Prof Bill Amos of the Department of Zoology continues his insect photo diary with a beautiful longhorn beetle, a selection of fascinating flies, and a wonderfully camouflaged caterpillar.
Strangalia maculata, another longhorn beetle. I found this one at Fulbourn Fen. They are called longhorns because of their very long antennae and the larvae burrow into rotting wood. 
You would be forgiven for thinking this is another hoverfly but in fact it is a soldier fly, and it is huge, almost an inch long! It’s common name is the banded general, Stratiomys potamida. I like the was a lot of the species in this group have been given soldier’s ranks (colonel / major etc.). 
One of my favourite hoverflies, Xanthogramma peissequum, a species where the yellow bands look almost impossibly bright. 
The hoverfly Leucozona leucorum enjoying the recent sunny period. 
The small skipper butterfly. This species is common in wildflower meadows, particularly where there are thistles and knapweed – it seems to like purple flowers! 
A very distinctive robber fly, Leptogaster cylindrica. Robber flies have a rather spiny legs and feet that they use to grab their prey, often other flies, and then use their characteristic beaks to piece them and feed. 
Caterpillar of the spectacled nettle moth. I have never seen one before but this may just be because their camouflage is so excellent! I found this one by seeing caterpillar droppings on some leaves and then looking above to see where they came from.
You can see more of Bill’s photographs on the blog:
An Insect A Day for bee fly, orange tip buttefly and parasitic wasp.
An Insect A Day continues for scorpion fly, shield bug and click beetle.
An Insect A Day Part 3 for wasp beetle; dragonfly and aphids giving birth.
An Insect A Day Part 4 for metallic beetles and day-flying moths.
An Insect A Day Part 5 for butterflies, beetles and clear-wing moths.
An Insect A Day Part 6 for beetles, hoverflies and the silken webs of emine moth caterpillars.
An Insect A Day Part 7 for lacewings, butterflies, hoverflies and more.
Insect-eye View for sawfly, hoverfly and solitary bees.
Why not have a go at photographing insects yourself? We would love to see your photos of wildlife where you are. Share with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram by tagging us or using #OpenYourWindowBingo to feature in our online Community Gallery.
Museum of Zoology Blog 
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