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