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Whitby area a haven for strange wildlife
TOURISTS are not the only things descending on Whitby this summer, as these quirky snaps will prove.
As Britain's insect wildlife flourishes in the heat these creepy creatures were snapped by sharp-eyed residents.
Freelance photographer Robert Townsend, spotted an awe-inspiring dragonfly (inset top) in the garden of Lisa Truman, on Cherry Close in the Stakesby area.
Mr Townsend believes the bug to be a very rare sight in the town as they are normally to be found in wet, boggy areas like marsh land.
After a bit of research it turns out that the flying beast could in fact be the female Southern Hawker dragonfly, Aeshna cyanea.
In Sleights, Gazette reader Janet Vandy captured this bug-eyed beast (inset bottom), identified as a Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar.
"I thought you might be interested in this caterpillar, it certainly had attitude," she said.
The Elephant Hawk got its name because of the caterpillar's resemblance to an elephant's trunk.
Known as the Deilephila elepenor, the adult moth is bright green and pink in colour and can be found throughout Britain and Ireland.
Meanwhile up on the moors, the mysterious creature (main image) was spotted by Emma Atkins of Whitby on a family day out.
Emma, along with her husband Duncan and son Jordan, spotted this pink-spotted creepy-crawly at Ralph's Cross, next to the Lion at Blakey Ridge, one of the highest points on the North York Moors.
If anyone knows exactly what the insect is ring the Gazette newsdesk on (01947) 829910.
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Weather for Whitby
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: South
