Queen ant Formica aquilonia Scottish wood ant
Queen ant F. aquilonia Scottish wood ant with wings. Newly emerged queens have wings, and following their mating and nuptial flight, they bite these off. This enables them to burrow underground and set up a new ant nest and colony, and to begin laying eggs and raising young.
Pupae and cocoon of wood ant and unsheathed pupae
Pupae of a wood ant, both within its cocoon, and extracted. Detail from a life cycle ant illustration by Lizzie Harper natural history and sciart illustrator
Larvae of wood ant
Larvae of wood ant showing their translucent bodies and segmentation.
Eggs of wood ant
Illustration of several eggs of a wood ant.
Scottish wood ant thoracic view
Detail of the thorax of the Scottish wood ant Formica aquilonia. The illustration shows distribution of hairs up to the eyes. This species is often confused with the Hairy wood ant which has longer hairs.
Variegated geranium leaf
Variegated geranium leaf, Geranium Mrs Pollock, showing Zonal colouration and pigment variegation, including area of red anthocyanin.
Lungwort Pulmonaria officianalis
Lungwort Pulmonaria officianalis showing distinctive spotted leaves
Oak sudden death Phytophthora ramorum fungi
Oak sudden death Phytophthora ramorum fungi and algae pest on Oak tree Quercus
Oak spangle and silk button galls
Oak spangle galls from wasp Tilia platyphyllos and Silk button galls from wasp Neuroterus numismalis on Oak leaf Quercus robu
Oak Quercus robur sketchbook page
Oak Quercus robur sketchbook page including flowers and young leaves
Magnolia sprig Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia sprig Magnolia grandiflora in flower with leaves not yet out
Magnolia tree Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia tree Magnolia grandiflora tree pen and ink with colour wash. Illustration shows the tree in flower, before the leaves appear.
Peach tree Prunus persica tree
Peach tree Prunus persica tree in fruit showing tree form and peaches on branches and on ground.
Peach tree Prunus persica
Peach tree Prunus persica tree in fruit showing tree form and peaches on branches and on ground.
Lilac Syringa vulgaris
Lilac Syringa vulgaris flowering spike with leaves
Witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana
Witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana sprig and individual flower
Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon butterfly
Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon butterfly illustration. Illustration ties in with the Rockingham forest “Back from the Brink” conservation project, led by Butterfly Conservation. It is also the subject of an online illustration workshop.
Brass Buttons Cotula coronopifolia Sketchbook study
Brass Buttons or Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia with habit sketch, detail of flowering head, and amplexicaul leaf details. Seeds and seed distribution, along with the variety of leaf forms are also shown.
Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa sketchbook study
Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa sketchbook study. Illustration shows comparison with the cultivated parsnip plant, Pastinaca sativa sativa. It also includes details on the petiole, flower, umbel, seed head, seeds, and root.
Spreading Cotoneaster Cotoneaster divaricatus Sketchbook study
Spreading Cotoneaster Cotoneaster divaricatus Sketchbook study showing leaf vein patters, underneath of leaves, twigs, branching pattern, and autumn foliage. Also shown are details of the Spreading cotoneaster berry, flowers, cross section of a flower, and habit sketch. For more on cotoneaster species, look at my blog.
Snow-in-Summer Cerastium tomentosum Sketchbook Study
Snow-in-Summer or Dusty Miller Cerastium tomentosum sketchbook study showing habit sketch and detail of an asexual sprig. Seed and seed coat detail, calyx, leaf, flower and flower cross section are also depicted. Details of the bud and fur on leaf also appear.
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Sketchbook Study page
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Sketchbook Study page showing blossom, individual flowers, seeds and leaves. Also includes comparison to the Field Maple Acer campestre and the Norway maple, Acer platanoides.
Caucasian Stonecrop Sedum spurius
Caucasian Stonecrop Sedum spurius sketchbook study. Illustration shows details of plant, flowers, a habit sketch, and an individual flower. Also includes details of the leaf edge, and Sedum spurius purpurea plant (Dragon’s blood sedum).
Siberian Stonecrop Phedimus hybridus sketchbook study
Siberian Stonecrop Phedimus hybridus or Sedum hybridum sketchbook study with habit, flower detail and cross section, seed and fruit detail.