Todays post is inspired by the work of 
This is a throwback to a trip to a local nature reserve I took last month. It was my first trip travelling anywhere interesting since the Lockdown had begun in the UK, and when the restrictions were lifted slightly, I grabbed my camera and headed out to make the most of it...
I specifically chose a local reserve that wasn't too far away, and was likely to be quiet. And as it turned out, there was no one else here! I was free to wander and see what I could find...
First up is this beautiful Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum, he was very patient and let me get some nice close up shots
Then I spotted this Yellow Tail moth caterpillar (Euproctis similis) although in hindsight I'm not sure you could miss it with those bright orange stripes
The hairs of this species (like many other hairy caterpillars) can be irritating to the skin and unpleasant to eat, so he warns potential predators with the bright colours
Close by was another moth caterpillar this is one of the Ermine moths (Yponomeuta sp) There are are a few similar species, but they all look the same and have the same behaviour. As caterpillars they all feed together in a silken web for protection against other animals. After a few pictures I left them to feed in peace and went to see what else I could find...
Next I found 2 adult moth species, the first was one of the Long horn moths Adela reaumurella with the surprisingly long antennae which gives it its name...
... and another micro moth Dichrorampha sp. These are also notoriously hard to tell apart, but its caterpillar food-plant is Ox-Eye Daisies, which I found the moth on, so there is a high chance it is Dichrorampha alpinana.
Bored of moths now, and looking for different invertebrates to photograph, I spied a Dark Bush Cricket nymph...
...and then a cool looking bug. I think this might be Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus but I do struggle with this group of insects.
Now we have a few flies... this is Rhingia campestris a very distinctive looking Hoverfly
...followed by another Hoverfly, this is one of the Eristalis sp, possibly something like Eristalis pertinax but I guess I need more practice with flies too!
And finally on the way back to the car, I spot this very clumsy looking Crane fly, I find they always look so awkward with those incredibly long legs. I think this is one of the Tipula species, but again not sure on the ID.
So there we go, a nice walk in the sunshine, and a nice varied selection of insects!