Wildlife Photography by Erik Karits

Common Mayfly (Ephemera vulgata)

The Common Mayfly (Ephemera vulgata) is a widely distributed species of mayfly in the Ephemeridae family. Known for its ephemeral adult stage, Ephemera vulgata plays…

Castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus)

Castor Bean Tick (Ixodes ricinus) The Castor Bean Tick, scientifically known as Ixodes ricinus, is one of the most common and widespread tick species in…

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

The Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) is a large, striking butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. Despite its name, the Scarce Swallowtail is not particularly rare…

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

The Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) is a large, striking butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. Despite its name, the Scarce Swallowtail is not particularly rare…

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

The Old World Swallowtail, scientifically known as Papilio machaon, is a striking and widely distributed butterfly found across Europe, Asia, and parts of North America.…

Green shield bug (Palomena prasina)

The Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina) is a common species of true bug belonging to the family Pentatomidae. Known for their distinctive shield-like shape and…

Silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

The Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) is a striking butterfly species found in Europe and parts of Asia. Here are some key characteristics and information about…

Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis)

The Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis) is a species of hornet that is native to parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Known for its…

Oriental garden lizard (Calotes vesicolor)

The Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor) is a species of agamid lizard that is widely distributed in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Known for its…

Robberfly

Robberflies are a fascinating group of insects belonging to the family Asilidae within the order Diptera, which includes flies, mosquitoes, and gnats. These predatory insects…

Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum)

The Hairy Shieldbug or Dolycoris baccarum is a common species of shieldbug found throughout Europe and parts of Asia. It belongs to the family Pentatomidae…

Fly

Flies are a diverse group of insects belonging to the order Diptera, characterized by their two wings and agile flight capabilities. Found in almost every…

Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia)

🕷️ Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) Taxonomy: 🟡 Identification The Goldenrod Crab Spider is one of Europe’s most recognizable crab spiders, named for its crab-like…

Beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)

The Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a strikingly elegant damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. Known for its shimmering, iridescent wings and graceful flight, it…

Old world swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

The Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon): A Symbol of Elegance and Ecological Vitality The Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) stands as a majestic icon of…

Splayed deer fly (Chrysops caecutiens)

The Splayed Deerfly (Chrysops caecutiens) is a member of the family Tabanidae, known for its biting behavior and distinctive appearance. Here are some key details…

Chestnut heath (Coenonympha glycerion)

The Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion) is a charming butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. It is known for its subtle beauty and distinctive markings,…

Common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata)

The Common Green Bottle Fly (Lucilia sericata) is a medium-sized fly in the family Calliphoridae, known for its metallic green body and ecological role in…

Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)

🐝 Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) The Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is one of the most important and recognizable insect species on Earth. Known…

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)

The Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) is a striking and delicate butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae. This species is known for its distinctive markings and…

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)

The Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a striking species of damselfly renowned for its ethereal beauty and delicate demeanor. Found predominantly in Europe and parts…

Silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

The Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) is a captivating butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, known for its striking appearance and graceful flight. Here’s a…

Small copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

The Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) is a striking and vibrant butterfly that is widely distributed and relatively common across various regions. Its bright coloration and…

Hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellaturum)

The Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a fascinating moth known for its hummingbird-like appearance and behavior. This moth is part of the family Sphingidae…

The European Peacock (Aglais io)

Here’s a detailed natural history overview of the European Peacock (Aglais io), one of Europe’s most striking and familiar butterflies: European Peacock (Aglais io) Taxonomy…

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

The Common Blue, scientifically known as Polyommatus icarus, is one of the most widespread and familiar butterflies in Europe. Here are some key features and…

Honey bee (Amegilla calceifera)

The Honey Bee (Amegilla calceifera) is a notable species of bee within the Apidae family. Although it shares the common name “honey bee,” it is…

Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

The Small Tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae) is a colorful and widespread butterfly species found in Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. Here’s some information…

Western honey bee

The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the most common and well-known species of honey bee. Here’s some key information about this fascinating insect: Distribution:…

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

The Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) is a small, widespread butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae. It is one of the most common and easily recognizable…

Red-tailed bumble bee (Bombus lapidarius)

🐝 Deep Review: Red-Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) If you are walking through a meadow or a garden and spot a velvety-black insect sporting a vibrant,…

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)

The Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) is the most ubiquitous of the “brown” bumblebees. While many bumblebee species are struggling, the Common carder remains a…

Eurasian bee beetle (Trichius fasciatus)

