Tachina grossa is one of Britains largest true flies and is the size of a large bumble bee.It is a parasite of noctuid moth larvae. It can be found around natural grasslands , meadows and sometimes heathland. There are a few smaller similar species.
Beautiful metallic green moths may be seen on flowers such as the forester moths.These are related to Burnet moths and live in the same habitats of flower rich meadows, something that is rare these days.The cistus forester (Adscita statices)(lower specimen), and the scarce forester (Jordanita globulariae) are both on the same flower. This year has been good for both species which are now rare.
The species are very hard to separate from one another.
The scarce footman moth(Eilema complana) has its wings folded in towards the body at rest unlike the many other similar members of the group.
With the wet weather creating ideal situations for fungi, entomorphic species may be very common this tear.Here an Oak bush cricket (Meconema thalassinum)has succumbed to one of the species that overtakes its host and encourages it to climb high in order to spread its wind blown spores over a wide area.
Most female adders have given birth to live young . They were late this year due to the absence of warm weather. Some are still gravid. this specimen maybe has already given birth.
