Dark Damsel - This striking winged insect has an ungrateful scientific name (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

Nevertheless it has conquered the center stage of my macro lens. A beauty for the ages, finding cover from the wind.

Smooth yet hardened - With eyes on the side of the head, the Lesser stag beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus) is an uncommon sight. 

It has a hardy exosqueleton that is super polished to the touch. I find it mesmerizing...

X marks the spot - The real treasure is stumbling upon a harmless garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) between the tomato plants in the backyard.

Sometimes the size of their webs can be menacing. rest assured, that you will have less bugs eating your vegetables.

Awoken - The first much need rains have called upon an army of sleeping snails (Cornu aspersum).

It is just me, or is this little critter the cutest slimy thing ever?

Cozy - This is what spring is all about. Pollination around the nation!

At any given hour,
I wish I was free as a bee.
I would pearch on a flower

Feed and feel co-zy. 

Procession - Far on the background, stands a pine tree.
The procession on the forefront is composed of pine processionary caterpillars (Thaumetopoea pityocampa).

It is true, they can hurt unaware pets or distracted people, but they are part of the ecosystem. Here, the balance relies on enough predators and environmental education. 

Worm-dragon? - Behold, the caterpillar of the two-tailed pasha (Charaxes jasius)!

The low temperatures kept its metabolism frozen, allowing for a capture debut while it lays camouflaged in the stawberry tree leaf.

They see me rollin' - Dung beetles exist closer than you might think. Even in Europe.

In a pine forest, this (Scarabaeus cicatricosus) is completing its life cycle by rolling dog feces. Its larvae feed on the excrement and do their metamorphosis inside, safely. 
That's a bit shitty if you ask me....

Jealousy - Creeping under plant debris there is a jealous seven-spot ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata). A few centimeters away, a lovely couple is on a sunny beach date. 

None escaped the wildlife paparazzi....

More ant than lion - This is a species of ant-lion (Macronemurus appendiculatus), in its adult phase.

Its is neither an ant or a lion. 

When in its larval stage, it hunts its prey by using pitfall traps (more lion than ant). Yet after emerging from their underground cocoon, they gain wings and a resemblance to dragonflies (more ant than lion).

Fresh out of.... - Dragonflies have aquatic larval stages. When they leave the water's shelter they latch onto vegetation and begin their metamorphosis, usually during the cover of night. Leaving the remains of the "shell" behind.

This emperor dragonfly (Anax sp) is half way through the next stage in its life. Bonne chance!

Healthy appetites - The rosemary beetle (Chrysolina americana), is a beautiful sight in its adult life stage, with shiny green and purple longitudinal lines.

However, as beauty is more than meets the eye, I decided to share the less known and less flashy caterpillar.

Have a nice day and eat healthy!

Lurking - The napoleon spider (Synema globosum) gets its name from the dark pattern in its abdomen, shaped like Bonaparte's sillouette with the bicorne hat.
This one lurks upon a flower, stealthy (almost) amongst the polen.