Butterflies and Bees

The other day when I was at the RSPB Reserve, Catherine Bertrand of the Northern Ireland Butterfly Conservation was there to talk to a group about the butterflies and Moths that are found in N.Ireland.  When the rain stopped they went out with butterfly nets to see what they could catch. 

I was fortunate to photograph the 3 moths below.

Magpie Moth

Riband Wave

Gold Spangle

In Northern  Ireland  we have around 1000 Moths and 33 Butterflies and at present over all the UK they are doing a survey  between now and the 11 August.  They are asking people to contact them with the butterflies that they have seen.  Information at www.bigbutterflycount.org

There were also these Cinnabar caterpillars.

Does anyone know what this is above?
Could this be a Cream-streaked Ladybird (harmonia quadripunctata)

After I  left the Reserve, I went along to Kinnegar and I found a place that looked pretty good for seeing some Insects, Moths and Butterflies.  Now I am a real novice at IDing any of these so I will need a great deal of help from the many bloggers that do know.  I was extremely pleased that I managed to get some photos although quite a few are not in perfect focus.  

Cinnabar caterpillar on Ragwort

I was delighted to see the beautiful Small Tortoiseshell above.

 Green - veined White

Ringlet

Now I have no idea what these insects are.  

Could the above be a sawfly (rhogogaster viridis)

Common Red Soldier Beetle (rhagonycha fulva)

The following shots are of the six-spot Burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae) that is a brightly coloured day-flying moth.  Its bright colours warn potential predators that it is poisonous. The blackish fore wings have a metallic sheen and feature red spots that earn the species its common name. Despite the name, however, the number of spots can vary between individuals, and may be fused in some cases. The red hind wings have a fine bluish border and the antennae are club-shaped . A colour form known as f. flava has yellow spots in place of the normal red ones.  Very occasionally, specimens with brown spots are also seen.

The colouration and the day flying are both linked to the fact that they are poisonous.  It is safe enough for them to fly during the day as birds, and other predators, quickly learn that these moths taste horrible and can cause stomach upsets.  Their colouration advertises this fact.

They become poisonous as caterpillars.  The plants they feed on contain very small amounts of cyanide and the caterpillars are not only immune to this but make use of it.  The toxins from the leaves they eat are saved in the caterpillar’s bodies as their own protection from predators.  After metamorphosis they remain slightly poisonous.

I know that there is a five spot Burnet and I was not sure if this one above could be one as I could not count 6 spots however when I did some research I discovered that the spot numbers varied!  So how do you tell the difference?

The six-spot Burnet moth is found throughout Europe, including the UK.  It has black (or very dark green) wings vividly spotted in red. Occasionally their spots are yellow, brown or black. Usually there are six spots on each wing but sometimes there are more and sometimes they are fused.  With a wingspan of just over an inch it is a medium sized moth.  The antennae are rather like a butterfly’s given that they end in clubs.

Now I tried to photograph bees with great difficulty and I am not sure of any of the names but I will have a go and  PLEASE someone help me to ID them properly.

1.

I think this one above is Carder bee Bombus pascorum

2 & 4. are either

Bombus hortorum, the Garden Bumblebee or Horse-faced bee – they have very long faces if seen from the front.

Bombus jonellus, the Heath Bumblebee, who has a very short little round face.  Their markings are exactly the same

 

3.

4.

5.

5, 6 & 7 are Red Bottomed Bee Bombus lapidaries

6.

                                                                                7.

Thanks for visiting my post today and I hope the experts will come to my rescue on ID today.

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO COMMENTED yesterday on any of my post and in particular Linda and Ginny who had a good laugh at my 'Hooked Crow'.  This was a typo mistake of mine and it is now corrected to a Hooded Crow.  Also to Tex, Anni and Keith for explaining to me about the Magpie's eye.

Hope you will visit again soon.