Insects Collection (#3)

Peacock butterfly (Inachis io) and Small tortoiseshell butterflies (Aglais urticae) feeding on Buddleia flowers (Buddleia davidii), Derbyshire, UK, September

Leaf cutter ants (Atta cephalotes) carrying sections of leaves, to be used for cultivating nutritious fungi, Santa Rita, Costa Rica

Mosquito (Aedes punctor) female resting after sucking blood from human arm. Sequence 4 / 4
Mosquito (Aedes punctor) female resting after sucking blood from human arm. Sequence 4/4

Walking Stick / Stick Insect (Phasm madagascariensis). Madagascar

Peacock Butterflies Date: 1868

Cabbage White Butterflies Date: 1868

Ants engraving 1895
Meyers Konversations-Lexikon. Ein Nachschlagewerk des allgemeinen Wissens, 5th edition 17 volumes Bibliographisches Institut - Leipzig 1895-1897

Mosquito (Culicidae), female, internal anatomy, and sucking blood from skin, cross-section

Dressed Fleas
Dressed fleas on display at the Natural History Museum in Tring

A fine ripe Pomelo, peeled and cut ornamentally for table
Watercolour by Olivia Fanny Tonge 1858-1949. 180 x 260mm. From one of sixteen sketchbooks presented to the Museum in 1952

Hydroporus rufifrons, diving beetle
Close-up shot of a diving beetle (Hydroporus rufifrons). Specimen held in the Natural History Museums Entomology Department

Ornithoptera croesus, Wallaces golden birdwing butterfly

Ephemera danica, mayfly larva
The larval stage of a mayfly lasts about a year, and is spent entirely underwater. When it hatches as an adult in the spring, usually May, it is only very short-lived

Stuart Hine with Scolopendra gigantea, giant centipede
Natural History Museum Entomologist, Stuart Hine with a giant centipede which was brought into the Museums Insect Identification service after being found in a living room in London

Scarab beetles
The largest shown here, (Scarabaeus sacer), was regarded as sacred in ancient Egypt. Today the species are important to agriculture for their dung burying activities

Triatoma infestans, kissing bug
This insect is a member of the Triatomine group, which are associated with the transmission of disease to humans

Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, mole cricket
Detail from plate 456 of an illustration of a mole cricket from British Entomology: Original Drawings Vol 10, by John Curtis, 1862

Coleoptera sp. metallic beetles
A pair of gold and silver metallic beetles side by side

A Plague of Locusts

Hercules Beetle Etc
The HERCULES beetle, SCARABAEUS TITYUS and others, depicted in their natural habitat

Small tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglias urticae) on thistle. Dorset, UK, August

Insects, c1910. Creator: Unknown
Insects, c1910. Insects, invertebrates with exoskeletons, are the most diverse group of animals, over 90% of all animal life forms on Earth are insects

Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon brittannicus) resting on flag iris, Norfolk Broads, UK June

Large blue alkanet (Anchusa azurea) in flower with an Eschers blue butterfly (Polyommatus escheri) Stenje region, Galicica National Park, Macedonia, June 2009

Black and red froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata) on plant stem, Liechtenstein, June 2009

Irish damselfly (Coenagrion lunulatum) on leaf, Montiaghs Moss, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK, June

Portrait of a Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris). UK. Focus stacked image (dead specimen)

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) feeding from Lavender (Lavandula) flowers, Mayfield Lavender Farm, North Downs, Surrey, UK, July

Clouded Yellow Butterflies Date: 1868

Oriental Cockroach, Blatta orientalis, side view

Harvester ant, Messor sp. side view

Red ant, Myrmica molesta, close up

Wasps nest

White banded native australian bee
White banded australian native bee landing in a white flower

The Pontic Rhododendron, engraved by Caldwall after Henderson, in a book entitled The Temple of Flora by Dr Robert John Thornton (1768-1837). The book was published between 1799 and 1807. Date: 1802

Smokejacks Brickworks, Surrey
Smokejacks Brickworks in Ockley, Surrey shows part of the Upper Weald Clay Formation of Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) age

Peppered moth
Two specimens of peppered moths exhibited on a soot-covered tree. This is a good demonstration of genetic selection through changing environment

Plate 45 from Libellulinae Europaeae by de Charpentier
Illustration of dragonflies. Plate 45 from Libellulinae Europaeae illustrated and described by Toussaint von Charpentier (1780-1847), 1840

Giacomo Puccini (1858 -1924) Italian composer of operas. Poster for Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly)
529078 Giacomo Puccini (1858 -1924) Italian composer of operas. Poster for Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly) an opera in three acts, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Front Cover from Papillons, pub. 1925 (pochoir print)
3467967 Front Cover from Papillons, pub. 1925 (pochoir print) by Seguy, Emile-Allain (1877-1951); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection

Atlas moth and white witch moth. 1774 (engraving)
7233246 Atlas moth and white witch moth. 1774 (engraving) by Martinet, Francois Nicolas (1731-1800); Private Collection; (add.info.: Atlas moth, Attacus atlas (China) and white witch moth

Catching Fireflies, Mid-1790s. Creator: Eishosai Choki
Catching Fireflies, Mid-1790s

Happy Pentecost (colour litho)
981968 Happy Pentecost (colour litho) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Happy Pentecost. German greetings card.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

Anatomy of the Apis, No. XXVII, Leuckarts Zoological Wall Chart
HMB306152 Anatomy of the Apis, No.XXVII, Leuckarts Zoological Wall Chart, 1877-98 (colour litho) by German School, (19th century); 137x101 cm; Humboldt-Universitaet, Berlin

Wheelwright (engraving)
2802012 Wheelwright (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wheelwright. Illustration for An Illustrated Vocabulary For The Use Of The Deaf And Dumb (SPCK)

The Corsican Spider in His Web!, July 12, 1808. July 12, 1808
The Corsican Spider in His Web!, July 12, 1808

Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) on blade of grass, Pollino National Park, Basilicata, Italy, May 2009

Mayfly (Ephemera Danica) on leaf, Dala river, Gtene, Vstra Gtaland, Sweden, June 2009

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"Insects: Nature's Tiny Wonders" Discover the enchanting world of insects, where beauty and fascination intertwine. From the majestic Ornithoptera alexandrae, also known as Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterfly, with its vibrant colors and graceful flight, to the humble dung beetles in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa tirelessly rolling a dung ball twice their size. In this diverse realm of nature's architects, we encounter the Red Admiral Butterfly fluttering delicately amidst blooming flowers while basking under the warm sun. Meanwhile, honey bees diligently construct intricate honeycombs that house their remarkable life cycle - an expanded cross-section revealing mesmerizing insets of Apis mellifera at work. London Pride & Gold Rod showcase entomology specimens meticulously preserved for scientific study. Delve into bee anatomy through historical artwork that unravels their complex structure and role in our ecosystem. Witness Maria Sibylla Merian's stunning butterfly illustrations capturing every delicate detail with artistic precision. Assorted insects captivate our imagination as they navigate through life's intricacies. The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) gracefully perches on a plant, relishing in a moment of sunbathing bliss. Marvel once again at Maria Sibylla Merian's breathtaking butterfly illustration – a testament to her passion for capturing nature’s ephemeral beauty and can not mere creatures; they are ambassadors of resilience and adaptability. They remind us that even within the tiniest forms lies immense wonder waiting to be explored. So let us embrace these miniature marvels and embark on an extraordinary journey into their captivating world.