| | | |
 |
Here, a colony of Euonymus scale (Unaspis euonymi) which attacks massively some trees, so massively that leaves can fall in summer. |
 |
 |
On the last picture, one can distinguish between males (whitish elongated form) and females (light brown scale).
This young branch is not yet severely attacked. |
 |
Things are already worse for this one. On can see the greyish hard shell-like covering of old females and the crawling nymphs which are looking for a place to rest and feed. Some males already began the production of their waxy protective covering. Young females also began to produce their light brown pear-like shell. |
 |
 |
 |
One can also see on some of those pictures the young nymphs, with their orange color. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Such scale colonies can remain unnoticed. Predators exist also for those scales. |
 |
A Lady beetle (Chilocorus sp.) and its remarquable larvae. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Such larvae sometimes take curious positions.
The last larva of the row could be parasited by the little Hymenoptera which lies on its back. |
 |
 |
 |
| Here, pupae, where the larvae transform to produce the imago. |
 |
 |
The armoured scales we saw above were not the only ones. The euonymus was also attacked by soft scales (Eulecanium sp.). |
 |
As those scales produce honeydew, ants stay around to get it... |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Against all this, the Euonymus could nevertheless blossom. Its nectar attracted other visitors... |
 |
Coleoptera, which seem to apreciate... |
 |
 |
| A lady beetle Chilocorus sp. gets something to drink after hunting scales. |
 |
Flies with enormous trumps... |
 |
 |
Other lady beetles, coming merely for the nectar.
Two different forms of the two-spotted lady beetle (Adalia bipunctata). |
 |
 |
| Two rose lady beetles (Oenopia conglobata) and a seven-spotted one (Coccinella septem-punctata). |
 |
 |
 |
 |
A tiny hymenoptera on the left. Then ants which feed directly on flowers (one could think they always need some go-between)... |
 |
 |
| In the Syrphids, two splendid hoverflies (Volucella zonaria), then a small Paragus sp.. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
After those mating flies, two more hoverflies: Myathropa florea and Eristalis sp. |
 |
 |
| To end the show, some more hymenoptera: Apis mellifera, the bee-wolf (Philanthus triangulum) and a Cerceris sp. |
 |
 |
 |