Cornwall Insects 2021

Fly, Tregonatha Nature Reserve SW9564

Crane Fly, Tregonatha Nature Reserve SW9564

Butterfly not sure of ID, Tregonatha Nature Reserve SW9564

Fly Tregonatha Nature Reserve Cornwall, SW9564

Butterfly not sure of ID, Tregonatha Nature Reserve SW9564

Volucella pellucens Royal Cornwall events centre Wadebridge, England pl27 7je, SW 96744 72000 From Wikipedia The female enters the underground paper nests of the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris, or the German wasp, V. germanica, and lays her eggs. Despite the conspicuous nature of the intruder, the hosts do not appear to register her presence as she makes her way into the otherwise well-guarded nest entrance. The V. pellucens larvae then feed on the hosts' young and dead adults.[6] When the eggs hatch, the larvae drop to the bottom of the nest chamber, where they feed as scavengers on debris.[5] This may include dead wasp grubs and adults, remains of food brought into the nest by the wasps, and other insects living there. Mature larvae are sometimes on the combs and have been recorded feeding on dead or moribund wasp larvae and pupae that were left in the combs when the nest was abandoned by the wasps in the autumn. Fully grown larvae leave the nest and pupate in the soil below. If the host nest is in the roof or walls of a house, then the larvae may end up crawling about in the dwelling space. Adult hoverflies emerge the following year from about mid-May to June. An intereesting lifestyle.

Volucella pellucens Royal Cornwall events centre Wadebridge, England pl27 7je, SW 96744 72000 From Wikipedia The female enters the underground paper nests of the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris, or the German wasp, V. germanica, and lays her eggs. Despite the conspicuous nature of the intruder, the hosts do not appear to register her presence as she makes her way into the otherwise well-guarded nest entrance. The V. pellucens larvae then feed on the hosts' young and dead adults.[6] When the eggs hatch, the larvae drop to the bottom of the nest chamber, where they feed as scavengers on debris.[5] This may include dead wasp grubs and adults, remains of food brought into the nest by the wasps, and other insects living there. Mature larvae are sometimes on the combs and have been recorded feeding on dead or moribund wasp larvae and pupae that were left in the combs when the nest was abandoned by the wasps in the autumn. Fully grown larvae leave the nest and pupate in the soil below. If the host nest is in the roof or walls of a house, then the larvae may end up crawling about in the dwelling space. Adult hoverflies emerge the following year from about mid-May to June. An intereesting lifestyle.

Small White butterfly, Pieris Rapae. Royal Cornwall events centre Wadebridge, England pl27 7je, SW 96744 72000

Female small White butterfly, Pieris Rapae. Royal Cornwall events centre Wadebridge, England pl27 7je, SW 96744 72000 She is dispersing pheremones to attract a male - sadly I didn't manage to photograph them mating.