As hoped, there was more garden activity later on, when the sun shone more consistently.

[markmccaughrean@mastodon.social]

As hoped, there was more garden activity later on, when the sun shone more consistently.

First up, a blue bottle fly. Likely Calliphora vicina (Blaue Schmeißfliege in 🇩🇪), as other pictures show it lacks the orange beard that characterises its near cousin, C. vomitoria.

Both species are important in forensics, for icky reasons you likely know already 💀✌️

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪳
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

[markmccaughrean@mastodon.social]

Also caught a very brief glimpse of this lovely shiny red beetle as it scuttled through the undergrowth.

It's very likely Apion frumentarium (or miniatum), the red dock weevil, while in German, it's gloriously known as the Mennigroter Ampfer-Spitzmausrüssler 🇩🇪

Hope I see one again & get better shots 👍

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪳
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