Paul Harcourt Davies / Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavoniella) male, on tree bark, Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, April

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) hibernating in an Etruscan tomb, Podere Montecucco, near Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, November

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Common Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon) backlit showing wing structure. Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, October

Paul Harcourt Davies / Short-horned grasshoppers (Calliptamus italicus) mating, showing sexual dimorphism, Pescia Romana, Tarquinia, Umbria, Italy, September

Paul Harcourt Davies / Newly emerged adult Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) Podere Montecucco. Orvieto, Umbria, Italy August

Paul Harcourt Davies / Newly emerged adult Two-tailed Pasha butterfly (Charaxes jasius) Podere Montecucco. Orvieto, Umbria, Italy August

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Emergence of Two-tailed Pasha butterfly (Charaxes jasius) Podere Montecucco. Orvieto, Umbria, Italy August. Sequence 6 of 9

Paul Harcourt Davies / Emergence of Two-tailed Pasha butterfly (Charaxes jasius) Podere Montecucco. Orvieto, Umbria, Italy August. Sequence 1 of 9

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Martagon lily (Lilium martagonium) flower, Terminillo, Rieti, Lazio, Italy, July

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Apollo butterfly (Parnasius apollo) feeding on flower, Mount Terminillo, Rieti, Lazio, Italy, July 2011

Paul Harcourt Davies / Alpine Snowbell (Soldanella alpina) in flower, above Madoona di Campiglio, Brenta Dolomites, Italy, June 2010

Paul Harcourt Davies / Floral colour in fields on the Piano Grande from Poppies (Papaver rhoeas), Cornflowers (Centaurea), Mustard (Brassica) and Mayweed (Anthemis), Umbria, Italy, June

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) in flower, Piano Grande, Umbria, Italy, June

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Low lying cloud / mist over the Piano Grande in the early morning, Sibillini, Norcia, Italy, June 2010

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and Mayweed (Anthemis) on the Piano Grande, Umbria, Italy, June 2010

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Peacock butterfly (Inachis io) resting against a wood shed window, Orvieto, Italy, June

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Mayweed (Anthemis sp) and Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) in flower, near Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, June

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) in fallow fields, near Sugano, Orvieto, Italy, June

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Eugenia's Violet (Viola eugeniaea) in flower, blue form, Campo Imperatore, Gran Sasso, Appennines, Abruzzo, Italy, May 2010

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Elder flower orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) in its two colour forms, Campo Imperatore, Gran Sasso, Appennines, Abruzzo, Italy, May

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Appennine Trumpet Gentian (Gentiana dinarica) in flower, on roadside below Gran Sasso, Appennines, Abruzzo, Italy, May

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Yellow tulip (Tulipa australis) in flower, above Piano Grande, Sibillini, Appennines, Umbria, Italy, May 2011

Paul Harcourt Davies / Spring Crocus (Crocus vernus) in flower in snow, Campo Imperatore, Gran Sasso, Appennines, Abruzzo, Italy, May

Paul Harcourt Davies / Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and poppies (Papaver rhoeas) growing on fallow fields near Orvieto, Umbria, Italy. June 2010

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) growing on fallow fields near Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, June. Taken with fisheye lens

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) in flower, growing near the military cemetry, Bolsena, Italy. Taken with fisheye lens

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Heldreich's Ophrys (Ophrys heldreichii) in flower, against white background, near Plakias, Crete, May

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Ophrys orchid (Ophrys x maremmae) a natural hybrid between (Ophrys fuciflora) and Ophrys tenthredinifera) occasionally found where both species are present together, Umbria, Italy, May. focus-stack-c...

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Monkey orchid (Orchis simia) widespread in Central and Southern Europe, very rare in UK, Italy, April. meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Caterpillar larva of Southern festoon butterfly (Zerynthia polyxena cassandra) on foodplant (Aristolochia rotundifolia) Italy, May. meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) the national flower of California naturalised areas of Europe, Italy, June. meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Horsefly (Tabanus bovinus) close up of male feeding on fennel flower nectar (the females are blood suckers) Lazio, Italy, July. meetyourneighbours.net project

Paul Harcourt Davies / Glow worm (Lampyris noctiluca) female glowing, Italy.

Paul Harcourt Davies / European praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) camouflaged on leaf, Tuscany, Italy

Paul Harcourt Davies / Goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia) female alert for prey on a flower, Italy

Paul Harcourt Davies / Sea daffodil / lily (Pancratium maritimum) flowers open in late afternoon and remain open overnight, coinciding with the flight times of the Convolvulus hawkmoth (Herse convolvuli) its pollinator, Umb...

Paul Harcourt Davies / Peacock (Pavo cristatus) feather close up showing iridescence at 10x magnification

Paul Harcourt Davies / Peacock (Pavo cristatus) feather close up showing iridescence at 10x magnification

Paul Harcourt Davies / Honeycomb erosion in sandstone - sometimes called 'Tafoni'. They are caused by the evaporation of salt water - the salt crystals then loosen sandstone particles which are eroded by wind and rain. The...

Paul Harcourt Davies / Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) two flowers and developing seed pod, near Castellucio di Norcia, Umbria, Italy, July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Poppies (Papaver rhoeas), Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and Chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) near Castellucio di Norcia, Umbria, Italy, July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Poppies (Papaver rhoeas), cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) near Castellucio di Norcia, Umbria, Italy. July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) near Castellucio di Norcia, Umbria, Italy, July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Venus' looking glass (Legousia speculum-veneris) a weed of cultivated land whose flowers open in fine weather. Near Norcia, Sibillini, Umbria, Italy. July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Venus' looking glass (Legousia speculum-veneris) a weed of cultivated land whose flowers open in fine weather. Near Norcia, Sibillini, Umbria, Italy. July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Roadside flowers near Castelluccio di Norcia (Umbria) including Venus looking glass (Legousia speculum-veneris). Vetch (Vicia viullosa), Cranesbill (Geranium molle), Field pansy (Viola arvensis) Umbri...

