Nostr notes by Mark McCaughrean

Who knew that there would be a niche on the book shelves for ...

2026-08-27T11:43:55+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…llfv
_________________________

Who knew that there would be a niche on the book shelves for “The Arthropod Karma Sutra”? 😳

There were also damselflies, including this mating pair of ...

2026-08-24T13:45:54+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…p0q9
_________________________

There were also damselflies, including this mating pair of western willow spreadwings (Chalcolestes viridis; 🇩🇪 Westliche Weidenjungfer).

The male is on top holding the female's head with claspers. She will later curl her abdomen up under the male & extract sperm he has deposited at the base of his abdomen.

#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

My macro hobby started during the pandemic, photographing ...

2026-08-24T13:37:44+02:00

My macro hobby started during the pandemic, photographing dragonflies & damselflies in my NL garden.

We don't have many in our DE garden as we're far from standing water 🤷‍♂️

But I had a nice 5 mins by a pond in Windsor Great Park yesterday, which included seeing this common darter (Sympetrum striolatum; 🇩🇪 Große Heidelibelle).

#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

What a difference rain & cooler weather make 🌧️🙂 A ...

2026-08-19T15:55:32+02:00

What a difference rain & cooler weather make 🌧️🙂

A lot more activity in the garden this afternoon, including this large lady, doing exactly what it says on her tin 👍

She's a hornet mimic fly (Volucella zonaria; 🇩🇪 Hornissenschwebfliege), feeding on the blackberries.

Had me fooled when I first saw her 😳

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Cooler today, thanks to a NW wind & some rain yesterday, ...

2026-08-17T16:16:02+02:00

Cooler today, thanks to a NW wind & some rain yesterday, bringing a few more arthropods into the garden.

This is a seed beetle in genus Bruchus. iNaturalist suggests with B. affinis or B. pisorum (pea weevil), but ObsIdentify is convinced it's B. atomarius, & after checking pictures, I tentatively agree.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

And on a rather larger scale, this European hornet (Vespa crabro; ...

2026-08-15T17:57:53+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…sg6f
_________________________

And on a rather larger scale, this European hornet (Vespa crabro; 🇩🇪 Hornisse) was gracious enough to allow me a few poor shots before it continued its high-speed patrol of the rotting figs on our tree.

I've been having four a day with my breakfast & just can't keep up 😱

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Yet again, little garden action in the high & dry heat, but ...

2026-08-15T17:47:37+02:00

Yet again, little garden action in the high & dry heat, but still some new species as summer drags on.

First, a rather pretty small tortrix, the clover seed moth (Grapholita compositella; 🇩🇪 Kleewickler).

The white stripes on dark grey first catch the eye, but the subtle iridescence at the back is nice too.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

It has been a few days since I've posted any new arthropods ...

2026-08-14T21:15:51+02:00

It has been a few days since I've posted any new arthropods – the garden remains parched & beyond bees, bottleflies, & yellowjackets, not much is happening 😬

But this pretty little moth made itself known today. It's a rosy-striped knot-horn (Oncocera semirubella) or Rhabarberzünsler in 🇩🇪 for obvious reasons 🙂

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

It may only have been 90% partial, but we had a good time ...

2026-08-12T22:40:32+02:00

It may only have been 90% partial, but we had a good time watching the eclipse with many locals atop the 40 metre Teltschikturm at 530 metres up in the Odenwald. Stunning location.

The Sun was still partly eclipsed as it set over Mannheim & the Pfalz across the Rhine Valley.

Did a live radio with LBC from up there & a long piece with BBC News TV when I got home.

Next year totality with the family in Spain (again), I hope.

#SolarEclipse2026
#SolarEclipse
#Heidelberg
#Photography 📷

Here's the full rundown on ESA's eclipse live-stream ...

2026-08-10T21:42:34+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…9y63
_________________________

Here's the full rundown on ESA's eclipse live-stream combining three different Spanish locations, thus buying some insurance against the admittedly unlikely situation where cloud interrupts the view at one or other.

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Total_solar_eclipse_how_to_watch_live_from_home

Another day, another story from The Guardian about NASA ...

2026-08-10T21:40:15+02:00

Another day, another story from The Guardian about *NASA* observing the total solar eclipse in Europe on Wednesday 🙄

This is just lazy journalism – Spain is home to one of ESA's main centres, ESAC, & a deep-space antenna at Cebreros (also threatened by wildfires like NASA's nearby DSN complex).

ESA is also live-streaming the eclipse, in this case from the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre in Teruel & hosting a public event in Léon.

Do some research, folks ...

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/aug/10/spain-tourists-solar-eclipse-increased-wildfires-risk

Oh, FFS 😡 A total eclipse will curve across Europe in a few ...

2026-08-09T17:51:19+02:00

Oh, FFS 😡

A total eclipse will curve across Europe in a few days & UK media run a story about a *NASA* plane observing it.

Just ignore the Iberia Airbus also scheduled to conduct a research flight & blank the ESA PROBA-3 space mission that makes solar eclipses on demand to study them.

Honestly, you'd be forgiven for thinking there's no science done in Europe or that there's no European Space Agency that the UK pays into 🙄

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/aug/09/nasa-mission-total-solar-eclipse-iceland-sun-nanoflares

Sometimes I think my garden arthropods are taking the piss 🙄 I ...

