Eristalis horticola (Hoverfly)

This large hoverfly is abundant in my garden (north west England) between April and October. This specimen was seen on 16.6.11. It is a particularly brightly coloured species of its genera and has a characteristic darkened area across the wing below the stigma.
Order Diptera
Family Syrphidae

For a natural history blog from the same area check out http://michaelfoleysnaturalhistorysite.blogspot.com/

Downlooker Snipe Fly (Rhagio scolopacea)

This fly gets its name from the habit of resting with its head down on tree trunks. It is usually in flight from May to August. This one was spotted on a stile close to a meadow near woodland in Darwen, Lancashire on 2nd June 2011. The female of the species, as shown above, can be distinguished from the male by the separation of the eyes; the eyes of the male are close together. It belongs to the family Rhagionidae. The larvae are predators on other insects and are often found living in rotting wood.

Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris)

This beautiful iridescent green tiger beetle is the commonest of the five British tiger beetles. It belongs to the family of ground beetles, Carabidae. This 12 to 13mm long insect is long-legged, with large mandibles making it a formidable predator. It prefers dry, sandy places and can be seen between May and October. The larvae are also carnivorous digging burrows from which the ambush ants and other ground-living insects. The above image was taken at Witherslack, Cumbria, 27.9.11.