Paul Harcourt Davies / Roadside flowers near Castelluccio di Norcia (Umbria) including Venus looking glass (Legousia speculum-veneris). Vetch (Vicia viullosa), Cranesbill (Geranium molle), field pansy (Viola arvensis) Umbri...

Paul Harcourt Davies / Sea squill (Drimia maritima) flowers in late summer, showing stamens, and ovules, Lazio coast. Italy. September.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Mimosa tree (Mimosa sp) Umbria, Italy, February.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Berries of Yellow-berried mistletoe (Loranthus europeaus). Podere Montecucco, Umbria, Italy, February.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Corn marigolds (Chrysanthemum segetum) flowering in olive grove near Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy, April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Primrose (Primula vulgaris) growing in woodland, Mount Peglia, Umbria, Italy, April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Thistle broomrape (Orobanche reticulata) a species parasitic upon various thistles and related plants. Preci, Umbria, Italy, June

Paul Harcourt Davies / Branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) parasitic plant, Preci, Umbria, Italy. June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Thyme broomrape (Orobanche alba) parasitising common thyme ( Thymus vulgaris) near Santa Stefano in Sassania, Abruzzo, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Thyme broomrape (Orobanche alba) parasitising common thyme ( Thymus vulgaris) near Santa Stefano in Sassania, Abruzzo, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Corn marigolds (Chrysanthemum segetum) flowers in olive grove near Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy, April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) growing with Stachys sp, Melampyrum and others near Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo, Italy June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Sea squill (Drimia maritima) flowers in late summer Lazio coast. Italy, September.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Sea squill (Drimia maritima) flowers in late summer, Lazio coast. Italy. September.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Nice milkwort (Polygala nicaeensis ssp mediterranea) near Precis, Sibillini, Umbria, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) flower, Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Slender broomrape (Orobanche gracilis) a plant parasitic upon legumes and characterised by shiny dark red within the flower. Precis. Umbria. Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Birthwort (Aristolochia clematitis) Umbria, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Venus' looking glass (Legousia speculum-veneris) with other weeds of cultivated land Legousia flowers open in fine weather. Nr Norcia, Sibillini, Umbria, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Venus' looking glass flower, (Legousia speculum-veneris) with other weeds of cultivated land. Near Norcia, Sibillini, Umbria, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Woad (Isatis tinctoria) growing with poppies. Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo, Italy, June ,

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hoary plantain (Plantago media) Piano Grande, Sibillini, Umbria, Italy. June..

Paul Harcourt Davies / Flowers Poppies (Papaver rhoeas), Camomile(white) Field cow heat (dark red) Stachys (greenish white) road from Campo Imperatore to Santa Stefano, Abruzzo, Italy June 2016

Paul Harcourt Davies / Field cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense) Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo, Italy June 2016

Paul Harcourt Davies / Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) growing with Stachys sp, Melampyrum and others near Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo, Italy June 2016

Paul Harcourt Davies / Field full of wildflowers, Castellucio di Norcia, Umbria, Italy, July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Field cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense) Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo, Italy June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and other weeds of cultivated land near Castellucio di Norcia, Umbria, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) flowering in grassland near Castellucio di Norcia, Umbria, Italy, July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Willowherb hawkmoth (Proserpinus proserpina) Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Italy

Paul Harcourt Davies / Mazarine blue butterfly (Cyaniris semiargus) Umbria, Italy. June

Paul Harcourt Davies / Patton's tiger moth( Hyphoraia testudinaria) male, Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Italy

Paul Harcourt Davies / Lackey moth caterpillar (Malacosoma neustria) Castellucio di Norcia, Umbria. Italy

Paul Harcourt Davies / Convolvulus hawk moth (Agrius convolvuli) Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Plum lappet moth (Odonestis pruni) Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Italy. June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Burnet moth (Zygaena rubicunda) on daisy, Castellucio di Norcia. Umbria, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Nursery web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) guarding cocoon and recently hatched spiderlings. Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo) female camouflaged on bark, Italy, July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo) close up of face showing mandibles and compound eyes. Italy, July.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Oleander hawkmoth (Daphnis nerii) larva immediately before pupation. Montecucco, Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, September.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Spotted fritillary caterpillar (Melitaea didyma) Sibillini, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Convolvulus hawkmoth (Agrius convolvuli) close up of wings, Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Large elephant hawk (Deilephila elpenor) Podere Montecucco, Umbria, Italy, June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Puss moth (Cerura vinula) resting on bark at Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Italy June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Puss moth (Cerura vinula) resting on bark at Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Italy June.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Eyed hawk moth (Smerinthus ocellata) Podere Montecucco, Orvieto, Italy

Paul Harcourt Davies / Yellow whitlow grass (Draba aizoides) at Pennard castle). Campo Imperatore (Abruzzo) Italy, April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Yellow whitlow grass (Draba aizoides) at Pennard castle. Campo Imperatore (Abruzzo) Italy, April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Spring crocus (Crocus vernus) flowering en masse on the Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo, Italy. April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Eugenia's pansy (Viola eugeniae) an Apennine endemic photographed on the Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo, Italy, April.