The comma butterfly (scientific name Polygonia c-album) is a common and widespread butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is also known as the comma, black comma butterfly, or simply comma, which it takes from its distinctive appearance. There are many variations of this species, and they have been divided into subspecies (meaning that they vary …
There are many different species of blue butterfly all around the world, such as the silver studded blue, holly blue, chalkhill blue, adonis blue, and small blue butterfly. All of which have a strikingly similar appearance. However, in this article, we will discuss the most common of them all, which is aptly named the common …
The European hornet (scientific name Vespa crabro) is a large, black and yellow social wasp that can be easily identified due to its distinct yellow stripes. The fearsome-looking hornet is not generally a very well-loved insect and is known for its painful stings (which are triggered when defending its nest). However, it’s also an important …
A stonechat (scientific name Saxicola rubicola) is a small-sized bird in the family of thrushes. It is a common and widespread species with its habitat covering most of Europe, northern Africa, extreme southwestern Asia, to the Pacific Ocean. The stonechat bird gets its name from its call, which sounds like two stones being hit together. …
Hoverflies go by many other names, such as flower flies, syrphid flies, and drone flies. They make up the insect family Syrphidae and belong to the order Diptera (true flies). Hoverflies are an extremely common species; in total, there are about 2000 species of hoverflies worldwide of which 182 species have been recorded in Australia …
The moorhen (gallinula chloropus) is a water bird that is a member of the rail family. It is the only living bird species in its genus. It has also been called the American coot, common moorhen, swamp chicken, and marsh hen. The moorhen has many different names in different places. It can be called the …
The swallow (also known as barn swallow), or scientific name Hirundo rustica in Latin, is one of the 20 most common garden birds found in Europe. They are migratory birds that inhabit rural areas as well as urban ones. They can be found living in abandoned and open-fronted buildings, on fences, under bridges, and on …
The jay (scientific name Garrulus glandarius) is the most colourful member of the Corvidae family, which has been around for 10 million years and includes more than 120 endemic species. Unlike others in the crow family that have black plumage (like crows and jackdaws), jays have a very small amount of black feathers. Jays are also …
The elephant hawk moth (Deilephila elpenor) is a species in the family Sphingidae. Although it gets its common name from its size (and because the caterpillar looks like an elephant’s trunk), this moth is not the largest in terms of wingspan. A lepidopteran that is often called a sphinx moth due to its very unique …
The cinnabar moth (scientific name Tyria jacobaeae) is a moth in the family Eribidae and the genus Tyria. The moth is named for the red mineral cinnabar, whose pigment it bears on its wings that is similar to the ore of the metal Mercury. This pigment gives its name to this species of moth – …
