Looking really close at the world around us reveals many mini creatures every bit as fascinating as the larger birds, mammals and insects that we know so well. Plants also may reveal details that we had not seen before, when looked at in close up. It's surprising how beautiful or weird some creatures are when studied close up.

Stings of the Stinging Nettle, a very big enlargement showing the structure of the stinging syringe.

 

It is easy to see how the Lady Orchid got it's name (above).

 

Two showy Micro Moths, above the Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner moth, and below the Grass moth Catoptria pinella. Both are small biut very showy moths

 

To identify the different species of social wasp a close look at the face shape and the markings will be required. Above is a Saxon Wasp Dolichovespula saxonica a species that migrated from mainland Europe to Britain during the mid 1980's and is now well established in southern England.

Below is one of Britain's most widespread species the German Wasp Vespula germanica. This species has a much rounder face and different markings than the Saxon Wasp.

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Many small insects such as the Nut Weevil (below) are overlooked by the average photographer. At a magnification of over x2 they are shown as fascinating creatures.

 

 

 

Ladybirds make excellent subjects, but you will need to take pictures at around x2 magnification. Above the Orange Ladybird feeding on mildew, and below a 7-spot Ladybird feeding on a aphid. 

 

 

 

Digger Wasp with caterpillar prey for it's larva to feed on.

  

 

Purple Hairstreak butterfly feeding on honeydew.

 

Purple Hairstreak eggs.