Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Flowering meadow with Thistles (Cirsium rivulare) and Buttercups (Ranunculus acris) Poloniny National Park, Western Carpathians, Eastern Slovakia, Europe, June 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) on flowering thistle (Cirsium rivulare) Poloniny National Park, East Slowakia, Europe, June 2008

Kim Taylor / Black-tipped Soldier Beetle {Rhagonycha fulva} taking off from Creeping Thistle {Cirsium arvense} Surrey, England.

Bernard Castelein / Red-veined darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) female on Thistle (Cirsium sp) leaf, dew droplets on wings. Klein Schietveld, Brasschaat, Belgium. June.

Nigel Cattlin / Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) with chlorosis caused by PST bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae pv tagetis). Dorset, England, UK. October.

Nigel Cattlin / Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) with chlorosis caused by PST bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae pv tagetis). Dorset, England, UK. October.

Nigel Cattlin / Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) nectaring on Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), thistle with Pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus) infestation. Berkshire, England, UK. July.

Nigel Cattlin / Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) with leaf chlorosis caused by Bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae pv tagetis). Berkshire England, UK. June.

Phil Savoie / Red tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) male flying to Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Monmouthshire, Wales UK, August. May

Phil Savoie / Red tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) male feeding on Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. July.

Alan Williams / Hoverfly (Volucella bombylans), bumblebee mimic nectaring on Thistle (Cirsium sp) flower. North Wales, UK. June.

Nick Garbutt / Tuberous thistle (Cirsium tuberosum), closed bud, close up. North Tyrol, Austria. June. Focus stacked image.