https://www.davebirdphotography.com/work daily 0.75 2023-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1518797596749-IGFMGW1JMXPS0MSFKBCG/Morning_in_Havana_5712_3_4_Default.jpg Galleries https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1518694865660-UWMZH75I5EUAGQQYBVMH/8383-Thecadactylus-solimoensis.jpg Galleries Turnip-tailed gecko (Thecadactylus solimoensis) - Ecuador. A nocturnal gecko found on tree trunks during the day where it is very difficult to spot. Even the iris of its eyes are cryptically patterned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1518711525080-H0942ACHMJZW4PDD0IDG/Water-vole-8455.jpg Galleries Water vole (Arvicola terrestris) - Gloucestershire, UK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1519236684282-GOC9HN3LTHIZKE5W5LW9/Balloon_festival.jpg Galleries International balloon fiesta - Bristol, UK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1518799445001-4HVT7CQEA7MUXNOSV5QK/Starfish_on_the_beach_8265.jpg Galleries Isle of Youth, Cuba. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1518696699799-TNKLM978TTGZF1R38X4N/Harlequin-ladybird.jpg Galleries Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - Gloucestershire, UK. This species is invasive and apparently taking over ladybird world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1518789169153-IFHNZLQP0JKIW4YFH4ZO/8931-Butterfly.jpg Galleries Rainforest butterfly - Ecuador. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1628252256842-XS7K394DGHDAUXTSQNSN/20-07-03-07+Hemipteran%2C+Heterotoma+planicornis.jpg Galleries Meet Heterotoma planicornis (Miridae), a tiny heteropteran bug about 4 mm long that feeds on various plants and trees, especially stinging nettles. With red eyes, green legs and huge antennae this is one of the weirdest insects I've ever photographed. What was evolution thinking of? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1628255447817-CLI19031FWLE1DH3V6Y1/Copyright+04+Final+-+Bee+Fly+Panorama.jpg Galleries The furry brown body and long proboscis make this insect easy to recognise, it's a bee fly, Bombylius major (Bombyliidae), that appears early in Spring. It's not a bee but a true fly as it only one pair of wings. The adults feed on the nectar on many low-growing flowers. The larvae however, are parasites of mining bees. The adults have the remarkable ability to fling eggs directly into the entrance of a mining bees nest. Amazing behaviour to watch if you see one in action. One of my favourite insects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1518625823825-X4K40QK8N6AQQFA83LWJ/02.+Butterfly+208.jpg Galleries https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1610488571191-LHM87J9B4CYEMDLQVS0U/Star+anise+1920px.jpg Galleries STAR ANISE - the seed pod of Ilicium serum, an evergreen tree native to northeast Vietnam and southwest China. The highly fragrant oil is used in cooking, perfumery, soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and skin creams. About 90% of the world's star anise crop is used for extraction of shikimic acid, a chemical used in the synthesis of oseltamivir (Tamiflu). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1518704296842-S1G3VHDBQGX6HE3I673U/Ranitomeya-ventrimaculata.jpg Galleries Reticulated poison frog (Ranitomeya variables) - Ecuador. This little frog is only about 2 cm long but it's skin contains highly toxic chemicals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1571678996645-AE4O8PRKSF4UQIP3L6K5/Phocid+Spider.jpg Galleries Our house must support most of the world's population of Pholcus phalangioides, the daddy long-legs spider or long-bodied cellar spider (not to be confused with the crane fly that are also known as daddy long-legs). These spiders have a total of eight eyes. These are arranged in two clusters of three larger ones located on either side of a pair of smaller ones. If you disturb these spiders while they are in their tangled webs, they vibrate rapidly into a spider/silk blur. They eat mainly other spiders and, in our house, they seem to like woodlice (just as well as we have significant population of the world's population of these too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1519236835842-Q281XDJPNN7T61ZUAD16/Man_leaning_on_carriage.jpg Galleries South Cerney steam fair - Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1628248309444-7DY8LZGRGIV8839DA4V6/11+Final+-+2019-06-04-19.59.45.jpg Galleries This handsome beetle is the Common cockchafer, Melolontha melolontha (Scarabaeidae). They are also known as Maybugs, Spang beetles, Billywitches and Doodlebugs. Although they fly at night, they are attracted to light and can be heard bashing into your windows when they first appear around late April to early May. This is a male as it has seven 'leaves' on its remarkable antler-like antennae - females have only have six. Cockchafers were once highly abundant until pesticide use in the mid 20th Century almost obliterated them, but they have now recovered with the introduction of improved pesticide regulations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1628265626356-JU6FOWTO4IUK26FMM6J7/09+Final+-+Hornet%2C+Vespa+crabro.jpg Galleries The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is an impressive insect and Britain's largest social wasp. They have yellow and brownish-red striped bodies, reddish wings and a yellow head. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8325588fd4d2229e6b819a/1518696302865-C38GBGZ79L5VUISL1BLD/Cuban-pygmy-owl-Glaucidium-siju.jpg Galleries Cuban pygmy owl (Glaucidium siju) - endemic to Cuba. 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