2026-08-08T21:15:15+02:00

Sometimes I think my garden arthropods are taking the piss 🙄

I chased this big tachnid fly around for ages, trying to get a clear shot. Then it landed on my calf & started drinking the sweat – not easy to photograph 😬

It's a male black & orange parasite fly (Nowickia ferox; 🇩🇪 Große Borsten-Raupenfliege).

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

A new solar lighthenge discovery 🌞🙂 Walked into my bedroom ...

2026-08-08T14:17:22+02:00

A new solar lighthenge discovery 🌞🙂

Walked into my bedroom at just the right moment this afternoon to find this beautiful patch of illumination on the wall.

It’s sunlight reflected from a dormer window on a house down the valley to the south, sneaking through a narrow gap into my balcony door. The leaf shadows are vines on the neighbour’s wall.

Lasted just a minute & I may never see it again given the angle, time of day & year, & brevity.

Now there’s a metaphor …

#Photography 📷

Cooler today, but still not much activity apart from the ...

2026-08-07T17:42:02+02:00

Cooler today, but still not much activity apart from the honeybees.

I did see one of my favourites however – a buffalo treehopper (Stictocephala bisonia; 🇩🇪 Büffelzikade), & will try to get a head-on shot showing where the name comes from.

That said, it's an invasive species from North America, now widespread in Europe.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Colour me impressed 👍 Beautiful new visible-light images from ...

2026-08-05T19:46:14+02:00

Colour me impressed 👍

Beautiful new visible-light images from the DKIST solar telescope in Hawai'i, showing structures on the Sun down to 19km (26 milliarcsec) in size.

These scalloped plasma structures are small-scale magnetised Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities – these have long been theorised & could explain the transport of heat, mass, & magnetic fields from the Sun's surface into the extremely hot corona.

Credit: NSF/NSO/AURA/MPS
Scientific paper:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10871-3

#spacescience

I love the way you’ve left Brian May unmentioned, just lurking ...

2026-07-17T00:44:08+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…53cv
_________________________

I love the way you’ve left Brian May unmentioned, just lurking in the corner as some almighty cosmic Easter Egg 🙂👍

I have very similar memories of when we started seeing the first hi-res images of 67P/C-G from Rosetta …

Next, a relatively poor picture of a small but colourful beetle. ...

2026-07-10T22:19:29+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…qr45
_________________________

Next, a relatively poor picture of a small but colourful beetle.

It's a cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus; 🇩🇪 Rothalsiges Getreidehähnchen). It's native to Europe & Asia, albeit not that common in Germany, apparently, but is a major crop pest, including in North America now too.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Second, two different furrow bees feeding on thistles. They can ...

2026-07-10T22:12:28+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…r3nq
_________________________

Second, two different furrow bees feeding on thistles.

They can be hard to ID, but I think the first one with the grey abdomen stripes is a giant furrow bee (Halictus quadricinctus; 🇩🇪 Vierbindige Furchenbiene), while the second, more golden one is a great banded furrow bee (Halictus scabiosae; 🇩🇪 Gelbbindige Furchenbiene).

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Many new species around ...

2026-07-10T22:02:28+02:00

Many new species around [@mpi_astro](https://wisskomm.social/@mpi_astro ) today, in the meadows behind the institute surrounded by forest, perhaps too many for me to post them all now.

But here's a start: a small black & yellow fly (Conops flavipes; 🇩🇪 Wespendickkopffliege).

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

It was still flying quickly around, so I couldn't get great ...

2026-07-01T21:59:14+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…xzgn
_________________________

It was still flying quickly around, so I couldn't get great close-up shots, but certainly better than earlier today.

T. orbatus is a cuckoo bee that lays its eggs in the nest of a flower bee in genus Anthophora. Its larvae hatch first, eat the food, & kill the host bee larvae. Nice.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

A profitable return to the lavender bush this evening – the ...

2026-07-01T21:45:37+02:00

A profitable return to the lavender bush this evening – the black & white cloak & dagger bee was there again.

I'm pretty sure now that this is indeed the rare & (according to the official German Rote Liste) highly endangered Thyreus orbatus (🇩🇪 Schwarzgesichtige Fleckenbiene).

A few more pictures below.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Not to forsake my garden arthropods completely, here are a couple ...

2026-06-28T20:52:43+02:00

Not to forsake my garden arthropods completely, here are a couple from this evening, just as the Sun was setting & the temperature went down a few millikelvin.

First a red cabbage bug (Eurydema ornata; 🇩🇪 Schwarzrückige Gemüsewanze) in its away strip, & then a red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius; 🇩🇪 Steinhummel).

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Just one new garden species so far on this warm, overcast, & ...

2026-06-16T14:25:34+02:00

Just one new garden species so far on this warm, overcast, & drizzly day. But it's a doozy ... 🙂

This is a white plume moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla). It has many names in German, but I like Schlehengeistchen, or little blackthorn ghost 👻

Hard to capture, hidden in the foliage, but well worth the effort 👍

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Happy to spot one of these little jewels in the garden this ...

2026-06-15T20:47:30+02:00

Happy to spot one of these little jewels in the garden this evening.

It's a cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, often in bright metallic colours due to light interference effects.

There are over 3000 species & many in this emerald-green & ruby-red scheme, so making an exact ID from a photo is challenging.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

As seen on today’s 54km ride. Iridescent clouds around the Sun ...

2026-06-14T22:42:10+02:00

As seen on today’s 54km ride.

