Click on the first letter of the common name.

British Invertebrates - terrestrial and freshwater

 		Species 1 - 50 of 260 [ next ]
Thumbnail for Curculio glandium (Acorn weevil)
Acorn weevil (Curculio glandium)
The most striking feature of the acorn weevil is its elongated snout, known as a 'rostrum', which is longer in females than males... More 9 Images 3 Videos
Thumbnail for Lysandra bellargus (Adonis blue)
Adonis blue (Lysandra bellargus)
Males are bright sky blue in colour with a fine black line to the edge of the wings and a white border. Females are brown in colour... More 13 Images 2 Videos
Thumbnail for Sialis lutaria (Alderfly)
Alderfly (Sialis lutaria)
Alderflies are fairly primitive insects, and were the first insect group to develop a pupal stage. The robust body is brown or... More 5 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Rheumaptera hastata (Argent and sable moth)
Argent and sable moth (Rheumaptera hastata)
The common name 'Argent and Sable' which was given to this species in 1778 refers to the colour of the moth. Argent is a... More 5 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Xestia ashworthii (Ashworth’s rustic)
Ashworth’s rustic (Xestia ashworthii)
Adult Ashworth’s Rustic moths have blue-grey forewings with variable blackish flecking. The hindwings are pale and silky in... More 4 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Hammerschmidtia ferruginea (Aspen hoverfly)
Aspen hoverfly (Hammerschmidtia ferruginea)
This hoverfly is dark in colour with an orange thorax... More 2 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Calopteryx splendens (Banded demoiselle)
Banded demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)
The banded demoiselle has the same style of butterfly-like flitting flight as that of the beautiful demoiselle (C. virgo)... More 20 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Pareulype berberata (Barberry carpet moth)
Barberry carpet moth (Pareulype berberata)
Adult Barberry Carpet moths have greyish-white forewings with attractive brown patterning, and the hindwings are paler and more... More 4 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Trichopteryx polycommata (Barred tooth-striped moth)
Barred tooth-striped moth (Trichopteryx polycommata)
The Barred Tooth-striped is a greyish coloured moth. The caterpillars are green with two white lines and a dark central line... More 2 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Coleophora tricolor (Basil-thyme case-bearer moth)
Basil-thyme case-bearer moth (Coleophora tricolor)
Adults of the endangered Basil-thyme Case bearer have dusky ochreous forewings with delicate silvery-white streaks. Both the fore-... More 4 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Ernoporus tiliae (Bast bark beetle)
Bast bark beetle (Ernoporus tiliae)
This small, brown bark beetle has scales covering the wing cases (elytra), some of which are raised and form rows... More 2 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Lycia zonaria britannica (Belted beauty moth)
Belted beauty moth (Lycia zonaria britannica)
Male and female Belted Beauty moths are strikingly different in appearance; females have tiny, 2 mm long non-functional wings and... More 5 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Aphis fabae (Black bean aphid)
Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Although sometimes called ‘blackfly’, the black bean aphid is actually a true bug (a member of the order Hemiptera). All true bugs... More 5 Images 1 Video
Thumbnail for Formica candida (Black bog ant)
Black bog ant (Formica candida)
This rare, medium-sized ant is black and shiny... More 4 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Formica pratensis (Black-backed meadow ant)
Black-backed meadow ant (Formica pratensis)
This is a large ‘wood ant’, and resembles the more common southern wood ant Formica rufa. The thorax shows some red... More 3 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Polymixis xanthomista statices (Black-banded moth)
Black-banded moth (Polymixis xanthomista statices)
Adult Black-banded moths have grey forewings with dense yellow, white and greenish flecking and a darker area towards the centre. ... More 7 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Siona lineata (Black-veined moth)
Black-veined moth (Siona lineata)
Adult Black-veined moths are white in colour with black veins that are more obvious on the underside of the wings. Females differ... More 8 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Timarcha tenebricosa (Bloody-nosed beetle)
Bloody-nosed beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
The bloody-nosed beetle is a large, flightless species, which earns its common name from its peculiar form of defence; when... More 12 Images 1 Video
Thumbnail for Carabus intricatus (Blue ground beetle)
Blue ground beetle (Carabus intricatus)
This is a large and impressive beetle, with an attractive metallic purple or blue sheen to it. It does not possess wings, although... More 12 Images 1 Video
Thumbnail for Eristalis cryptarum (Bog hoverfly)
Bog hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum)
The bog hoverfly is a bee mimic; it is very similar in general appearance to a bee. Like all members of the Eristalis genus... More 1 Image 1 Video
Thumbnail for Heliophobus reticulata (Bordered gothic moth)
Bordered gothic moth (Heliophobus reticulata)
The Bordered Gothic moth has an attractive pale network-like patterning on the otherwise mottled grey-brown forewings. The... More 2 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Idaea ochrata cantiata (Bright wave moth)
Bright wave moth (Idaea ochrata cantiata)
Adult Bright Wave moths are ochreous brown to orange in colour with fine waved cross-lines on both the fore- and hind-wings. The... More 3 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Oria musculosa (Brighton wainscot moth)
Brighton wainscot moth (Oria musculosa)
This species was given the common name 'Brighton Wainscot' because one of the first British specimens was caught in Brighton in... More 4 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Gonepteryx rhamni (Brimstone)
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
The brimstone is a common butterfly. The males are bright yellow in colour and it is widely held that the species was the... More 14 Images 3 Videos
Thumbnail for Psylliodes luridipennis (Bronze Lundy cabbage flea beetle)
Bronze Lundy cabbage flea beetle (Psylliodes luridipennis)
The bronze Lundy cabbage flea beetle is a dark bronze in colour, and often has yellow translucent wing cases (elytra)... More 8 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Hydra oligactis (Brown hydra)
