Spent my birthday (13th of July) at Nikiforovo steppe nature reserve.
The Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi), another newcomer from the south:
The most variable species of burnet moth in the region — Zygaena ephialtes. Here it is mostly represented by forms typical of the genus. However, in areas of sympatric occurence with Amata spp. (Erebidae)(e.g. Meshchyora lowland), the genetically recessive forms mimicking those moths predominate!
As usual, plenty of Scolia hirta on Eryngium planum flowers:
A case of bagworm Megalophanes stettinensis:
Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus) male:
Rattle Grasshopper (Psophus stridulus). It has bright-red hindwings and rattles loudly in flight. Very local in Moscow region:
Nymph of Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket (Phaneroptera falcata):
The ubiquitous Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata):
The Globe-thistle Echinops sphaerocephalum:
Vlad Proklov's wildlife blog 