Iridescent clouds around the Sun at the stone marker pillar one Franco-Roman league (2.2km) south of Lopodunum, present day Ladenburg.

Erected in 222CE under 13 year old Roman emperor, Severus Alexander, it has seen many mighty empires come & go, & many powerful men who could not conceive of a world without them.

Likewise, the Sun has seen the rise & fall of many species, & will outlive humankind.

This too shall pass.

#CyclingLife 🚴‍♂️
#Photography 📷

Also seen on the same tree as rain was starting to fall was this ...

2026-06-11T16:34:35+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…rmh2
_________________________

Also seen on the same tree as rain was starting to fall was this specialist, a Mediterranean fig psyllid (Homotoma ficus; 🇩🇪 Feigen-Blattfloh), a kind of plant louse.

Low lighting, so the picture has been aggressively processed to reduce the noise. Also, rotated 180º: the psyllid was actually hanging upside down.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

On & off weather today, with very dark skies at times. ...

2026-06-11T16:26:09+02:00

On & off weather today, with very dark skies at times.

Including when I got this picture of two butterflies engaged in conjugal relations on the fig tree.

They're genus Pieris, but I'm not sure if they're southern small whites (P. mannii; 🇩🇪 Karstweißling) or small whites (P. rapae; 🇩🇪 Kleiner Kohlweißling).

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Little black flies are notoriously difficult to ID. Same goes for ...

2026-06-08T21:49:29+02:00

Little black flies are notoriously difficult to ID.

Same goes for little yellow ones.

Saw this one this evening as it was getting dark & after rain.

It's likely in the Lauxaniid family, possibly genus Sapromyzosoma.

Maybe S. quadricincta or S. quadripunctata?

Or maybe something else entirely 🤷‍♂️

Anyone? 😬

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

New week, new garden arthropods. First up, a round-necked ...

2026-06-08T16:08:49+02:00

New week, new garden arthropods.

First up, a round-necked longhorn beetle, Stenopterus rufus (🇩🇪 Braunrötlicher Spitzdeckenbock), seen cleaning itself.

Wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere on this warm, muggy day, unlike many of the other folks out there.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

And one more before I go out cycling – a mirid bug cleaning ...

2026-06-07T17:16:14+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…fuud
_________________________

And one more before I go out cycling – a mirid bug cleaning itself.

From other pictures & other individuals in the garden, I'm fairly sure this is Calocoris affinis (🇩🇪 Grüne Distelwanze), rather than, say, a potato mirid (Closterotomus norwegicus), but others more expert on those may feel otherwise 🙂🤷‍♂️

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

This pretty moth is still in the garden today. After discussion ...

2026-06-07T17:08:52+02:00

This pretty moth is still in the garden today.

After discussion with iNaturalist experts, we've established that it must be a Cypress spurge clearwing (Chamaesphecia empiformis; 🇩🇪 Zypressenwolfsmilch-Glasflügler), as the similar species, C. tenthrediniformis, eats leafy spurge, which is rare in these parts.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Not everyone's favourite kind of arthropod, I know, but some ...

2026-06-06T19:32:47+02:00

Not everyone's favourite kind of arthropod, I know, but some cockroaches can be quite pretty 🤷‍♂️

This is genus Ectobius, & my best guess (based on the shape of the head) is E. vittiventris, the amber wood cockroach (🇩🇪 Bernstein-Waldschabe).

The transparent "raincoat" is cool 🙂

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Also from yesterday is this tiny little hump-backed dance fly. ...

2026-06-06T17:07:23+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…twp6
_________________________

Also from yesterday is this tiny little hump-backed dance fly.

That feature, along with the huge eyes compared to head size, suggests that it's in genus Bicellaria, but getting more specific than that is difficult without microscopic examination.

Which I didn't & don't make 🤷‍♂️

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

But none of those are new species for this year, so I have to go ...

2026-06-06T16:55:36+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…956e
_________________________

But none of those are new species for this year, so I have to go back to yesterday to keep the list ticking over.

This a melanistic form of a common garden friend, the two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata; 🇩🇪 Zweipunkt-Marienkäfer): normally they're red with black spots, but sometimes the colours are inverted.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

One insect that was being annoying was this clearwing moth in ...

2026-06-06T16:39:29+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…8d5h
_________________________

One insect that was being annoying was this clearwing moth in genus Chamaesphecia – I only managed this distant shot before it flew somewhere inaccessible 😬

But I add it here as it shows the titular clear hind wings, unlike the pictures I got yesterday, when it had its wings more tightly folded against its body.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

At least one flying thing settled though 👍 This in genus ...

2026-06-06T16:21:34+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…skma
_________________________

At least one flying thing settled though 👍

This in genus Sphaerophoria, a kind of hoverfly known as "globetails" because of the bulbous abdomen tip seen in males.

It's tricky to distinguish S. scripta from S. rueppellii, but here, the complete yellow stripe on the side of the thorax suggests the former.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Likewise, this rosemary beetle (Chrysolina americana; 🇩🇪 ...

2026-06-06T15:55:49+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…xsql
_________________________

Likewise, this rosemary beetle (Chrysolina americana; 🇩🇪 Rosmarin Blattkäfer) was willing to pose nicely 👍

Albeit messing with my head by insisting on being on the lavender bush rather than the rosemary one that's about two metres away 🤷‍♂️

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Such a frustrating session chasing garden beasts 😱 Despite the ...

