Upperside Collection

Hornet mimic hoverfly. Close-up of a hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) feeding on flowers. This insect is a European species of hoverfly (family Syrphidae). Photographed in Poland

Taenaris urania butterfly, upperside and underside (Jairus butterfly)
FLO4681146 Taenaris urania butterfly, upperside and underside (Jairus butterfly, Papilio jairus). Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Forest giant owl butterfly, Caligo eurilochus, upperside 2, and underside 1

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Flying behind the ferry that goes from Texel to Den Helder

Rhetenor blue morpho butterfly
Rhetenor blue morpho. View of the upper side of a Rhetenor blue morpho (Morpho rhetenor) butterfly

Ulysses butterfly. View of the upper side of a Ulysses butterfly (Papilio ulysses). This large swallowtail butterfly is endemic to Australasia. It has a wingspan of 12cm

Little owl cicada. View of the upper side of a little owl (Pycna strix) cicada. This large aquatic insect was found in the USA. This specimen has a wingspan of 12cm

Antlion. View of the upper side of a Palparellus voeltzkowi antlion (family Myrmeleontidae) with its wings spread. This specimen was found in Madagascar and has a wingspan of 6cm

Malaysian dead leaf mantis
Mantis. View of the upper side of a Malaysian dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys lobata) with its wings spread. This insect inhabits Thailand, Java, Borneo, Indonesia, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula

Copepod fish parasite, Lepeophtheirus thompsoni.. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Sea slug, Onchidium typhae.. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Anchises cattleheart butterfly, Parides anchises.. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Caerois chorinaeus butterfly.. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Adonis blue butterfly, Polyommatus bellargus.. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Picture No. 10890528
Scotch Argus - upperside - resting on grass - introduced to area (Erbia aethiops) Date:

Picture No. 10890527
Marbled White - upperside - wings open at rest (Melanargia galathea) Date:

Picture No. 10890455
Dark-green Fritillary Butterfly - upperside - feeding on thistle (Mesoacidalia aglaja) Date:

Acrosterigma dalli (Cockle) shells, Plio-Pleistocene era

Banded vapourer (Aroa discalis), mounted male moth, both sides

Slit snail shell C019 / 1295
Slit snail shell. Shell of a slit snail (Bayerotrochus boucheti) sea snail. This marine gastropod mollusc is found off Norfolk Ridge, New Caledonia, in the southwest Pacific Ocean

Pebble crab (Etisus utilis). This crab lives at a depth of 10-15 metres in the Indo-Pacific regions

Male mallard landing on water C018 / 1780
Male mallard landing on water

Euplotes protozoa, SEM C016 / 9040
Euplotes protozoa. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing the upperside (bottom) and underside (top) of two Euplotes sp. hypotrich ciliate protozoa

Euplotes protozoa, SEM C016 / 9041
Euplotes protozoa. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing the upperside (bottom) and underside (top) of two Euplotes sp. hypotrich ciliate protozoa

Leaf insect C016 / 2231
Leaf insect. View of the upperside of a Linnaeus leaf insect (Phyllium siccifolium). Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Leaf insect C016 / 2235
Leaf insect. Views of the upperside (left) and underside (right) of a Grays leaf insect (Phyllium bioculatum). This leaf insect is native to west Malaysia

African mantis C016 / 2286
African mantis (Sphodromantis viridis). This species of praying mantis is kept worldwide as a pet but is native to West Africa, south of the Sahara Desert

Leaf insect C016 / 2234
Leaf insect. View of the underside of a Grays leaf insect (Phyllium bioculatum). This leaf insect is native to west Malaysia. Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

African mantis C016 / 2284
African mantis (Sphodromantis viridis). This species of praying mantis is kept worldwide as a pet but is native to West Africa, south of the Sahara Desert

Glyptoxanthus labyrinthicus crab. This crab is found on reefs along the Pacific coast of South America

Milkweed butterfly caterpillar, SEM C016 / 8030
Milkweed butterfly caterpillar. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the upper side of the larva of a milkweed (Euploea sp.) butterfly, showing its head (light, top)

Tarantula C016 / 7767
Tarantula. View of the upper side of a tarantula (family Theraphosidae). Photographed in Yasuni National Park, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador

Crane fly, artwork
Crane fly. Computer artwork showing the upperside of a crane fly (family Tipulidae)

False blister beetle. Male false blister beetle (Oedemera podagrariae) a blade of grass. These common beetles are found throughout most of Europe and the Near East. Photographed in Poland

