Insects - and a Garden Carpet!

Andy M took a few pictures of the insects seen in his garden over the last week or so.

The Ceanothus is in full flower, and has proved irresistible to the bees, which seem almost to be ecstatic as they bustled busily over the flowers. Mostly Buff-tailed Bumblebees and Honey Bees, but with a few Tree Bumblebees too.

A lovely Comma butterfly was seen soaking up the sun,  as well as a very boldly coloured parasitic wasp, and a Garden Carpet moth was seen resting in the shade on the ivy.

 Buff-tailed Bumblebee

 A pollen-laden Honey Bee

A Tree Bumblebee, with its characteristic ginger thorax and white tail

 A very striking parasitic wasp - probably Ichneumon xanthorius

A Comma butterfly

and .... a Garden Carpet moth