David Holland's photos

Red Spotted Parasite Fly (Eriothrix rufomaculata), Bromley

Ferruginous beegrabber, Sicus ferrugineus, Ravenswood road, Bromley About The ferruginous beegrabber is one of the thick-headed flies, from the family Conopidae. Flies in this family are also known as beegrabbers and waspgrabbers, thanks to the unusual egg-laying strategy of females. They hang out around flowers, waiting for the right bee or wasp to appear. When they spot their target, they pounce and grab it – either on a flower or in mid-air. They lay an egg inside the target's abdomen, then let it go. When the egg hatches, it feeds on the insides of the host, eventually killing it and pupating in the dead husk. Each species of thick-headed fly shows a preference for certain host species. The ferruginous beegrabber generally targets various bumblebees. It's one of the most common species of beegrabber, living in grasslands, woodlands, hedgerows and gardens. Look for it around flowers, either feeding on the plants or waiting for a passing bee. How to identify A fairly large, hunched-looking beegrabber with a reddish-brown body and clear wings. It has a yellow head with large red eyes. It often curls its abdomen under its body when resting. Distribution Widespread throughout the UK. Did you know? It takes around 11 days for the fly larva to become fully grown inside the bee host. see here www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/flies/ferruginous-beegrabber

Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae), Bromley

Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae), Bromley

Brown Shrimp (Crangon crangon), Margate beach

Margate

Brown Shrimp (Crangon crangon), Margate beach

Common Goby (Pomatoschistus microps), Margate

Margate Panaromata

Hoverfly Margate

Hoverfly Margate

Siliquofera grandis, Giant Hooded Katydid

Siliquofera grandis, Giant Hooded Katydid

Maybe Subfamily Tersilochinae Ravensbourne Road, Bromley

Maybe Ancistrocerus nigricornis, Ravensbourne Road Bromley, from bwars.com/wasp/vespidae/eumeninae/ancistrocerus-nigricornis "Status (in Britain only) This species is not regarded as being scarce or threatened. However, the relative lack of records since 1970 indicates that this species has undergone a significant decline. Its status needs to be reconsidered. Habitat Found in a wide variety of habitats associated with its feeding and nesting sites, and prey habitats. Often found in gardens. Flight period Univoltine, with males recorded from June until September, but most likely to be seen during July and August. Females have been recorded from February to October, with a small peak of abundance during May and a larger peak during August. Males and females emerge in late summer, when mating occurs; the males then die and the females overwinter as adults, to reappear in the spring (E. Budrys, pers. comm.). Prey collected Small brown and green microlepidopterous larvae, for example Tortricidae. Nesting biology A tube-dweller, usually in bramble and elder stems, forming a series of linear cells separated by clay partitions. Also nests in holes in wood (dead logs and tree trunks, tree-stumps, telegraph poles and fences) and old mortar. Cell building occurs during the spring and early summer. When a cell is completed, an egg is laid and then several paralysed caterpillars are forced into the cell. The egg hatches after a few days and the larva consumes the prey in one or two weeks. The pre-pupal stage lasts for about one week and the pupal stage about two weeks. The newly-emerged adult moistens the clay partition to facilitate an exit. Flowers visited Bramble, goldenrod, hogweed, nightshades and a thistle. Parasites No British records found; overseas, Kunz (1989) gives the chrysid wasp Chrysis ignita (Linnaeus). Author of profile M E Archer. Year profile last updated 2001"

James Grieve apples July 2026 - apparently this was very popular but because they bruise easily motorised transport caused them to fall in popularity from my own tree.