Western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) on a log

Flea beetle on a thistle
Flea beetle (Sphaeroderma testaceum) on a spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare) leaf. This insect is a species of leaf beetle (family Chrysomelidae). Photographed in Zagan, Poland

Minotaur beetle. Female minotaur beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) on sandy ground

Blackspotted pliers support beetle ( (Rhagium mordax) on a rotten tree stump. This species of longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) is found throughout much of Europe

Bishops mitre shield bug (Aelia acuminata) on a leaf. Photographed in Zagan, Poland

Forest bug on a leaf. Forest bugs (Pentatoma rufipes) are a species of shield bug (superfamily Pentatomoidea) that are common and widespread in forests and woodlands worldwide. Photographed in Poland

Rove beetle on moss
Rove beetle (Staphylinus caesareus) on moss. Rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) are the largest family of beetles, with approximately 58, 000 species worldwide. Photographed in Poland

Violet ground beetle on moss. The violet ground beetle, or rain beetle, (Carabus violaceus) is a nocturnal insect found throughout Europe and Japan. Photographed in Tatra National Park, Poland

Hoverfly on a leaf
Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) on a leaf. This is the most common hoverfly found in Britain. Photographed in Dorset, UK, in June

Comma butterfly on a flower. Comma (Polygonia c-album) butterflies range across Europe and temperate Asia to Japan, and south to Morocco. Photographed in Dorset, UK, in October

Red frog crab (Ranina ranina). This edible crab lives at a depth of 10-15 metres on the sea bed of the Indo-West Pacific, from the African east coast to Japan and across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii

Moon crab (Matuta victor). This swimming crab is found in the Indo-West Pacific and has legs that are flattened to enable it to swim efficiently through the water

Male Poupinia hirsuta crab. This crab lives at a depth of around 450 metres in Polynesia

Guard crab (Trapezia rufopunctata). This crab lives on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, Maldives and Polynesia. The carapace (shell) of this specimen measures 2cm wide

Spotted rock crab (Carpilius maculatus). This edible crab lives at a depth of 10-15 metres in the Indo-West Pacific

Sumatran hawk moth. View of the upper side of a Sumatran hawk moth (Meganoton analis sumatranus)

Brahmin moth. View of the upper side of a Brahmin moth (Brahmaea wallichii). This species of moth is found in the north of India, Myanmar, China, Taiwan and Japan. This specimen has a wingspan of 13cm

Spanish moon moth. View of the upper side of a Spanish moon moth (Graellsia isabellae). This species of silkmoth is native to Spain and France. It has a wingspan of 10cm

Madagascan moon moth. View of the upper side of a Madagascan moon moth (Argema mittrei)

Rajah butterfly. View of the upper side of a rajah butterfly (Charaxes delphis). This species of butterfly is found in Southeast Asia. It has a wingspan of 9cm

Common map butterfly
Common map. View of the upper side of a common map (Cyrestis thyodamas) butterfly. This species of butterfly is found in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It has a wingspan of 6cm

Scorpion carrying young C018 / 2454
Scorpion carrying young. Female scorpion (order Scorpiones) carrying its young on its back. Photographed in Costa Rica

Rajah butterflies

Hadrians white charaxes butterfly
Hadrians white charaxes. View of the upper side of a Hadrians white charaxes (Charaxes hadrianus) butterfly. This species of butterfly is found in Southeast Asia. It has a wingspan of 9cm

Stately rajah butterfly
Stately rajah. View of the upper side of a stately rajah (Polyura dolon) butterfly. This species of butterfly is found in Southeast Asia. It has a wingspan of 9cm

Brazilian owl butterfly
Brazilian owl. View of the upper side of a Brazilian owl (Caligo brasiliensis) butterfly. This species of butterfly is found in most of South America as various subspecies. It has a wingspan of 12cm

Morpho butterfly. View of the upper side of a morpho butterfly (Morpho eros) butterfly. This species of butterfly is found in Amazonian Guyana. It has a wingspan of 13cm

Malay birdwing. View of the upper side of a male Malay birdwing (Troides amphrysus ruficollis) butterfly. This subspecies of butterfly is endemic to the Malay Peninsula, Thailand and Burma

Palawan birdwing. View of the upper side of a male palawan birdwing (Trogonoptera trojana) butterfly. This species of butterfly is endemic to Palawan in the Philippines. It has a wingspan of 15cm

Queen Victorias birdwing. View of the upper side of a female Queen Victorias birdwing (Ornithoptera victoriae) butterfly

Common green birdwing. View of the upper side of a common green birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus) butterfly

