Wildlife Photography by Erik Karits

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…

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)

The Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a stunning species of damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. Here’s a detailed description: The Beautiful Demoiselle is admired…

Black-spotted longhorn beetle (Rhagium mordax)

The Black-spotted Longhorn Beetle (Rhagium mordax) is a notable species of beetle belonging to the Cerambycidae family, known for its distinctive appearance and behaviors. This…

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…

The Large Copper (Lycaena dispar)

Deep Overview: Large Copper (Lycaena dispar) The Large Copper (Lycaena dispar) is a striking butterfly known for its vivid orange wings, bold black markings, and…

Purple-edged copper (Lycaena hippothoe)

The Purple-edged copper (Lycaena hippothoe) is a striking species of butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae, commonly known for its vivid colors and elegant appearance.…

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…

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)

The Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a stunning species of damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. Here’s a detailed description: The Beautiful Demoiselle is admired…

Castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus)

The Castor bean tick, scientifically known as Ixodes ricinus, is a species of hard-bodied tick belonging to the family Ixodidae. Here’s a brief description: Encountering…

Cucumber green spider (Araniella cucurbitina)

The Cucumber Green Spider (Araniella cucurbitina) is a small and distinctive spider belonging to the family Araneidae, commonly known as orb-weavers. It is known for…

Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)

The Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)—known in Estonia as the Lapsuliblikas—is the true herald of spring. In the forests and gardens of Northern Europe, the sight…

Castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus)

The Castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus) is a species of hard-bodied tick known for its role as a vector of various diseases affecting humans and…

Scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

The Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) is a strikingly beautiful butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. Known for its large size, elegant tail-like extensions, and distinctive…

Band-eyed brown horse fly (Tabanus bromius)

The Band-eyed Brown Horse Fly (Tabanus bromius) is a member of the family Tabanidae, known for its large size and distinctive banded eyes. Here are…

Stripe-backed snailkiller (Limnia unguicornis)

Limnia unguicornis is a species of marsh fly belonging to the family Sciomyzidae. This family of flies is known for their larvae that are predators…

Mazarine blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

The Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus) is a charming butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae. Known for its delicate appearance and vibrant coloration, it is a…

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…

White-tailed bumble bee (Bombus lucorum)

The White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) is a common and widespread species of bumblebee notable for its distinctive white tail and important ecological role as a…

Dock bug (Coreus marginatus)

The Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) is a member of the Coreidae family, known as the leaf-footed or squash bugs. It is a distinctive species of…

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…

Lesser marbled fritillary (Brenthis ino)

The Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino) is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae, which is native to Europe and Asia. Here are…

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…

Turbine Cylindrical weevil (Larinus turbinatus)

🌻 Deep Review: Turbine Cylindrical Weevil (Larinus turbinatus) The Turbine Cylindrical Weevil (Larinus turbinatus) is a masterclass in natural geometry. It is a robust, fascinating…

Mazarine Blue (Polyommatus semiargus)

🦋 Deep Review: Mazarine Blue (Polyommatus semiargus) The Mazarine Blue is one of the most elegant and elusive jewels of the northern meadow. While many…

Large skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)

The Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) is a notable butterfly species within the family Hesperiidae, commonly known as skippers. Found across Europe and parts of Asia,…

Turbine Cylindrical weevil (Larinus turbinatus)

🌻 Deep Review: Turbine Cylindrical Weevil (Larinus turbinatus) The Turbine Cylindrical Weevil (Larinus turbinatus) is a masterclass in natural geometry. It is a robust, fascinating…

Castor bean Tick (Ixodes ricinus)

The Castor Bean Tick (Ixodes ricinus) stands as a formidable figure in the world of arachnids, known for its significant impact on public health and…

Black-spotted longhorn beetle (Rhagium mordax)

The Black-spotted Longhorn Beetle (Rhagium mordax) is a notable species of beetle belonging to the Cerambycidae family, known for its distinctive appearance and behaviors. This…

Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa)

Phragmatobia fuliginosa, commonly known as the Ruby Tiger Moth or the Ruby Tiger, is a species of moth belonging to the family Erebidae. Here are…

Banded orb-weaving spider (Argiope trifasciata)

The Banded Orb-Weaving Spider (Argiope trifasciata) is a visually distinctive arachnid known for its striking coloration and intricate web designs. Here’s an in-depth look at…

Cuckoo wasp (Crysis)

Here’s a full overview of the Cuckoo wasps (Chrysis spp.), one of the most striking groups of parasitic wasps: Cuckoo Wasps (Chrysis spp.) Taxonomy &…