so is totally dependent on the host species for survival.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

YELLOW BANDED CONOPS FLY or YELLOW BANDED BEE GRABBER (Conops quadrifasciatus) male Abbeyleix Bog, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Ireland

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The Yellow Banded Conpos Fly (Conops quadrifasciatus) or Yellow-banded Bee Grabber is of the family Conopidae which is in the genus Conops. This wasp mimic occurs in Europe and in parts of Western Asia. It is a parasite of Red Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and other members of that genus.The female grabs onto a potential bumblebee host and lays a single egg on it. When the larva hatches, it enters the host and becomes an endoparisite which eventually leads to mortality of the host and then the adult emerges from it. Nectar as well as pollen are its food source and the flight season is from June into September.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY (Argynnis paphia) Abbeyleix Bog, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, 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

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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Click external link here for Ireland and European distribution maps

 

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