Originally published on Photoblog by Gethin Thomas AUGUST. 13, 2021
As you all know, I luuuuurrrve bugs. Today we went on a new walk and it was through a nature reserve so no surprise there were bugs everywhere. Mostly where you don't want them.
This first little fellow seemed to be struggling in the lake at the edge as he had become waterlogged and his wings soaked. He was grateful for a helping hand and crawled out onto the walking stick. I then put him on some leaves nearby where hopefully he was able to dry out. I couldn't tell until I viewed the photo at home how amazingly beautiful the wings are.
My best bet is an Azure Damselfly from a selection seen on an information board nearby.
This one was also lucky not because I rescued him but because I almost trod on him. He was crossing the pavement headed for the road. Who knows if he made it. If he had gone the other way there were acres of nature reserve which we have paid millions to make safe for him. If only he knew.
I can't even guess what this one is. (Addendum - It's a Knot Grass Caterpillar)
Here are two bugs. The yellow and black one is a Jersey Tiger Moth which I only spotted because he was flying around and in flight they are a beautiful yellow colour.
The Jersey Tiger, is a day-flying moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Nikolaus Poda von Neuhaus in 1761. The adult wingspan is 52–65 millimetres (2.0–2.6 in), and they fly from July to September, depending on the location.
Aside from being frequent in the Channel Islands (whence its common name comes), this species was rarely seen in the British Isles in Victorian times. It was described by William Forsell Kirby as, "a great rarity in the South of England, except one locality in Devonshire.
The fourth bug of the day is a scorpion, on the wheel trim of this Fiat 500 Abarth.
Carlo Abarth (15 November 1908 – 24 October 1979), born Karl Albert Abarth, was an automobile designer. Abarth was born in Austria, but later was naturalized as an Italian citizen; and at this time his first name Karl was changed to its Italian equivalent of Carlo Alberto. The car manufacturer that Abarth founded was taken over by Fiat in 1971.
The scorpion was used as his logo because he was born under the sign of the scorpion.
