Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

My white Buddleia is attracting loads of interest this year and I couldn't resist posting this image.
On the other side of my garden fence is the Bourne Valley local nature reserve, so anything in my garden would have come from the reserve. In fact the reserve has many of its own Buddleia plants probably originating from gardens around the reserve. The Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly is one of our most common but they always look amazing up close.

Britain's largest Hover Fly

Volucella Zonaria is about 2cm long and is easy to spot because its so big compared to other hover flies. Its a new arrival in he UK since 1940 (probably due to global warming) and is now fairly common.

Downy Emerald Dragonfly

This little beauty was sat in the long grass for ages. As far as I know its a female Downy Emerald Dragonfly. Shot at only 1/50th of a second hand held at F/16 I managed to get all of her in focus. I can see amazing details on the wings and hairs on the legs. She was pretty well camouflaged whilst sun bathing.

Glow worm, Lampyris noctiluca

At last I have found a female glowworm shining brightly in the long grass around midninght on a still warm night. 

Its June 20th, the day before the summer solstice and I cant believe how bright the glow is.

This gloowworm has spent the last 2 years a larva feeding on snails and living under rotting wood. She cant fly, cannot eat and will only live for a few weeks. She is trying to attract a male and mate. After hopefully laying up to 150 eggs she will shortly die.