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!
In 2011 I did not do much photography, instead putting more effort into collecting. But there are still a few posts to be made. First, an account of Nikiforovo steppe nature reserve from the 4th of May.
Northern Dune Tiger Beetle (Cicindela hybrida), very common in sandy places throughout Moscow region:
A beautiful Sphecodes albilabris bee, a cleptoparasite of Colletes cunicularius solitary bee:
On 7th of July been to a steppe nature reserve near Nikiforovo village on the Oka river.
Slender Scotch Burnet (Zygaena loti), a southern species in Russia:
Common Forester (Adscita statices):
Vlad Proklov's wildlife blog 