A Refugee in the Kitchen

I had a refugee this afternoon.  He (or she?) found his way into the house and decided to be a bit of a nuisance.  Now despite my detestation of killing things had he been a wasp he would be dead.  As it was he is a Hover Fly Helophilus pendulus.  Leastways I'm pretty sure that he is but if the first comment is from Scriptor saying that I'm wrong then....   Anyway they like damp places and are fond of sunbathing on waterside vegetation.  Anyway I though he was a rather splendid fellow and once I had spoken softly to him he posed for me. Or perhaps in the absence of any pondside vegetation in my kitchen he just decided to sunbathe anyway.

 OLYMPUS   SP550UZ   ISO: 50  1/125 sec Aperture: 5.0   Focal Length: 9.8mm Super Macro

Dunsford Wood

This morning CJ, Helen, Ian and I went to Dunsford Wood (Click for map) or see the website of the Devon Wildlife Trust on the site. The insect life was considerable and we spent much of the time photoraphing it. I'm afraid that the names of most of the insects are outwith my knowledge:

Cuckoo Pint

I find new leaves very beautiful

A beautifull hover fly

Strangalia Maculata (a Longhorn Beetle with no common name)

Meadow Brown

Ianus Oblivius Recumbus

The incredibly invasive Himalayan Balsam (Policeman's Helmet)

And some more

Hover Fly

Perhaps I'll wash these in future