Hayfield's old school field hosts a surprising variety of wildlife. On this page are just a few of the invertebrates that can be seen.
Order: Diptera (true flies)
True flies belong to the order Diptera, which means "two wings" and have just one pair of wings. (Other flying insects, such as butterflies and dragonflies have two pairs of wings, i.e. four wings in total.)
Hoverflies (Family: Syrphidae)
Hoverflies are true flies which have bright body colours that mimic bees and wasps. Bees and wasps, however, have two pairs of wings and a different antennae structure (and of course, can sting). This is known as Batesian mimicry. The value of this to the fly is to fool predators such as birds into believing that it is not good (or safe) to eat.
Many hoverflies are difficult to identify to species (and I haven't attempted to do so for all the species shown). However, one of the easier species to be certain of is the marmalade hoverfly shown below due to the distinctive pattern of black stripes, and in particular the smaller, secondary stripes.
Many hoverflies are frequent garden visitors, and are welcomed by gardeners who know that many hoverfly larvae eat aphids.
Blowflies, Family: Calliphoridae
Blowflies are usually less welcome members of the true flies, due to their habit of feeding on flesh. They often have a shiny, metallic colouration, with metallic blue flies known as bluebottles, and metallic green flies called greenbottles. Beyond this obvious characteristic, they can be quite difficult to identify. Of the flies below, I have tentatively identified the fly on the left as Calliphora vomitoria and the one in the middle as Calliphora vicina. I am fairly certain of the identification of the second, Calliphora vicina, as it has reddish brown "cheeks", which is one of the characteristics of this species.
I am fairly certain that the green fly is a greenbottle, although there are other, similar green flies, but have only attempted to assign it to its genus, Lucilia.
Order: Hymenoptera
Bees, Superfamily: Apoidea (also includes wasps)
Bees are important as one of the major pollinators of crops and wild flowers, a fact which is recognised in UK law under the Bees Act 1980, which gives ministers the powers to make Orders to control diseeases and pests that affect bees.
The leaf-cutter bee is so called because the female uses her jaws to cut pieces from leaves, which they then use in their nests./
Order: Coleoptera (Beetles)
Beetles are insects with two pairs of wings in which the front pair have become modified to become hardened protective cases for the flying wings, usually hidden until the beetle takes off, as can be clearly seen in the photographs below.
Soldier beetles, Family: Cantharidae
This is one of the most commonly seen beetles in the UK, often seen on flowers. Its familiarity has led to it having many common names, one of which is "Blood-sucker", probably because of the reddish colour. Despite the name, it does not suck blood.
Order: Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Hawker dragonflies, Family: Aeshnidae
I saw two of these southern hawker dragonflies near the footbridge over the river, and unfortunately didn't see them again, and was unable to get a better photo than the ones shown here.
