Shades On – Part Deux

Following on from my previous moan regarding Dragonflies total lack of consideration, for the rank novice odonatologist (apologies if this is not the pukkah word), the little blighters have been testing me again this last week, but, thanks, to the aforementioned Guide, a tad of luck and a smidgeon of advice from the pros, this time I think I have them covered.

First up my mate the Ruddy Darter - he of the sexual gymnastics (not yet an Olympic sport). This chap posed superbly and I like to think this is one of my better dragon pics so far.

Having captured a good snap of the little red fellow, for reasons best known to myself, I decided to take some more pictures of another Ruddy Darter sitting on a fence rail. But – on checking the picture out, I noticed the yellow patches on the thorax and yellow leg stripes that indicated this is in fact a Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum). Tick.

Now at this stage please forgive my slightly less than scientific approach, but I can’t help thinking that the head on view of many dragonflies look remarkably like a rather jolly US helicopter pilot, peering out of his bubble canopy. It’s not just me, is it?

I even managed to correctly identify with almost no outside help (thanks Tony F and Graeme) the very similar Southern Hawker and Migrant Hawker.

 Southern Hawker

Migrant Hawker

In order to keep a sense of perspective I have once again included a picture of one of the real pros when it comes to insect spotting. Long-tailed Tits have the saddest, pleading eyes, don’t you think?

Last week the FoHESC put on a very successful Bat and Moth evening, which was well attended, a lot of fun and very informative, however, with over 8000 European species of Moth, I may just put my adoption of Moths as an additional identification challenge, on hold for a bit. The caterpillar of the Cinnabar Moth is just about within my ID skills though, thanks to its distinctive eye catching colour scheme (hope you Dragonflies are taking note).

 Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

This particular individual was found munching away on its chosen food plant – Ragwort – even though the plant was an odd straggler, that escaped the recent cutting of the meadows and was in a pretty exposed position, leaving the caterpillar in full view of anything that fancied a colourful meal. Even more surprising, it was in exactly the same exposed position several days later, which I can only assume means that, this is one very fortunate individual or the warning colour scheme really works.

Or do they just taste bad?