Parading the Jewels

We had only a little sunshine today, but it was well timed to show off the currant clearwing moths. When the sun is not shining they are bluish black with yellow stripes. They are beautiful, but a curse to my currant bushes. Their grubs bore holes right up the centre of the stems.

In extras is a nice shot of a praying mantis nymph on a nettle stripped of leaves by the yellow admiral caterpillars. Although it looks bad the nymph does not have a broken leg- it's just bent at the knee.