Brown hydra (Hydra oligactis)
Hydras are freshwater animals that belong to the same group as jellyfish, corals and sea anemones. The sac-shaped 'body' is topped... More 3 Images 3 Videos
Thumbnail for Bombus humilis (Brown-banded carder bee)
Brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis)
The brown-banded carder bee B. humilis is one of the 24 species of bumblebee or cuckoo bee found in the UK. It is also one... More 3 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Hypena rostralis (Buttoned snout moth)
Buttoned snout moth (Hypena rostralis)
Female buttoned snout moths are more variable in their appearance than males; the males tend to have darker, more uniform forewings... More 5 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Ampedus rufipennis (Cardinal click beetle)
Cardinal click beetle (Ampedus rufipennis)
This click beetle has bright red wing cases (elytra), a shiny black thorax and a covering of fine black hairs. The larvae are... More 1 Image 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Ampedus cardinalis (Cardinal click beetle)
Cardinal click beetle (Ampedus cardinalis)
This click beetle has russet-red wing cases (elytra), a shiny black thorax and a covering of fine orange hairs. The larvae are... More 2 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Scotopteryx bipunctaria cretata (Chalk carpet moth)
Chalk carpet moth (Scotopteryx bipunctaria cretata)
Adult Chalk Carpet moths are pale grey in colour with grey-brown markings, and have a darker central band with two black dots, one... More 3 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Carterocephalus palaemon (Chequered skipper)
Chequered skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
As the name suggests, this small, fast-flying, chocolate-brown butterfly has a chequered patterning on both the hind- and forewings... More 6 Images 1 Video
Thumbnail for Tyria jacobaeae (Cinnabar moth)
Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae)
The cinnabar moth is brightly coloured, with crimson hindwings bordered with dusky black. Its dark grey forewings have a red streak... More 9 Images 2 Videos
Thumbnail for Paracolax tristalis (Clay fan-foot moth)
Clay fan-foot moth (Paracolax tristalis)
Adult Clay Fan-foot moths are pale ochreous brown in colour with darker brown cross-lines on both the fore- and hind-wings. When... More 1 Image 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Lacon quercus (Click beetle)
Click beetle (Lacon quercus)
This click beetle is generally brown in colour, with yellowish blotches and flecks, and a yellow band passing across the far end of... More 5 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Cicindela germanica (Cliff tiger beetle)
Cliff tiger beetle (Cicindela germanica)
The cliff tiger beetle is the smallest tiger beetle in Britain. It is typically dull green in colour with a coppery sheen, but it... More 4 Images 1 Video
Thumbnail for Polygonia c-album (Comma)
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
The comma is a beautiful, common butterfly. The wings have scalloped edges, and the undersides are strikingly similar in appearance... More 16 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Polyommatus icarus (Common blue)
Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)
The common blue is the most widespread of the blue butterflies in Britain, and as the name suggests, it is one of the most common... More 13 Images 3 Videos
Thumbnail for Enallagma cyathigerum (Common blue damselfly)
Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Dragonflies and damselflies can appear alarming to some people, and their old English country names of ‘horse-stingers’ and... More 13 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Bombus pascuorum (Common carder bumblebee)
Common carder bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum)
The common carder bumblebee is the only common bumblebee to have a completely ginger thorax. Although the abdomen also tends to be... More 9 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Melolontha melolontha (Common cockchafer)
Common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha)
This common, large beetle often crashes into lighted windows at night during early summer. It is a familiar beetle that belongs to... More 12 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Forficula auricularia (Common European earwig)
Common European earwig (Forficula auricularia)
The earwig is a very common insect, and one that often triggers repulsion due to the unfounded belief that they enter people's ears... More 11 Images 9 Videos
Thumbnail for Pechipogo strigilata (Common fan-foot moth)
Common fan-foot moth (Pechipogo strigilata)
This species can be distinguished from other similar Fan-foot moths by its pale hindwings and ochreous grey forewings. The... More 3 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Chorthippus brunneus (Common field grasshopper)
Common field grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
This is probably the most frequently seen grasshopper; it is fairly large and occurs in a very wide range of colours including... More 15 Images 4 Videos
Thumbnail for Philaenus spumarius (Common froghopper)
Common froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)
This small, common froghopper is variably patterned with brown, black and white. The wings are held like a tent over the body. It... More 8 Images 1 Video
Thumbnail for Arion distinctus (Common garden slug)
Common garden slug (Arion distinctus)
Once included in the aggregate species Arion hortensis agg, the garden slug (Arion distinctus) is still confused with... More 2 Images 1 Video
Thumbnail for Gerris lacustris (Common pond skater)
Common pond skater (Gerris lacustris)
The common pond skater is the most widespread British bug. It is brownish-black in colour, with a narrow body. The forelegs are... More 6 Images 2 Videos
Thumbnail for Philoscia muscorum (Common striped woodlouse)
Common striped woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum)
Woodlice are not insects, but are crustaceans; more closely related to crabs and shrimps than insects. The body is divided into... More 6 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Vespula vulgaris (Common wasp)
Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
The common wasp is a familiar and much feared social insect. They are quite large insects, with an obvious 'waist' between the... More 19 Images 8 Videos
Thumbnail for Oniscus asellus (Common woodlouse)
Common woodlouse (Oniscus asellus)
The common woodlouse is one of the commonest and widely spread of the British woodlice. Woodlice are not insects, but are... More 8 Images 1 Video
Species 1 - 50 of 260 [ next ]