Saturday, August 5, 2023

Sawfly Summer

 Spotted these caterpillars on the birch in my garden in June. Turns out they're a species of Sawfly which are related to bees and wasps (Hymenoptera)

When alarmed they assume a defensive posture where they all hold their bodies in an outward curl.

Very cool.

Species is Pristiphora testacea

Phone shots


Friday, August 4, 2023

A Snipe Fly

Found this little chap on a rusty sculpture on West Park. I didn't know what it was but I got a broad ID from a Facebook insect group- its a Snipe Fly (Rhagionidae)

Taken with my Oppo phone