High Elms, May 2014

Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages.  High Elms Country Park, 15 May 2014.

A few more photos from High Elms in May.  (The Friends of High Elms are putting some of my photos on their web site.)  This one is a Dingy Skipper which I had to get right down on the ground to take.  It was basking, and quite happy not to fly off as I got close.  I don't know why, but they are much more nervous when they are skipping between the greenery and feeding.

Cantharis Rustica, mating pair.  High Elms Country Park, 15 May 2014.

That dark blotch on the orange pronotum of these Cantharids looks like a heart from above, and that view might make a good valentine card if people liked beetles at all.  But generally they don't!

This is also another illustration of something I've said before, that many shiny beetles are actually quite hairy close to.

Green Hairstreak, Callophrys rubi, on Crosswort, Cruciata laevipes.  High Elms Country Park, 15 May 2014.

Our greenest butterfly.  Those wing scales are very reflective, and it will not open its wings when resting.  The top surface of them is actually brown.  Its other annoying habit is that it turns to face anyone who gets near.  It makes it easy to get this sort of mug shot, hard to get any other sort of photo!

Finally ...

Jumping Spider, Salticidae.  High Elms Country Park, 15 May 2014.

Jumping spiders are very alert little creatures.  They have excellent eyesight and they move in quick little jerks.  It can be quite disturbing to see one suddenly whip round and stare right back at you.  It makes your interaction seem a lot more personal.

As well as the forward-facing eyes you see here, they have two on the outer side edges of their cephalothorax, so they can easily see movement to their sides and above.