Incredible Insects and Invertebrates

I was aiming for the shocking pink of the azaleas but ended up surprised by the bee. Or was it surprised by me?  (Credit – Richard Reeve)

Location: Burlington Lane

Date Taken: 2023-05-29

Camera: iPhone

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

1. A white crab spider likes our Dragon Lily, which has a beautiful flower but a terrible smell, designed to attract bluebottles for pollination.
Unfortunately at the moment planted very near our house but luckily it only lasts for a few days, days when no visitors are invited for alfresco meals.

2. We have a Dragon Lily (Dracuncula Vulgaris) in our back garden, which flowers beautifully but briefly in May/June and sadly smells terrible, as its trying to attract bluebottles for pollination.
Here a white crab spider has landed.

Location: Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate

Date Taken: 2023-07-01

Professional Photographer? no

This bumblebee who lives on Bat Corner in the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate is feasting on nectar from bindweed. Many people hate bindweed as it tends to grow and strangle other plants but they are good for wildlife. Bumblebees also like to forage from foxgloves which are abundant in Bat Corner. Foxgloves are like stacks of little trumpets. Bees with long tongues get the nectar from the front of the trumpet. Bees with short tongues have to poke a hole into the base of the flower, through the petals and get the goodies that way. Clever!

Location: Bat Corner

Date Taken: 2023-07-02

Professional Photographer? no

Bees at the pub,
Be careful, you might be sting
If you have one too many.

• Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T6

Location: 374 Chiswick High Rd., Greater, Chiswick, London W4 5TA

Date Taken: 2023-08-03

Camera: Canon eos t6

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

Capturing a unique and often unnoticed moment.  (Credit – Rue Murphy)

Location: Chiswick House

Date Taken: 2023-08-04

Professional Photographer? no

If the idea of W4 becoming a tropical paradise doesn’t appeal to you, then maybe the maybe it appeals to the bees! These crawlies, bring the already beautiful plant life into a whole other dimension, reminding us of the importance of looking after our furry yellow friends.

Location: Corner of Chiswick Mall and Church Street

Date Taken: 2023-08-07

Camera: Fujifilm XT30

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

My Buddleia has been very popular this year and I marvelled at the Petal like shapes within the Wings of this Hornet as it gorged on the fragrant nectar

Location: My Back Garden, Acton Green area

Date Taken: 2023-08-04

Camera: Samsung GalaxyS22

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

It was amazing to see the bee fly up close. Look at the detail on the bee.

Location: In my chiswick garden

Date Taken: 2023-07-04

Camera: Phone

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

A speckled wood butterfly readying itself to take from a leaf after enjoying some sunshine.
1/200 f/7.1 ISO 200, 200mm (70-200mmf/4L USM). (Credit – Tony Hutchinson)

• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Credit: Tony Hutchinson
• Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
• Taken: 9 July, 2023
• Copyright: All rights reserved
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 200mm
• ISO: 200
• Keywords: Gunnersbury Triangle, July, brown butterfly, windy
• Shutter speed: 1/200s

Location: Gunnersbury Triangle

Date Taken: 2023-07-09

Camera: Canon EOS 7d mk2

Professional Photographer? no

A Gatekeeper butterfly outlined against dry grass earlier this summer. The rich colours contrasting with the pale yellows of the grass.
1/250 @F/7.1 ISO 200, 172mm (EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM)

• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Credit: Tony Hutchinson
• Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
• Taken: 9 July, 2023
• Copyright: All rights reserved
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 172mm
• ISO: 200
• Keywords: Gunnersbury Triangle, July, red butterfly, windy
• Shutter speed: 1/250s

Location: Gunnersbury Triangle

Date Taken: 2023-07-09

Camera: Canon EOS 7d mk2

Professional Photographer? no