#camo theme

Sloe bug (Dolycoris baccarum)

This shieldbug is very common. It feeds off varoius plants and later in the year off fruit as well. You can find it in most habitats with bushes and tall weeds.

 Large bee fly (Bombylius major)

In spite of its name, the bee fly doesn’t really resemble a bee very much. It has a fairly uniform golden brown colour and only its wings show an actual pattern. In my experience, it’s a solitary insect that is found in many different types of habitat. The adult animal lives off nectar which it sucks from a hovering position using its long proboscis, thus playing a vital role as a pollinator. The larvae on the other hand parasitize on solitary bee or wasp larvae and on a number of beetle larvae as well.

On the ground, this bee fly isn’t easy to spot but as soon as it’s in the air, you’ll notice the surprisingly loud buzzing sound it makes. It is a shy animal and will often take flight at the slightest disturbance.

Water measurer (Hydrometra stagnorum)

This long-legged insect is found on the water or near the water’s edge in ponds, ditches and slow running streams. As other insects moving on the water surface, it has hydrophobic hairs on its legs. Unlike most other insects with the same choice in habitat though, the water measurer is a slow animal.

Its mouth parts are shaped as a needle which is turned up under its head when not hunting. It feeds off small insects and larvae that either end up on the water surface by accident or emerges to get air. It’ll often stand on the water and wait for the chance to impale a mosquito larvae on its needle-like mouth.

It itself will fall prey to birds, other insect and spiders that also use the water surface as their hunting ground. This is where its unremarkable colouring and slow movements come into play. It is virtually invisible when standing still, both from above and from the sides.

Common or Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

As the first name suggests the most widely spread lizard in the country. Feeding on various invertebrates, ranging from earthworms over slugs to insects and spiders, it can be found almost everywhere with sufficient places to hunt, hide and bask in the sun. Being an ectothermic – or cold-blooded – animal, it needs a place to lie in the sun to warm up before going hunting. Preferably an undisturbed place, but if disturbed it will most likely return to its basking spot even if you stay close as long as you don’t move about or make noise. Some sources claim that in gardens or other places with regular human activity, the lizard will grow accustomed to this activity and be less likely to take flight if disturbed - unless you try to touch it of cause.

The name Viviparous lizard refers to the fact that this reptile actually gives birth to live young as opposed to the Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) who lays its eggs in a shallow hollow.

Bog bush-cricket (Metrioptera brachyptera)

This shy and elusive cricket spends almost all its time either on the ground or in low vegetation. This specific specimen was photographed in Troldeslugten just north west of Hald Sø in Mid Jutland. In this area the species is fairly common though not commonly seen due to its dark colours and the fact that it rarely ventures very high in the vegetation. As its ‘song’ is also somewhat subdued, listening for it isn’t easy either. During hot sunny days, a good way to get to see this species is to use a pair of binoculars to search to tops of the heather. Here you will be able to see the males performing from the vantage point of a heather branch. If disturbed, it’ll utilize its camouflage by simply letting go of the branch and fall to the ground and disappear in the grass.

Camo - don't be seen, don't get eaten

I've decided to do a small camo theme. When walking in nature, you see a lot of different plants and animals, but not nearly all of them. Over the next week or so, I'm going to post pictures of some of the quite common animals that you normaly wouldn't notice, if not looking for them. Naturally, the majority of these postings will be about invertebrates, but just to start out with an exception, I´ve picked an amphibian - the common frog.

Here in september it wont be unusual to meet this animal quite far from its normal wet habitat - the pond or even the slow running stream. This specific frog was photographed at least 500 yards from the nearest body of water.