They don't appeal to everyone, but I have unlimited time for maybugs or Cockchafers as they are more officially known. They are an exceptional example of endearing clumsiness - see my little video clip below - and their antennae are among the best in the UK insect world's highly competitive field.
They also come with a terrific cultural history which I won't go on about here because I've revelled in it in previous blog posts such as this one and also this one. Taster: Nicola Tesla harnessed four to a model aircraft when he was a boy to assist its flight. I bet it never went in a straight line. I will just mention a persuasive little book we've got called Why Not Eat Insects? which waxes lyrical about Maybugs and their grubs. There are recipes available, including Cockchafer Curry and Cockchafer Soup, the latter made with chicken stock and chives.
Anyway, here are some bigger pictures, starting with the curious and attractive black and white chevrons whose purpose, if any, is a mystery (o me):
Next, some antennae studies:
And finally the full works - not always easy to get one showing its wings. The top picture shows a typically clumsy, gradual opening of the wing cases:
No moths today, but here are some damselflies, a blue male rather far away and a green female closer to; I think Beaded but they may be Beautiful (as well as beautiful with a small 'b' which they obviously are. The iRecord experts will pronounce in due course, unless you can beat them to it.
Now for a Mayfly, as opposed to Maybug. Penny and I sat by the river watching the cruel annual spectacle of swarms of these hatching and wobbling into the air, only to be intercepted by a ruthless group of seagulls which were flying up and down with their beaks more or less permanently open.
And finally, my second very loopy (and much smaller) caterpillar, also from hazel. The object partially shown at the bottom right is the head of a small woodscrew, which maybe gives scale.
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