Riverside Invertebrates In May

Mayfly, Ephemera vulgata.  Riverside near Leigh on 19 May 2012.

Along the Medway we saw lots of interesting insects, though as all the others in the party were botanists there were only a few I could get them interested in.  This was one, because it is such an iconic river creature; a Brown Mayfly, the short-lived adult of a common European species often imitated as a dry fly by fishermen.  I caught one in my hand as it flew past (not this one!)

This is pretty, but there was a much more spectacular species flying in the riverside meadows.

Banded Demoiselle, Calopteryx splendens.  Male.  In a riverside meadow near Leigh on 19 May 2012.

When these shiny damselflies flutter past they certainly catch the eye.  They confused me at first; they are as showy as dragonflies, yet they hold their wings like the damselflies they are.  The females are just as shiny, but a different colour, and they don't have the cloudy band in their wings.

Banded Demoiselle, Calopteryx splendens.  Female.  In a riverside meadow near Leigh on 19 May 2012

There were also some Large Red Damselflies around, pretty creatures that if the shiny Demoiselles weren't there I would think were the best things I would see.

Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula.  Male.  In a riverside meadow near Leigh on 19 May 2012.

Damselflies hunt other insects.  But less macho creatures can also be handsome.

Dung Fly, Scathophaga species.  Riverside near Leigh on 19 May 2012.

Like this Dung Fly.  Still, probably my favourite creature from this trip appeared at lunchtime on a fleece worn by one of the group.

Weevil, Curculio species.  In a meadow near Leigh on 19 May 2012.

This is probably a nut weevil and I think it is quite amazing that it can manipulate those antennae that are attached halfway along its curving snout.  But they move back and forth quite easily, and can be folded back and hinged to be parallel with the snout.

There were also various other beetles and lots of spiders and flies .. but I will end this post with what we saw as we got back to the village green where our cars were parked.  This is so very traditional as to be a cliche, yet it was a pleasure to see.

Cricket on Leigh village green, 19 May 2012.

All photos were taken with my EOS 60D and EF 100mm macro lens.