2026-06-06T15:50:18+02:00

Such a frustrating session chasing garden beasts 😱

Despite the warm sunshine, few were around, & even those were very twitchy, moving or flying off before I had a chance to get pictures 😡

Thankfully, this patient cricket-bat spider (Mangora acalypha; 🇩🇪 Streifenkreuzspinne) meant I didn't return empty-handed.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#ArachnidsOfMastodon 🕷️
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Finally, returning to the young ones, this is a nymph of a ...

2026-06-04T18:02:01+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…yf6z
_________________________

Finally, returning to the young ones, this is a nymph of a leafhopper in the genus Aphrodes.

These are found across Europe & North America, & are apparently hard to differentiate. But based on pictures & what's found around here, I'm going to hazard A. makarovi (🇩🇪 Wiesen-Erdzikade).

Adults look quite different.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Similarly with this beetle – the genus ID is likely Dasytes, ...

2026-06-04T17:33:39+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…zc93
_________________________

Similarly with this beetle – the genus ID is likely Dasytes, but getting the species is trickier.

It looks similar to one of the most common though, D. plumbea (🇩🇪 Bleischwarzer Wollhaarkäfer).

The name used to be D. plumbeus, but was revised in 2024, as the latinised Greek word "dasytes" is feminine.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Now for a couple of new adult species. First, the distinct black ...

2026-06-04T17:20:23+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…mjms
_________________________

Now for a couple of new adult species.

First, the distinct black & grey checkerboard pattern of this muscoid fly marks it out as a member of genus Anthomyia.

My best guess would be A. pluvialis, but as my entomologist friends remind me, getting a species ID can be tricky from photos alone.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Now for something confusing (to me, at least). I think these are ...

2026-06-04T17:11:42+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…vnq9
_________________________

Now for something confusing (to me, at least).

I think these are both late instar nymphs of the dark bush cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera; 🇩🇪 Gemeine Strauchschrecke).

The first is & likely a male; the second has the nascent ovipositor of a female, but the colour is much lighter than I'd expect.

Thoughts?

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

And another larva, this time of the harlequin or Asian ladybird ...

2026-06-04T16:59:21+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…c3yv
_________________________

And another larva, this time of the harlequin or Asian ladybird (Harmonia axyridis; 🇩🇪 Asiatischer Marienkäfer).

Although the adults come in many colour patterns, as the name suggests, the larvae are more uniform & fairly unmistakeable.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Next, a larva of a ladybird, likely of the fourteen-spotted ...

2026-06-04T16:52:26+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…z73y
_________________________

Next, a larva of a ladybird, likely of the fourteen-spotted variety (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata; 🇩🇪 Vierzehnpunkt-Marienkäfer), aka P-14.

I saw a pair of adults mating recently, but whether this is their progeny, I have no idea.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

It's a day for the garden kids – lots of nymphs & ...

2026-06-04T16:46:01+02:00

It's a day for the garden kids – lots of nymphs & larvae out there, this year's new generation.

First up, a box bug nymph (Gonocerus acuteangulatus; 🇩🇪 Braune Randwanze) strutting around looking very proud their outsize antennae.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

A conversation I had with four Canadians while out cycling in ...

2026-05-30T08:24:45+02:00

A conversation I had with four Canadians while out cycling in Mallorca yesterday.

They asked me what I did & I said “I’m an astronomer”.

They were amazed & said they’d never met one before.

I replied “that’s funny – I meet them all the time” 🤪

Dad jokes aside, it makes sense: there’s roughly only one professional astronomer for every million people on the planet, so the chances are slim.

And asking every astronomer to have an individual chat with a million people would be a challenge 🤓🖖

A reminder to look up from the garden insects occasionally ☝️ ...

2026-05-21T19:27:32+02:00

A reminder to look up from the garden insects occasionally ☝️

Not a common sight, but always a welcome one – a circumzenithal arc appeared above the Sun this evening, with a bonus parhelion to boot.

Among the most saturated atmospheric phenomena colour-wise, they're often missed because they're so high in the sky. I once saw one reflected in a car windscreen, before looking upwards.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#AtmosphericOptics

An amorous pair of fourteen-spot ladybirds (Propylea ...

2026-05-19T23:20:06+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…4zf4
_________________________

An amorous pair of fourteen-spot ladybirds (Propylea quartuordecimpunctata; 🇩🇪 Vierzehnpunkt-Marienkäfer or Schachbrett-Marienkäfer).

This picture shows just how variable the species also known just as P-14 can be, from fourteen black spots on a yellow background, to the black spots merging & yielding the inverse.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Clearing the backlog, here's a relatively rarity among the ...

2026-05-19T23:06:14+02:00

Clearing the backlog, here's a relatively rarity among the many species of spider in our garden.

It's a zebra jumping spider (Satlticus scenicus; variously known in 🇩🇪 as the Zebraspringspinne, Harlekinspringspinne, & Mauer-Zebraspringspinne).

I like the touches of iridescent colour among the brown-black & white patterns.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#ArachnidsOfMastodon 🕷️
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

In a similar vein, I spotted this beast in roughly the same place ...

2026-05-19T16:59:05+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…09me
_________________________

In a similar vein, I spotted this beast in roughly the same place & from the same distance a few moments later.

It's likely to be a sawfly in genus Macrophya, & perhaps M. annulata, the black orange-band sawfly, given hint of orange coming through the wings.

