Cercopsis vulnerata

This froghopper is about 10mm long is one of the most immediately recognized insects and can be found in lush vegetation. This particular one was photographed in meadowland. It is a bug belonging to the order Hemiptera, suborder Cicadomorpha and family Cercopidae. It is the only British species in that family.

Gymnocheta viridis (a Tachinid Fly)

The images above were taken at Brockholes Wetland Reserve, Lancashire on 6th June 2011.
This beautiful fly is often found close to woodland. As an adult it feeds on nectar and pollen but its larvae are endoparasitoid on moth and butterfly caterpillars causing their host's eventual death. This fly belongs to the family Tachinidae all of which are endoparasitoids on other insects. At a glance it can be mistaken for a greenbottle but differs in that it is covered in bristles.

An interesting video on tachinids can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5llTAwSVyeA