The Fracking of Fools!

    GASLAND is an award winning documentary that explains the devastating impacts on our environment when greed and power take center stage.  http://www.2gb-hosting.com/v/7ad69a300f10322f2cdda33b56b1c16d/adc0b7b5cba782e.avi.html#

Hoverfly arriving at Thistle flower

Shieldbug nymphs Bronze Shield Bug (Troilus luridus)

These nymphys were found on a gooseberry plant close to my home. The two larger ones are approx 3mm in size and the one on the bottom left has just shed its skin. They are possibly called  Bronze Shield Bugs (Troilus luridus)

Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium)

Silver washed fritillaries mating

These are very large and impressive butterflies belonging to the family of Nymphalidae  There are four different species of Fritillaries in Ireland and the Marsh Fritillary is the most rarest butterfly of all across Europe and it is listed under Annex ll of  the EU Habitats Directive. Habitat destruction and change of land use is responsible for their downfall. Despite this piece of legislation however little to nothing has been done by the Irish government to prevent their decline as law enforcement is completely incompetent.

Nursery Web Spider

Large Grasshopper

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

Found this lovely Orchid today in a fen in Co Wexford

Grasshoppers (Omocestus)

Mating meadows

Cinnabar Moth caterpillar (Tyria jacobaeae)

Cinnabar larva feeding on Ragworth the caterpillars can consume whole Ragworth plants and because of this they are used as a biocontrol to reduce Ragworth as it is harmfull to livestock.

Ring spots of the Ringlet Butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Black headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)

Black headed Gull   summer plumage i.e black head

Life along the banks

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)  along with some Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica)

Mayfly

Mayflies have a very short lifespan as an adult as some species may only live for 30 mins. Due to this their mouthparts and digestive system have become useless as such, much like a human appendix.Vestigiality is a term used to describe this evolutionary wonder.

Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)

This appers to be a female Cranefly feeding as the end of her abdomen is swollen with eggs. Craneflies are commonly called Daddy long legs, Tipula maxima is a similar species but nearly twice their size with a distinct wing pattern.

Curracloe Beach

Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly (Libellula quadrimaculata)

Ringlet Butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)

 The Meadow Brown is a medium size Butterfly of around 54mm wingspan its larvae feed on grasses

Small Heath Butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Small Blue (Cupido minimus)

Many small blues were out along the sand dunes of Ravens Wood in Wexford. The small blues are very small Butterflies only between 16-25mm much smaller than the Common Blue and Holly Blue. They have actually a very dark blue/browny colour on top also and can easily be mistaken for a Moth.

Speckled Wood Butterfly

The Speckled is always a joy to watch. There nearly constantly on the move chasing away all other insects including large Demoiselle Damselflies.

Azure Damselfly

The blue Azure is similar in size to the large Red species

Large Red Damselflies

Damselflys have evolved a unique way in mating. The male (top) grabs the female behind the head using claspers however if the fit is not right mating will not take place. This photo shows the beginning of the mating process.

The Spectacle Moth

This Moth is so name because it has white spectacle like markings on its face.

Drinker Moth Caterpillar feeding

Caterpillars have sets of real or simple eyes called Ocelli  low down on the side of their head. The Drinker appears to have two sets of 4.

Drinker Moth Caterpillar

This Caterpillar is one of the most amazing life forms I have ever happened on. I found it while cleaning up some old timber. It measures 65mm long.

Sloe Bug

10 spot ladybird.

I had thought this ladybird was the invasive Harlequin.The Harlequin has various different names around the world as it can have different colours and between 0 -20 spots. The Harlequin is native to Asia but has been introduced by man to North America, Europe and Africa to control Aphids on crops but this decision has drastically affected the native species.The Harlequin not only outcompetes the native species food supply but also preys heavily on them. Ireland has 18 ladybird species, of which only 15 have been recorded recently. The spread of the Harlequin will no doubt impact these remaining few evolutionary unique species to Ireland. The environment and the biodiversity it supports will have to feature higher and be respected more throughout all countries. It especially needs to be brought into all government policy decisions and a switch away from outright enonomic growth that all goverments strive for at present. There will be no human economy without a functioning ecosystem.

Cinnabar Moth

Ladybirds

 

Seven spot ladybird

 

Cream spot Ladybird

 

Fourteen spot Ladybird

Small Copper Butterfly

Female Common Blue

The females are not even blue on top, this one here is feeding on speedwell wild flowers

Male Common Blue Butterfly

Real's Wood White Butterfly

The Real's Wood White is a different species to the Wood White which is found in the West of Ireland . However this new research explains lots more 
http://www.butterflyconservation.ie/wordpress/?p=805

Large Red Damselfly

Male Beautiful Calopteryx virgo Damselfly

The male uses the grasping cerci to clamp onto the female during mating,     some tough loving dosent go astray sometimes...

Female Beautiful Calopteryx virgo Damselfly

Beautiful Calopteryx virgo Female Damselfly