Will keep an eye out for it.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

And returning to today, I only caught a brief & distant ...

2026-05-19T16:45:34+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…xfjf
_________________________

And returning to today, I only caught a brief & distant glimpse of this ichneumon wasp. When it flew off, it flashed a bright yellow abdomen.

My best guess based on the patterns is a yellow-striped Darwin wasp, Ichneumon xanthorius.

I saw one a few weeks ago, but its abdomen indeed had multiple yellow & black stripes.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Here's one I forgot to post yesterday – a yet another new ...

2026-05-19T16:30:47+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…y4dj
_________________________

Here's one I forgot to post yesterday – a yet another new red & black species for me, an uncommon seed bug in genus Horvathiolus.

My best guess is H. superbus (which I mentally read as super-bus, not superb-us 🤷‍♂️), but the two black marks on the wing cover sides are rather narrower than in other pictures I've seen.

Thoughts?

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Apparently this little beetle is rather common across Europe and ...

2026-05-19T16:17:33+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…eptz
_________________________

Apparently this little beetle is rather common across Europe and into Central Asia, but I can't say that I've seen many of them before.

It's a 22-spot ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata; Zweiundzwanzigpunkt-Marienkäfer) – very literal names in all three languages 🙂

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Somewhat warmer & sunnier today, bringing more arthropods ...

2026-05-19T16:09:32+02:00

Somewhat warmer & sunnier today, bringing more arthropods out.

First, a vernal shield bug (Peribalus strictus vernalis; 🇩🇪 Frühlings-Baumwanze). Despite the spring connotations of the name, they live until well into the autumn, & I last recorded one in early November.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Some late evening sunshine, allowing me to spot this little fly ...

2026-05-14T21:26:23+02:00

Some late evening sunshine, allowing me to spot this little fly from the glint of his silvery "nose" (really the frons).

It's a male in genus Metopia, satellite flies. Possibly M. argyrocephala (a name encoding the silver on the head), but iNaturalist tachnid experts say Metopia is hard to ID definitively from photos.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

For the discovery that bubble blowing helps with fly ...

2026-05-10T21:12:10+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…6dar
_________________________

For the discovery that bubble blowing helps with fly thermoregulation, see Gomes+18 who used thermal-IR imaging to observe blowflies doing it.

Droplets cool by up to 8°C below ambient in just 15 secs under some conditions, & when re-ingested, lowering the temperature of the head, thorax, & abdomen by 1, 0.5, & 0.2°C, respectively.

The fly repeatedly blow bubbles, to cool further, only losing a little at a time.

Lots of other interesting details in the paper too 👍

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-23670-2

That said, it wasn't particularly warm today, & less so ...

2026-05-10T20:11:17+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…fv6f
_________________________

That said, it wasn't particularly warm today, & less so this evening as the cloud rolled in. It was humid still though.

The Sepsis fulgens fly was going through a whole preening process at the same time as the droplet of water was hanging from its mouth, turning in circles, & cleaning its wings with its legs.

Then it sucked in the water droplet & flew off 🤷‍♂️

How do flies stay cool on hot days if they can't sweat? 🤨 ...

2026-05-10T20:05:55+02:00

How do flies stay cool on hot days if they can't sweat? 🤨

They blow bubbles of watery saliva; some of it evaporates, removing heat; they then re-ingest the cooler liquid.

Simple 🤷‍♂️

Two flies seen at it this evening: a lesser dung fly (Sepsis fulgens; 🇩🇪 Glänzende Schwingfliege) & a fruit fly (Scaptomyza pallida; 🇩🇪 Taufliege).

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

It's May, so it should be no surprise that the Maybugs are ...

2026-05-10T16:07:23+02:00

It's May, so it should be no surprise that the Maybugs are here 🤷‍♂️

Still, I'm always a bit shocked each year when I see my first common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha; 🇩🇪 Feldmaikäfer) – they're huge 😱

First picture is a three-frame macro stack; second a single; third from my phone, to be able to get behind the doodlebug.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

In the ten days since I was last at ...

2026-05-08T19:17:04+02:00

In the ten days since I was last at [@mpi_astro](https://wisskomm.social/@mpi_astro ), the greenery around the institute has grown a lot & the arthropods are loving it.

For example, this pretty small magpie moth (Anania hortulata; 🇩🇪 Brennnesselzünsler) was flitting around & hiding under leaves.

Made for an interesting photographic challenge & perspective.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Thank goodness for the cloud: blocked the Sun & dropped the ...

2026-05-03T20:22:19+02:00

Thank goodness for the cloud: blocked the Sun & dropped the temperature several degrees, making for a more comfortable 63km ride to the edge of Mannheim & back 🌥️🙂👍

Windy though, almost reminding me of The Netherlands at points. Almost 🇳🇱💨

#CyclingLife 🚴‍♂️
#Photography 📷

Hemimetabolism. Not a new species, but nice to see the adult ...

2026-05-03T14:21:23+02:00

Hemimetabolism.

Not a new species, but nice to see the adult stage of this little planthopper, Issus coleoptratus (🇩🇪 Echte Käferzikade) finally.

As you may recall, the nymph stage has gears to synchronise its hind legs when hopping, but it loses these during the final moult – the adults use a different mechanical coupling.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

The other fly is an old favourite, one of the most common syrphid ...