Cuckoo wasps. View of the upper side of a collection of Chrysantheda frontalis cuckoo wasps (family Chrysididae), showing their iridescent bodies

European honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Lanternfly. View of the upper side of a Paralystra emma lanternfly (family Fulgoridae). This specimen was found in Guyana, and has a wingspan of 9cm

Death s-head hawk moth
Death s-head moth. View of the upper side of a death s-head hawk moth (Acherontia atropos). Acherontia species moths are notorious mainly for a vaguely skull-shaped pattern on the thorax

Empress cicada. View of the upper side of an Empress cicada (Pomponia imperatoria). This species is found on the island of Borneo and has a wingspan of 20cm

Cicadas. Collection of cicadas from around the world: At top is Yanga heathi from Mafagascar, with a wingspan of 12cm. At centre is Tacua speciosa, from Northern India, with a wingspan of 15cm

Leaf insect
Grays leaf insect. View of the upper side of a leaf insect (Phyllium crucifolium), with its wings spread. This specimen was found in the Seychelles, and has a body length of 11cm

Grays leaf insect. View of the upper side of a male Grays leaf insect (Phyllium bioculatum), with its wings spread. This specimen was found in Sri Lanka, and has a wingspan of 8cm

Ghost insect. View of ghost insect (Prisopus piperinus) camouflaged against a piece of bark. This specimen was found in Amazonian Guyana, and has a body length of 7cm

Giant Malaysian leaf insect. View of the upper side of a giant Malaysian leaf insect (Phyllium giganteum). This specimen was found in Thailand, and has a body length of 12cm

Shield bugs
Jewel bugs. Collection of colourful Catacanthus incarnatus shield bugs (family Scutelleridae) from Africa. The bodies of these specimens measure 1.8cm long

Cicada. View of the upper side of an Tacua speciosa cicada. This specimen is from the island of Malacca, Malaysia, and has a wingspan of 15cm

Hump-backed stick insect. View of the upper side of a male hump-backed stick insect (Cranidium gibbosum) with its wings spread. This specimen was found in Amazonian Guyana, and has a wingspan of 10cm

Yellow umbrella stick insect. View of the upper side of a female yellow umbrella stick insect (Tagesoidea nigrofasciata) with its wings spread

Jewel bugs. Assorted selection of colourful Callidea sp. jewel bugs (family Scutelleridae) from Africa. The bodies of these specimens measure 1.8cm long

Giant water bug. View of the upper side of a giant water bug (Belostoma grande). This large aquatic insect was found in the USA. The body of this specimen measures 11cm long

Blowflies. Assorted selection of Rutilia sp. blowflies from Australia. Seen here are R. splendida, R. formosa, R. rubiceps, R. serena and R. regalis

Click beetles. View of the upper side of click beetles (Semiotus imperialis). These specimens are from the Amazon Basin, Brazil. Their bodies measure 5cm long

Frog-legged leaf beetles. View of the upper side of a group of frog-legged leaf beetles (Sagra buqueti). These specimens are from Malaysia. Their bodies measure 2.5cm long

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The world of upperside is a mesmerizing realm, filled with an array of fascinating creatures that captivate our imagination. From the Hornet mimic hoverfly, with its uncanny ability to imitate one of nature's fiercest predators, to Darwins beetle, which showcases intricate patterns on its vibrant wings. In this enchanting realm, we encounter the Forest giant owl butterfly, Caligo eurilochus, gracefully fluttering through sunlit glades. Its majestic wings bear striking markings resembling the wise eyes of an owl. But not all inhabitants are as graceful as butterflies; there is also the Copepod fish parasite, Lepeophtheirus thompsoni. This tiny creature may be small in size but possesses incredible adaptability and resourcefulness as it clings onto its host for survival. Venturing further into this magical world reveals the Sea slug, Onchidium typhae. With their vivid colors and unique shapes, these slugs showcase nature's creativity at its finest. Amongst the myriad of winged wonders resides Anchises cattleheart butterfly, Parides anchises. Its name alone evokes images of strength and resilience displayed by this magnificent species. Caerois chorinaeus butterfly adds another layer of beauty to this already breathtaking landscape with its delicate yet vibrant hues that seem to dance in harmony with each other. As we explore deeper into upperside territory, we come across Adonis blue butterfly Polyommatus bellargus - a true epitome of elegance and grace. Its azure wings shimmer under sunlight like precious gemstones adorning nature's crown. Taenaris urania butterfly enchants us with its ethereal beauty – a celestial being seemingly descended from heavens above – leaving us awestruck by such divine artistry crafted by Mother Nature herself.