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Nature

Syrphus vitripennis

A common and widespread hoverfly though rather more prone to…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Common green shieldbug (Palomena prasina)

The common shieldbug was once restricted to Southern…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Honey bees make honey from pollen and nectar collected from…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Nature

Campyloneura virgula

A common predatory bug found on a range of trees across the…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Lucilia sericata

A green metallic ‘greenbottle’ fly is the…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Muscina levida

The Muscina genus is characterised by a striped thorax, a red…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Deraeocoris flavilinea

A species which has rapidly colonised the UK following its…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Common carder bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum)

The only one of three all-ginger bumblebees to be a member of…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Ten spot lady bird (Adalia decempunctata)

A small and variable ladybird – which confusingly…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terestris)

Bombus terrestris, the buff-tailed bumblebee or large earth…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Myathropa florea

This hoverfly has bold yellow and black markings and gets its…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Tapered drone fly (Eristalis pertinax)

Whilst similar to E. tenax, this species has a more tapering…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Spotted Longhorn (Rutpela maculata)

Rutpela maculata is also commonly known as the…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Polydrusus formosus

Length 5 to 6 mm. A bright metallic green weevil with round…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Closterotomus norwegicus

Closterotomus norwegicus belongs to the Miridae family and is…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Aphidius colemani and its mummies

Aphidius colemani are small braconid wasps. Females lay eggs…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Common Flesh Fly (Sarcophaga carnaria)

The Sarcophagidae are often known as Flesh Flies and can be…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Adder (Vipera berus)

Shy but full of surprises, the adder is the UK’s only venomous…
  • Europe
  • Reptile

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

A large, black, and conspicuous waterbird, the cormorant has…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe

Little egret (Egretta garzetta)

The Little egret is a small, white heron that feeds on small…
  • Birds
  • Europe

Plagiognathus arbustorum

This extremely common bug is found throughout the UK on a…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

The Small Copper is usually seen in ones and twos, but in some…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

Mature horse chestnut trees grow to a height of around 40m and…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Plants

Rhopalus subrufus

This genus comprises four species in the UK; all are rather…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Rhododendron leafhopper (Graphocephala fennahi)

This large and striking species is native to the USA, where it…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

The goldfinch is a highly coloured finch with a bright red…
  • Birds
  • Europe

Red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Red deer have red-brown fur with a cream rump. The UK’s…
  • Mammals

Yellow swarming fly (Thaumatomyia notata)

Thaumatomyia notata, the yellow swarming fly, is a species of…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Common green shieldbug (Palomena prasina)

A large shieldbug with a dark wing membrane and reddish…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Salticus scenicus

The female has a black abdomen with white stripes whereas the…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Spiders

Alder beetle (Agelastica alni)

The Alder leaf beetle is a 7-8 mm long dark metallic blue leaf…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)

Bright, bold and soft to the touch. With its distinctive look,…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Fungi

Buff tailed bumble bee (Bombus terrestris)

One of the ‘Big 7’ widespread and abundant species, found in a…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Insects
  • Nature

Brown lipped snail (Cepaea nemorali)

Also known as the Banded Snail, this is the UK’s most…
  • Europe
  • Molluscs

Willow emerald damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis)

The Willow emerald damselfly is a recent colonist, with…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Brown shield bug (Coreus marginatus)

A large and mottled reddish-brown squash bug with a broad,…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Banded general (Stratiomys potamida)

One of the ‘big five’ soldier flies (4 Stratiomys…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Figwort Cheilosia (Cheilosia variabilis)

Wing length 7.5 – 10mm. This is a fairly robust all…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Cabbage white (Pieris rapae)

Pieris rapae is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of…
  • Insects

Tephritis neesii

The adult Tephritis neesii has a blackish-brown body with a…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)

The Red Admiral is a frequent visitor to gardens throughout…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Soldier fly (Chloromyia formosa)

Chloromyia formosa can reach a length of 7.3–9 millimetres…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Woodlouse (Oniscus asellus)

The common woodlouse is the most widespread species of…
  • Arthropods
  • Europe

White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

One of the ‘Big 7’ widespread and abundant species, found in a…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Black ants (Lasius niger)

The black garden ant (Lasius niger), also known as the common…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Lesser stag beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus)

The lesser stag beetle may be smaller than its famous cousin,…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Large Narcissus Fly (Merodon equestris)

Known as the Large Narcissus Fly or Narcissus Bulb Fly, this…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Hover fly (Eupeodes luniger)

A larger species than E.corollae, the other common Eupeodes in…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Running crab spider (philodromus-albidus Running crab spider (Philodromus albidus)

Identification of running crab spiders is difficult, so this…
  • Europe
  • Spiders

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)

The only one of three all-ginger bumblebees to be a member of…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Common blue damsel fly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

A medium-small damselfly. The thick blue stripe on its thorax…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria)

Occurs in woodland, gardens and hedgerows. Butterflies often…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Thelaira nigripes

Thelaira nigripes is a species of fly in the family Tachinidae…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Red kite (Milvus milvus)

A majestic scavenger, the red kite searches for food in almost…
  • Birds
  • Europe

Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

A born survivor with a bushy tail. Ever adaptable, the fox is…
  • Europe
  • Mammals

Spiny false wolf spider (Zoropsis spinimana)

The fangs of the Spiny False Wolf-spider – real name Zoropsis…
  • Europe
  • Spiders

Closterotomus trivialis

A new arrival in Britain where it has been associated with the…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)