2026-05-01T21:35:18+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…0v7m
_________________________

The other fly is an old favourite, one of the most common syrphid hoverflies.

It's a female thick-legged hoverfly (Syritta pipiens). In German, it's the Kleine Mistbiene, which hints at its other name in English, the compost hoverfly.

The thick and spiky thighs are easy to see in these pictures.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🦋

This is also a sawfly, albeit not quite as cooperative ...

2026-05-01T21:20:52+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…va42
_________________________

This is also a sawfly, albeit not quite as cooperative photographically – I only managed this one shot.

It's in genus Athalia, the gloriously-named tigress sawflies: in particular, I think it's a bugle tigress (Athalia cordata). It doesn't have a specific name in German, but would be called a Pflanzenwespe.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🦋

Three flies & a deadly assassin in the garden just before the ...

2026-05-01T21:13:29+02:00

Three flies & a deadly assassin in the garden just before the sun set over the valley.

First, a sawfly from genus Arge, likely a bramble sawfly (Arge cyanocrocea; 🇩🇪 Bürstenhorn-Blattwespe). Some saturated yellows, oranges, & blacks in the evening light.

It might be called the

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🦋

And at the other end of the spectrum of acceptable photographic ...

2026-04-25T16:22:38+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…ys40
_________________________

And at the other end of the spectrum of acceptable photographic quality, there's this beast, briefly-glimpsed while flitting around at high speed.

But as it's a completely new species for me, I'm claiming it – I think it's a broad-bordered bee hawkmoth (Hemaris fuciformis; 🇩🇪 Hummelschwärmer).

The overall colouration seems right 👍

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Neither of those two spiders are new visitors, but this little ...

2026-04-25T16:14:03+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…lxzx
_________________________

Neither of those two spiders are new visitors, but this little moth is – it's a meadow longhorn (Cauchas rumfitrella; 🇩🇪 Rotsilberne Langhornmotte), a diurnal species in the fairy long horn moth family.

Very challenging to display the gorgeous golden glitter on its wings while also getting some detail around the dark face – I tried 🤷‍♂️

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

On a much smaller scale, but a lot more actively running around ...

2026-04-25T16:07:59+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…arrg
_________________________

On a much smaller scale, but a lot more actively running around the garden, this green cucumber spider (Araniella cucurbitina; 🇩🇪 Kürbisspinne) was also kind enough to take a moment out of its busy day to pose 🙂

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#ArachnidsOfMastodon 🕷️
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Her majesty will see you now ... 🫅 Hate to blow my own 🎺, ...

2026-04-25T16:01:19+02:00

Her majesty will see you now ... 🫅

Hate to blow my own 🎺, but I'm quite proud of this picture – a stack of seventeen macro images taken with slightly different focus, to capture the full detail of this female goldenrod crab spider, Misumena vatia.

She was kind enough to stay (mostly) still for the whole sequence 🙇‍♂️

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#ArachnidsOfMastodon 🕷️
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Hive mind – I need your help. I recall seeing a video (on TV?) ...

2026-04-21T20:14:02+02:00

Hive mind – I need your help.

I recall seeing a video (on TV?) in the past couple of years of a contemporary dance piece which featured a solo dancer in a black studio, under a spotlight, with sand falling on them.

The music was also contemporary & (I think) written by a woman. I loved it & am trying to find it again.

I think it was a UK production, but not (?) Wayne McGregor.

None of these details are certain, & my google-fu is completely failing me.

Anyone have any ideas?

This longhorn beetle seemed a little shy, but wasn't able to ...

2026-04-20T18:49:46+02:00

This longhorn beetle seemed a little shy, but wasn't able to do much to hide its whole body, either in shade or sunlight 🤷‍♂️

Likely the common Grammoptera (Grammoptera ruficornis, 🇩🇪 Mattschwarzer Blütenbock), although the titular red antennae are not easy to make out with this depth of focus.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

A few more from today & yesterday, starting with this rather ...

2026-04-19T19:49:07+02:00

A few more from today & yesterday, starting with this rather inconspicuous leafhopper, Penthimia nigra (🇩🇪 Mönchzikade).

I've been seeing the brown larvae in the garden since mid-January, so it's good to know that they've grown into adults.

I hope to get some decent pictures of their red eyes from the front in the coming weeks.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Entirely sarcasm-free, although I realise that it perhaps ...

2026-04-19T18:44:16+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…j2rx
_________________________

Entirely sarcasm-free, although I realise that it perhaps didn't read that way. It genuinely made me laugh out loud & wish I'd thought of it 🙂

Oh, you're good – I didn't spot that coming at all ...

2026-04-19T16:50:24+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…hrvc
_________________________

Oh, you're good – I didn't spot that coming at all 🙇‍♂️🙂

At least today's changing illumination conditions gave me a ...

2026-04-19T16:32:17+02:00

At least today's changing illumination conditions gave me a chance to experiment ⛅️

Two pictures (both macro stacks) of the same weevil in the ivy: one with the sun behind the clouds, the other in full sunlight.

Which do you prefer? 🧐

It's likely a chequered weevil (Liophloeus tessulatus; 🇩🇪 Würfelfleckiger Staubrüssler), BTW.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

It's mad out there – lots of new species in the garden, but ...

