Britain's countryside is home to a dazzling array of weird and wonderful invertebrates. From huge, colourful moths to the tiniest of spiders, each of these creatures has amazing characteristics that helps it thrive.
Discover the most astonishing...
Britain's weirdest insects
1. Glow worm (Lampyris noctiluca)
The female glow worm has to take the number-one spot in this list for the astonishing fact that she can emit a greenish light from the tip of her abdomen.
She is wingless and resembles larvae, hence why the species is called a worm, rather than a beetle, which it actually is. The male looks like a regular medium-sized beetle.
Her bioluminescent body helps attract a mate; studies have shown that artificial-light interference can severely affect the reproduction rates in glow worms.
2. Bagworm caterpillar (Psychidae)
Given that they only grow up to 2cm and are encased in plant material, you may not have ever spotted a bagworm in the countryside.
This caterpillar from the Psychidae family, or bagworms, collects lichen, bark fragments, stems or seeds to attach to its body to form a protective case.
As it grows over time it collects more and the case gets bigger. Eventually it will stick itself to something and prepare to pupate.
3. Flower crab spider (Misumena vatia)
The flower crab spider is a stealth predator. Unlike other spiders, it doesn’t spin a web to catch its prey.
Instead, it has the amazing ability to change the colour of its body to camouflage into its background.
It chooses colourful flowers to lie in wait on, then ambushes unsuspecting pollinators – usually moths and bees.
4. Water stick insect (Ranatra linearis)
While the water stick insect isn’t the most bizarre-looking of stick insects, it is the only one commonly found across Britain.
It has made our list because of its amazing ability to use its ‘tail’ as a snorkel so it can breathe underwater.
It waits, camouflaged by plant life, to ambush passing creatures such as small fish and tadpoles. Like a mantis, it catches its prey with its front legs.
5. Broad-bordered bee hawk-moth (Hemaris fuciformis)
Hawk moths are some of the largest and most distinctive in Britain. And while the elephant hawk moth would win beauty pageants, it’s the Broad-bordered bee hawk-moth that we've included in this list, because it looks just like a bee.
It has translucent wings and reddish-brown bands across a yellow abdomen and a furry body. It is much larger and more agile than a bee though, and feeds while flying.
6. Ruby-tailed wasp (Chrysis ignita agg.)
This striking ruby-tailed wasp may be a beauty, but it’s known for its beastly behaviour.
It’s parasitic, laying its eggs in other bees’ and wasps’ nests. The wasp larvae feed on the host’s larvae and stored food.
It takes its name from its ruby-coloured abdomen, but is also known as the cuckoo wasp. Spot it in sandy or rocky habitats.
7. Rose chafer (Cetonia aurata)
If you’ve ever lived in a house with a small, sunny garden, you may well have had an awkward encounter with a rose chafer.
This stocky beetle, measuring up to 2cm, flies noisily and clumsily through the air. In its quest to find a meal of flowers – as its name suggests, it particularly likes roses – it may well dive bomb you.
You can easily identify one by its striking coppery green body. The metallic-green shell helps to ward off predators and attract mates.
8. Hairy shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum)
Unlike other shieldbug species, which are all smooth, the hairy shieldbug has fine hairs on its legs and body. Unusual too, is its black-and-white antennae.
It’s also known as the sloe bug, as it likes to forage on blackthorn for sloe fruits.
You'll recognise a shieldbug because of its distinctive shield-like shape. Look for this one in hedgerows and the edges of woodland.
9. Swollen-thighed beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
The male swollen-thighed flower beetle looks like it's been doing some serious weighted squats. It’s these bulges on its hind legs that distinguish it from the female of the species, which has slim versions.
It can be easily identified by its bright, metallic green case, and is often spotted on warm, sunny days.
It likes to dine on the pollen of open-faced flowers.
New Forest Cicadas (Cicadetta montana)
Once native to the forest of Hampshire, the New Forest cicada was known for its high-pitched song. However, there hasn't been a sighting since the 1990s.
They are a large insect, growing up to 3cm long. However, they are often found high up in trees, making difficult to spot.
British conservationists are working on a project that will hopefully reintroduce cicadas to the New Forest.
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