Insect Research.

The Hover Fly.  Episyrphus balteatus.

Look for the pattern of broad and narrow black bands on the abdomen to identify this very common hover-fly.  It is a great migrant and British populations are often augmented by huge invasions from the continent.  The flies swarm over plants collecting pollen and nectar and also feeding on honeydew.  They often enter houses.  The larvae eat aphids. 

SIZE: 10mm.

HABITAT:    Anywhere with flowers, especially fond of umbellifers and often abundant in gardens.

RANGE:      All Europe.

SEASON:   All year, but usually dormant in winter.

SIMLAR SPECIES:   None.

Dung-fly.  Scathophaga stercoraria.

This fly abounds on fresh cow- dug in he summer.   Scores of golden haired males may settle on a single cow-pat.  The female, seen here below the male, is less hairy and often rather green.  Both sexes have black antennae.  Adults feed on other flies attracted to the dung, but the large feed on the dung itself.  The dung of horses, deer and sheep is also eaten.

SIZE:  10mm

HABITAT:  Light woodland and most open habitats, but most commons on grazing pastures.

RANGE:  All Europe.

SEASON:  April-October.

SIMLAR SPECIES:  Several related spices are very similar but have orange antennae.

Seven-spot Ladybird. coccinella 7 punctuate.

Seven black spots on the elytra identify this familiar garden insect.  Note the strong smelling fluid exuded if the insect is handled.  This is its defence against birds and other predators.  Adults and larvae are all voracious aphid-hunters.  The steely-blue, yellow-spotted lava of this and of the smaller two spot ladybird are often abundant in gardens.

SIZE:  5-9mm

HABITAT:  Almost anywhere sometimes migrates in swarms.

RANGE:  All Europe.

SEASON:  All year, but dormant in the winter, occasionally in large clusters.

SIMILAR  SPECIES:  Scarce 7-spot ladybird is rarely found far from woods ant nest.  It may have extra spot.

Scorpion Fly.  Panorpa communis.

Look for the rather narrow, spotted wings and the stout beak characteristic of the scorpion flies.  Only the male, shown here has the up-turned tail that gives these harmless insects their name.  The tip of the female abdomen has the same chestnut colour as the male, but it is slender and tapering.  The larvae live in the soil and, like the adults, they are scavengers. 

SIZE:  15-20mm.

HABITAT:  Nettle-beds, hedgerows and other lush vegetation.

RANGE:  Most of Europe.

SEASONS:  April-August.

SIMILAR SPECIES:  About 30 species live in Europe, mostly in the S.  The spots vary but the only sure way to distinguish them is to examine the genitalia. 

Garden Spider.  Araneus diadematus.


The garden spider is a common and delightful site that is found in gardens up and down the country between June and November.  If you accidentally dis tube  Garden spider on its web it will use its legs to oscillate itself up and down and shake the web, and if it is very severely disturbed, it will drop from its web on a silk thread and lie still until its convinced the danger has passed an and then it will climb back to its web.

SIZE:  9-15mm.

HABITAT:  Hedgerow, gardens and fences.

RANGE:  Manly British isles.

SEASONS:  June November.

SIMILAR SPECIES:  About 30 species live around Europe. 

Blue-tailed Damselfly.  Lschnra elegans.


The male has a conspicuous blue patch near the tip of the abdomen.  In the female the blue is often replaced by lilac or pale brown.  The pterostigma near the tip of the forewing is half white and half black, as in all lschura species.  Both sexes have a small spike just behind the head, easily seen with the lens.  This species breeds in all kinds of fresh water.

SIZE:  25-35mm wingspan 30-40mm.

HABITAT:  Waterside vegetation.

RANGE:  Most of Europe except Spain and far North.

SEASON:  March-October, two or three broods.

SIMILAR SPECIES:  Scarce Blue-tailed Damslfly lacks the spike behind the head.

Flesh Fly.  Sacophaga carnaria.


One of several very similar flies with red eyes and very large feet.  Note also the chequered black and grey abdomen, whose pattern varies with the angle of view.  Although adults often feed on flowers, they are strongly attracted to carrion and dung, where the females give birth to lava instead of laying eggs.  The larvae feed in the rotting material.

SIZE:  12-20mm.

HABITAT:  Almost anywhere common around houses, although rarely fond indoors.

RANGE:  All Europe.

SEASON:  All year often basks on walls in winter sun.

SIMILAR SPECIES:  Other Sarcophaga species are very  differ cult to distinguish.  Many smaller flies have similar abdominal patterns. 

Field digger: Mellinus arvensis.

This common species can be distinguished from most other black and yellow digger wasps by the large yellow spot on the scutellum and the elongated waist - almost like a stalk connecting the thorax and abdomen.  It excavates it's nest in light, usually sandy, soil and stocks it with flies, especially hover flies.

SIZE:  10-15mm.

HABITAT:  Open places on well drained soils.

RANGE:  Most of Europe except far North.

SEASON: May-September.

SIMILAR SPECIES:  The much rarer M. crabroneus has paler markings and reddish antennae. 

Honey Bee.  Apis mellifera.


The bee that provides all our honey.  It differs from other bees in the long, narrow cell near the wing-tip.  Most Honey Bees live in hives in Europe, but there are many wild colonies in hollow trees.  The bee here is a worker.  The abdominal pattern varies and the orange patches are not always present.  Males or drones are plumper with longer antennae.

Size:  10-15mm.

Habitat:  Anywhere with platy of flowers.

RANGE:  All Europe.  Originally a native of southern Asia. domesticated strains are now found almost all over the world.

SEASON:  All year, but dormant in winter.

SIMILAR SPECIES:  Many bees are superficially similar but none has the long cell near the wing-tip.