Larvae Collection (page 9)

Larval scales of cabbage whitefly, Aleyrodes proletella, parasitised by a parasitoiid wasp, Encarsia tricolor, for commercial biological control

An adult parasitoid wasp, Encarsia tricolor, laying eggs, ovipositing in larval scales of cabbage whitefly, Aleyrodes proletella

Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) caterpillars, group in procession on ground prior to pupating, Castilla y Leon, Spain, March

Lappet Moth (Gastropacha quercifolia) larvae, congregation on hawthorn twig, Oxfordshire, England, May

Lackey Moth (Malacosoma neustria) caterpillar, on silken tent, St. Davids Head, Pembrokeshire, Wales, May

Lappet Moth (Gastropacha quercifolia) full grown larva, on hawthorn twig, Oxfordshire, England, May

Scalloped Hazel Moth (Odontopera bidentata) caterpillar, hanging from stem in ancient woodland, Gelli Hir Wood Nature Reserve, Gower Peninsula, West Glamorgan, South Wales, August

Striped Lychnis Moth (Shargacucullia lychnitis) larva, feeding on mullein leaf, Oxfordshire, England, August

Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria) caterpillar, feeding on Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) leaf in ancient woodland, Gelli Hir Wood Nature Reserve, Gower Peninsula, West Glamorgan, South Wales, August

Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi) full-grown larva, on willow leaf, Powys, Wales, September

Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi) caterpillar, on bracken stem in lowland heathland, Godlingston Heath, Studland and Godlingston Heaths National Nature Reserve, Studland, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset

Horn Moth (Ceratophaga vastella) larval faecal towers erupting out of horn, one of few animals that feeds on keratin, Kafue N.P. Zambia, September

Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae) caterpillar, on stem, Norfolk, England, September

Common Swallowtail (Papilio machaon ssp. britannicus) caterpillar, on Milk Parsley (Peucedanum palustre) foodplant, near Hickling, River Thurne, The Broads N.P. Norfolk, England, August

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) larvae, mass feeding on Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) leaves, Northern Italy, July

Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io) larvae, feeding on Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) leaves, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, Scotland, August

Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io) caterpillars, feeding on stinging nettle, France, August

Roseate Emperor (Eochroa trimenii) caterpillars, on melianthus leaves, Namaqua Desert, Namaqualand, South Africa, August

Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara) caterpillar, on Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) frond in ancient woodland, Gelli Hir Wood Nature Reserve, Gower Peninsula, West Glamorgan, South Wales, August

Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) caterpillar, close-up of head, crawling down stem in garden, Belvedere, Bexley, Kent, England, November

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) larva, shedding skin to turn into pupa, hanging from stinging nettle leaf, Oxfordshire, England, June

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) larva, feeding on gorse leaf, Oxfordshire, England, June

Horsefly (Tabanus sp. ) larva, in shallow water, Norfolk, England, September (controlled)
Horsefly (Tabanus sp.) larva, in shallow water, Norfolk, England, September (controlled)

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) caterpillars, group in web on Devil s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) foodplant in rhos pasture, Welsh Moor Nature Reserve, Gower Peninsula, West Glamorgan

Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) larva, feeding on goat willow leaf, Oxfordshire, England, July

Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa) larva, attached to American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) host, South Asia, Africa and Pacific Islands (controlled conditions)

Seaweed Fly (Coelopidae sp. ) maggot, amongst strandline debris, Kimmeridge, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England, October
Seaweed Fly (Coelopidae sp.) maggot, amongst strandline debris, Kimmeridge, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England, October

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) nymph, close-up of head, clinging to pondweed, Wat Tyler Country Park, Essex, England, December

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) nymph, Wat Tyler Country Park, Essex, England, July (photographed in specialist photography tank and subsequently returned to wild)

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) nymph, clambering over pondweed, Wat Tyler Country Park, Essex, England, July (photographed in specialist photography tank and subsequently returned to wild)

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) nymph, clinging to submerged reed, Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve, Thames Estuary, Essex, England

Salt-and-pepper Microcaddisfly (Agraylea multipunctata) larva, final instar in protective case made from secretions, crawling along edge of submerged leaf, Wat Tyler Country Park, Essex, England

Yellow Mealworm Beetle (Tenebrio molitor) larvae

Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp. ) two adults, with captured cockroach larva prey (captive)
Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp.) two adults, with captured cockroach larva prey (captive)

Wood Ant (Formica lemani) adult workers, tending larvae and naked (not cocooned) pupae in nest, Powys, Wales, August

Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) larva, clambering over pondweed, Wat Tyler Country Park, Essex, England, July (photographed in specialist photography tank and subsequently returned to wild)

Maple Prominent (Ptilodontella cucullina) caterpillar, feeding on Field Maple (Acer campestre) leaf, Cannobina Valley, Italian Alps, Piedmont, Northern Italy, July

Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina) full-grown larva, feeding on oak leaf, Powys, Wales, October

Scarlet Tiger Moth (Callimorpha dominula) final instar larva, resting on leaf, Oxfordshire, England, April

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"Larvae: The Fascinating Transformations of Nature's Young" From the bustling honeycombs of Apis mellifera to the enchanting life cycle of a Sea green swallowtail butterfly, larvae offer us a glimpse into the captivating world of metamorphosis. In the depths of a honeycomb, tiny honey bee larvae wriggle and squirm, nourished by royal jelly as they prepare for their remarkable transformation. A cross-section reveals an intricate network of cells, each housing a growing larva that will one day become an essential member of its hive. Meanwhile, newly hatched tadpoles embark on their aquatic journey in search of adulthood. These Common Frog larvae navigate through ponds and streams with graceful movements, adapting to their watery habitat until they are ready to emerge as fully-fledged frogs. The Tobacco hornworm finds solace amidst lush tobacco plants, munching away at leaves while undergoing its own growth spurt. Its vibrant green body serves as camouflage against predators who dare challenge this voracious caterpillar. A fuzzy Wooly Bear larva crawls along forest floors, showcasing bold stripes that hint at its future identity as a Tiger Moth. This resilient creature endures harsh conditions during winter months before finally pupating into its magnificent adult form. The Monarch Butterfly caterpillar embarks on an epic migration journey fueled by milkweed leaves alone. As it feasts upon these toxic plants, it absorbs chemicals that protect it from predators—a testament to nature's ingenious strategies for survival. Parasitic Wasps take advantage of unsuspecting hoverfly larvae in the UK countryside; laying eggs within them ensures food for their own young when they hatch, and is both fascinating and unsettling how nature can be both nurturing and ruthless simultaneously. A Hoopoe bird proudly clutches a plump grub in its beak—nature's fast-food delicacy—providing sustenance not just for itself but also for its hungry chicks waiting in the nest.