2026-04-18T15:34:19+02:00

It's mad out there – lots of new species in the garden, but many of them proving photographically elusive in the warm, sunny conditions 😬

But it's only mid-April – there's time ... 🕰️👊

Among the cooperative ones: a very pretty juniper shield bug (Cyphostethus tristriatus; 🇩🇪 Buntrock [meaning "colourful skirt" 🙂]).

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

And when turning off the light in the living room last night, I ...

2026-04-18T11:24:11+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…2ukp
_________________________

And when turning off the light in the living room last night, I saw that one of our large Mediterranean spiny false wolf spiders (Zoropsis spinimana) had taken up a hunting post behind the TV.

Aka the Nosferatu spider because of the face on its prosoma, they’re harmless. I promise.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#ArachnidsOfMastodon 🕷️
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Overnight action. Spotted this heavy metal beast while walking to ...

2026-04-18T11:15:25+02:00

Overnight action.

Spotted this heavy metal beast while walking to my car late last night.

It’s a blue ground beetle (Carabus intricatus; 🇩🇪 Dunkelblauer Laufkäfer) out hunting.

Flash photography with my phone didn’t work, so I used my laptop screen to illuminate the scene 🤷‍♂️

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

My namesake insect 🤩 This is a hawthorn fly (Bibio marci), the ...

2026-04-15T11:55:37+02:00

My namesake insect 🤩

This is a hawthorn fly (Bibio marci), the Märzfliege or Markusfliege in 🇩🇪.

Also known as St Mark’s fly, because it typically emerges around the saint’s day of 25 April.

Of course, this one is a female, but hey 🤷‍♂️🤪

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

A second, another favourite – a bee fly. These mimic their ...

2026-04-11T14:55:05+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…e5zm
_________________________

A second, another favourite – a bee fly.

These mimic their namesakes, with their fuzzy bodies, but also hover in front of flowers like hummingbirds.

From the wing markings, this is likely a Greater Bee Fly (Bombylius major; 🇩🇪 Großer Wollschwebe), & while they're normally much ruddier, apparently this light colour is sign that it's very young.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

It's happening so fast 😱 More sunshine, warmth, & ...

2026-04-11T14:45:55+02:00

It's happening so fast 😱

More sunshine, warmth, & action.

Starting with Her Killer Highness, the goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia; 🇩🇪 Veränderliche Krabbenspinne).

I didn't expect to see adults this early & by the looks of it, neither did this drone fly when it landed on this tulip 😬

You can tell why they're also called "flower spiders" 🌷

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#ArachnidsOfMastodon 🕷️
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

As I suspected, media are getting very confused about that ...

2026-04-04T11:17:59+02:00

As I suspected, media are getting very confused about that #Artemis II Earth image, thanks to NASA’s poor original captioning.

This BBC article shows it as “Hello, world” without knowing / noting that it’s the dark side, illuminated by moonlight.

Then lower in the article it says NASA later released another image, this time showing Earth in near complete darkness with city lights.

Folks, it’s the same image, just differently processed 🙄

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8jzr423p9o

You'll likely catch this image a million times in your ...

2026-04-03T19:52:18+02:00

You'll likely catch this image a million times in your various feeds: Earth as seen by Reid Wiseman from Artemis II en-route to the Moon.

My first thought? That's *really* noisy 🧐

But then I realised – it's the *nightside* of Earth, illuminated by the almost full Moon, not the Sun 🌕

The bright limb at lower-right is where the dayside starts, & the fact that you can see aurorae, airglow, & cities in Europe, Africa, & S & N America also gives the game away.

Cool.

#Photography #Artemis

Yet another #Artemis II article (from a French press agency, no ...

2026-04-03T11:46:26+02:00

Yet another #Artemis II article (from a French press agency, no less) ignoring that propulsion, power, & life support to the Orion capsule is provided by ESA’s European Service Module.

Built in Bremen by Airbus, with parts from all over Europe, e.g. solar wings made in Leiden.

Also no mention of the fact that the ESM’s for the Moon-landing Artemis IV & V missions are to be supplied as part of ESA’s contribution to the Lunar Gateway.

Which NASA cancelled last week.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/03/artemis-ii-astronauts-rocket-towards-the-moon-after-breaking-free-of-earths-orbit

Despite my many concerns & reservations, I can’t deny that ...

2026-04-02T00:50:43+02:00

Despite my many concerns & reservations, I can’t deny that this is a very cool image.

See? That’s how they get you 🤷‍♂️😬

#ArtemisII

Sneak preview 👀 Some of our #JWST data will become publicly ...

2026-04-01T20:38:28+02:00

Sneak preview 👀

Some of our #JWST data will become publicly available in the archives tomorrow, for the galactic star-forming region, Sharpless 305, & the nearby massive protostar, RAFGL5232.

The data are tricky & need more work on saturation, noise, & banding problems, plus colour compositing 😬

But as others will be quick to publish images as usual, I thought I'd share our snapshot with you first 😉

More to come as we continue pixel-bashing 👾🔨👍

#SpaceScience #Astronomy #Space #Photography

So, fans of space & LEGO (surely a strong overlap in the Venn ...

2026-03-30T20:19:25+02:00

So, fans of space & LEGO (surely a strong overlap in the Venn diagram):

Matt Taylor, project scientist for ESA's Rosetta comet mission, tells me there's a proposed model of Rosetta & Philae on LEGO IDEAS, based on how they looked in the cartoon films we made in 2013-2016 🛰️☄️

It needs community support for a chance of official LEGO adoption, so do your thing (you need to create an account but it only takes a minute).

