Wednesday 29 June 2011

I spy my little fly


Some pretty moths fluttered in last night, with pleasant weather continuing. If you are taking your UK weather reports from Wimbledon, you'll have the wrong impression of what it's been like in Yorkshire. Lovely and sunny, albeit quite a lot cooler and fresher at night than it was over the humid, sub-tropical weekend. The rainstorms only affected London and the south-east; and I'm glad to say that the radio has just chirruped: "It's a beautiful morning in Wimbledon." Hooray!


Anyway, I'm putting the moths on hold 'til tomorrow, to show you my interesting flies. People often raise an eyebrow when they discover you're interested in moths (soon lowering it, though, and enquiring about Watkins & Doncaster, entomological suppliers, after you've explained the fascination and beauty...) But flies?


Well, just have a look at these pictures, of what to the eye was a glinting but otherwise small and annoyingly buzzy speck trying to get out of our bedroom window. They almost make me want to be a dipterist, specially the one at the top which has some of that lonely appeal of ET - a small creature alone in a vast universe... How about you?


If anyone knows what this is, needless to say, I'd be delighted to know. Update: see excellent Comments - it's the lovely-sounding Ruby-tailed Wasp.

4 comments:

Phil said...

Hi Martin, Looks like a ruby-tailed wasp Chrysis ignita (? or similar - I think there are a few species, all very similar) - nice name, huh?

MartinWainwright said...

Excellent Phil - thanks so much for speedy info. What a nice name - and it was a very pretty little creature. I will tell the world tomorrow...
Haven't been your cyberway lately, and will put that right. There is so much information in the world...

All warmest wishes

M

JRandSue said...

Hi Martin,your Fly is known as Ruby Tailed wasp.
Great images.
john.

MartinWainwright said...

Hi JR&Sue

Thanks v much to you too and nice to hear from you. I've learned a lot about the RTW in a short space of time

Vive L'Internet!

M