Newts are amphibians, breeding in ponds during the spring and…
  • Amphibians
  • Europe

Common banded hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii)

The common banded hoverfly is a very common hoverfly found…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Broken back bug (Taylorilygus apicalis)

Taylorilygus apicalis can reach a length of about 4–5…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Harlequin ladybird – Harmonia axyridis

Harlequin ladybird larva feeding on aphids. Harlequin ladybird…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Common frog (rana temporaria)

The common frog varies in colour enormously, from green to…
  • Amphibians
  • Europe

Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)

Seen in my garden near a vine, but the Vine weevil can feed on…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Ptychoptera contaminata

Not the best image, but there may be mites around its…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Rosemary Beetle (Chrysolina americana)

The beetle is a native of southern Europe that has become an…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Black and yellow long horn (Rutpela-maculata)

This is a large but well-marked longhorn beetle with a…
  • Europe
  • Insects

common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)

The common red soldier beetle is also known as the…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Median Wasp ( Dolichovespula media)

Wasps – useful but annoying at picnics. The median wasp…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Cinnabar Moth Caterpilar (Tyria jacobaeae)

This species is so named due to the colour of the hindwings…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)

The male of Oedemera nobilis, as in most Oedemera species,…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Miridae (Liocoris tripustulatus)

Miridae (Liocoris tripustulatus) with a cream scutellum and…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Impunctate mini-miner bee (Andrena subopaca)

Andrena subopaca is a Palearctic species of mining bee feeding…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Willow emerald damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis)

The female Willow emerald damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis). It…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

False widow spider (Steatoda Nobils)

“Sometimes known as the Noble False Widow spider…
  • Spiders

Garden spider (Araneus diadematus)

The Garden spider is the UK’s most common orb web spider…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Spiders

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

The UK’s favourite bird – with its bright red…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Tree-climbing nut buriers. Scampering grey squirrels are a…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Mammals
  • Nature

Green woodpecker (picus viridis)

Green woodpecker (picus viridis) in west London. The European…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe

Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

About blackbird-sized and striking black-and-white. It has a…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe

Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius)

Although they are the crow family’s most colourful…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe

Canada goose gosling (Branta canadensis)

The Canada goose (Branta canadensis), sometimes called the…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe

Honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Honeybees are famous for the honey they produce! These…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Marmalade hover fly (Episyrphus balteatus)

Our most common hoverfly, the marmalade fly, is orange with…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Broad Centurion (Chloromyia formosa)

This soldier fly has sexes that are very different in…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Insects
  • Nature

Speckled Bush-cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima)

The speckled bush cricket is a species of bush cricket common…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula Krameri)

The parakeets make nests in trees by digging out big spaces…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe

Black headed gull

Black-headed gull and single feather reflected in the lake.…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe

Snowdrops

Snowdrops are a reminder that Spring is on its way and that…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Plants

Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus)

Stag beetles are one of the most spectacular insects in the…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Volucella inanis

Volucella inanis The adults reach 15–17 mm long. They have…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Insects

Grey Mining bee (Andrena cineraria)

Close up a Grey Mining bee (Andrena cineraria) feeding on…
  • Europe
  • Insects

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Two pigeons are harassing this poor kestrel. Normally, the…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Nature

Root maggot fly (Botanophila fugax)

This root maggot fly (?Botanophila fugax) knew that danger…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Insects
  • Nature

Red necked terrrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans)

The red-eared slider or red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Nature
  • Reptile

Beefsteak Fungus (Fistulina hepatica)

The Beefsteak Fungus, Fistulina hepatica. This mushroom is…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Fungi

Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum (formerly Macrolepiota) rhacodes)

The Shaggy Parasol  is a fairly common mushroom found mainly…
  • Fungi

Green Dock Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula)

Usually found on Dock plants, it can be seen anywhere that…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Insects

Asian Brown Praying Mantis (Hierodula membranacea)

The color of the Giant Asian Mantis is usually green, but…
  • Insects

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)

Key information Grey herons are unmistakable: tall, with long…
  • Birds
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Europe
  • Nature

7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) A cheerful…
  • Chiswick House and Gardens
  • Insects
  • Nature

Chiswick wildlife

The Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 will be remembered as a tough…
  • Europe
  • Nature

Animals

Different animals from around the world.
  • Mammals
  • Nature
leopard

Masai Mara, 2015

The Maasai Mara is one of the best places in the world to see…
  • Africa
  • Nature

Bandhavgarh National Park, India

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the popular national parks…
  • Asia
  • Nature
Primate

Monkey World, Dorset

Monkey World assists governments around the world to stop the…
  • Europe
  • Mammals
  • Nature

Bandhavgarh, India

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the popular national parks…
  • Asia
  • Nature

Florida, United States of America

Wildlife in Florida can be found in the cities, towns, and…
  • Americas - north
  • Nature

Masai Mara, Kenya

This was our second visit to the Masai Mare. This time we…
  • Africa
  • Nature

Maldives

A week on the Taj Coral reef, marked by great diving and some…
  • Asia
  • Nature

Wild life

Photographs of wildlife taken in Africa and India. Most of the…
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Nature

Kalahari desert, South Africa

Leaving Namibia behind, we drove back into South Africa. Our…
  • Africa
  • Nature

Namib desert, Nambia

The Republic of Namibia is in southwestern Africa, on the…
  • Africa
  • Flying
  • Nature