Please boost 👍

#RosettaLegacy

https://beta.ideas.lego.com/product-ideas/affb6092-91aa-4de9-9ceb-21d3926dc283

Is it a beetle or is it a fly? 🧐 Hard to tell from a distance, ...

2026-03-24T15:44:18+01:00

Is it a beetle or is it a fly? 🧐

Hard to tell from a distance, but close up, it becomes obvious that Camarota curvipennis (Krummflügelige Halmfliege in 🇩🇪) is a fly, but one that wraps its wings around its bum in order to deceive.

Tiny little fellows, just 2-3mm in size, so hard to get super-crisp photos, at least handheld with my gear. But you get the idea 🙂👍

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

And something rather aesthetically pleasing, a common garden ...

2026-03-23T16:07:19+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…60m3
_________________________

And something rather aesthetically pleasing, a common garden friend – the white-lipped or garden banded snail (Cepea hortensis).

It has not one but three German names: Garten-Bänderschnecke, Garten-Schnirkelschnecke, or Weißmündige Bänderschnecke. Take your pick 🇩🇪

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#MolluscsOfMastodon 🐌
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Now something that's definitely not new – a male Helina ...

2026-03-23T16:03:09+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…zj4j
_________________________

Now something that's definitely not new – a male Helina evecta fly. Decent pictures though.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Next, a small spider with a rather orange abdomen, at least to my ...

2026-03-23T15:57:46+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…32ad
_________________________

Next, a small spider with a rather orange abdomen, at least to my eye. It flashed across the red concrete steps, so I didn't get a great shot before it disappeared.

But it looks like a wolf spider (genus Lycosidae) & my best guess comparing to pictures on iNaturalist is a ground wolf spider (Trochosa terricola; Erdwolfspinne in 🇩🇪).

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#ArachnidsOfMastodon 🕷️
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Today's lunchtime haul from the garden – mixed sun & ...

2026-03-23T15:51:10+01:00

Today's lunchtime haul from the garden – mixed sun & cloud, a little colder than yesterday, but still some nice finds 🙂👍

First, something new – a brief glimpse of the backside of this wood cricket nymph (Nemobius sylvestris; Waldgrille in 🇩🇪) before it hopped off into the undergrowth.

They're a flightless species in the family Trigonidiidae 🦗

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Coming up soon: the 40th anniversary of the ESA Giotto probe’s ...

2026-03-13T23:29:19+01:00

Coming up soon: the 40th anniversary of the ESA Giotto probe’s flyby of Comet 1P/Halley, with closest approach at 00:03:02 UTC on 14 March 1986.

Giotto flew within 596 km of the comet at a relative velocity of ~250,000 km/h, so it was all over quickly, but remarkable views of the 14.5 km long dark icy monster were had.

Albeit not this composite made later by Nick Thomas on the Giotto team.

What happened as images streamed back to live TV is another story 😬✌️

Who remembers that night?

Thirdly, this common forest wolf spider was determined to be ...

2026-03-10T15:34:10+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…vctx
_________________________

Thirdly, this common forest wolf spider was determined to be photographed 🤷‍♂️

I told it that, as per the name, it & its friends are very common, but it kept leaping out from under one of the leaves saying "ah, but I'm special & will pose nicely if you take my portrait" 🤪

Duly obliged 🙂👍

(And sorry, no, I don't do content warnings for spiders on here.)

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#ArachnidsOfMastodon 🕷️
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

And on the more familiar side, a seven-spotted ladybird ...

2026-03-10T15:28:29+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…t6qj
_________________________

And on the more familiar side, a seven-spotted ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata; Siebenpunkt-Marienkäfer in 🇩🇪).

It had climbed to the top of this fresh green leaf before flying off – unfortunately I didn't manage to catch that part 🤷‍♂️

Nice pose though ...

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪳
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Bit of a frustrating garden session this afternoon. Many insects ...

2026-03-10T15:25:12+01:00

Bit of a frustrating garden session this afternoon.

Many insects flying, but few staying still for long, & those that did were the usual mix of very-hard-to-ID mostly-black flies. Sheesh.

Still, one new species, albeit from a distance: a European paper wasp (Polistes dominula; Haus-Feldwespe in 🇩🇪).

A couple more nice pics of non-new species below.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪳
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

Highly strung Not just the pigeons, but also me, standing ...

2026-03-10T12:54:34+01:00

Highly strung

Not just the pigeons, but also me, standing underneath them to take the picture 😬✌️

As seen outside the Hauptbahnhof in Darmstadt yesterday.

#Photography 📷

And finally, this little woodland jumping spider (Evarcha ...

2026-03-05T18:27:22+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…rda3
_________________________

And finally, this little woodland jumping spider (Evarcha falcata) really wants to be your friend.

Honestly.

Just keeping staring into its emerald eyes.

All four of them 👀👀

While the other four keep watch.

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#ArachnidsOfMastodon 🕷️
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

A couple more sightings from the garden today, as the warmer, ...

2026-03-05T18:19:38+01:00

A couple more sightings from the garden today, as the warmer, sunnier weather slowly brings more arthropods out 🌞

First, a bee sunning itself. Perhaps a mason bee (genus Osmia) or another mining bee (genus Andrena), although I don't think it's A. fulva, as I saw earlier – it doesn't look ruddy enough 🤨

If you have any thoughts, please let me know 👍

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪳
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