🐝 Deep Review: Eurasian Bee Beetle (Trichius fasciatus) If you spot what looks suspiciously like a bumblebee clumsily rummaging around inside a flower head, but…

Green shield bug (Palomena prasina)

The Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina) is a common species of true bug belonging to the family Pentatomidae. Known for their distinctive shield-like shape and…

Green shield bug (Palomena prasina)

The Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina) is a common species of true bug belonging to the family Pentatomidae. Known for their distinctive shield-like shape and…

Alder kitten (Furcula bicuspis)

🦋 Deep Review: Alder Kitten (Furcula bicuspis) If the larger prominent moths are the heavy-duty aircraft of the lepidoptera world, the Alder Kitten (Furcula bicuspis)…

Chequered skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)

The Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon) is a small butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. Here are some key features and characteristics of the Chequered Skipper:…

Castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus)

Castor Bean Tick (Ixodes ricinus) The Castor Bean Tick, scientifically known as Ixodes ricinus, is one of the most common and widespread tick species in…

Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa)

The Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) is a strikingly beautiful moth that belongs to the family Erebidae. This species is known for its vibrant coloration…

Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea)

Here’s a full, detailed overview of the Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea), one of Europe’s most common and striking dragonflies. 🟦 Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) Taxonomy…

Black-spotted longhorn beetle (Rhagium mordax)

That’s an interesting insect! The Black-spotted Longhorn Beetle (Rhagium mordax) is a common beetle belonging to the family Cerambycidae (longhorn beetles). It is particularly recognizable…

Green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) The Green Hairstreak is a small, jewel-toned butterfly that’s easy to overlook—until sunlight catches its vivid emerald green underwings. It’s the…

Castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus)

Castor Bean Tick (Ixodes ricinus) The Castor Bean Tick (Ixodes ricinus), also known as the sheep tick or wood tick, is a parasitic arachnid found…

Mazarine Blue (Polyommatus semiargus)

The Mazarine Blue (Polyommatus semiargus) is a striking and delicate butterfly species belonging to the family Lycaenidae. Here’s a detailed description: Physical Characteristics: The Mazarine…

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

The Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) is one of the largest and most striking butterflies found in Europe. Its vibrant colors and graceful flight make it…

Mazarine Blue (Polyommatus semiargus)

The Mazarine Blue (Polyommatus semiargus) is a strikingly beautiful butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, known for its vibrant blue coloration and delicate, understated markings. It…

Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

The Green-veined White (Pieris napi) is a butterfly species belonging to the Pieridae family. Here’s a detailed description: The Green-veined White is a beautiful and…

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

The Old World Swallowtail, scientifically known as Papilio machaon, is a striking and widely distributed butterfly found across Europe, Asia, and parts of North America.…

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

The Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) is a large, striking butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. Despite its name, the Scarce Swallowtail is not particularly rare…

Jumping spider

Jumping spiders are a diverse group of spiders belonging to the family Salticidae, known for their excellent vision, agility, and unique hunting behavior. Here’s some…

Common copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

The Common Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) is a small and vibrant butterfly species found across Europe, Asia, and North America. Here’s a brief overview: Overall, the…

Four-spotted chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)

The Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) is a striking species of dragonfly found across a range of temperate regions in Europe, Asia, and North America. Known…

Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia)

The Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia), commonly known as the Julia butterfly, is a striking orange butterfly found in the family Nymphalidae. It is native to…

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

The Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) is one of the largest and most striking butterflies found in Europe. Its vibrant colors and graceful flight make it…

Green crab spider (Diaea dorsata)

The Green Crab Spider (Diaea dorsata) is a fascinating arachnid species known for its vibrant green coloration and distinctive crab-like appearance. Here’s a short review…

European Peacock (Aglais io)

Here’s a detailed natural history overview of the European Peacock (Aglais io), one of Europe’s most striking and familiar butterflies: European Peacock (Aglais io) Taxonomy…

Beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)

Here’s a full and detailed overview of the Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), one of Europe’s most striking damselflies. 🪰 Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) Taxonomy Common…

Brilliant emerald (Somatochlora metallica)

The Brilliant Emerald (Somatochlora metallica) is a striking species of dragonfly known for its metallic green body and brilliant appearance. Here’s some information about this…

European paper wasp (Polistes dominula)

The European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) is a species of social wasp that is widely recognized for its distinctive appearance and behavior. Here are some…

Blue glassy tiger (Ideopsis similis)

The Blue Glassy Tiger, scientifically known as Ideopsis similis, is a species of butterfly belonging to the Nymphalidae family. It is primarily found in Southeast…