Thumbsucker. Deathhead Hoverfly, Myathropa florea, on Persicaria maculosa, Lady's Thumb, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
A while back I wrote that in naming our Hoverfly, Camillo Róndani (1808-1879) was rather sloppy in his derivation from the Greek (www.flickr.com/photos/87453322@N00/28918797485/in/photost...); a bit of a Thumb-Sucker our Róndani, as the expression is in Dutch for a largely invented tale.
Perhaps, then, appropriately Deathhead is here sucking sweetness from Lady's Thumb, Persicaria maculosa. In this photo you can't see the 'maculosa', which refers to a dark spot in the centre of the peachiform leaves of this Persicaria. That dark spot is said to be the mark of the Virgin Mary's pinch of that leaf. Often though you won't be able to see it; in any case I didn't this morning. And Deathhead probably could care less...
Thumbsucker. Deathhead Hoverfly, Myathropa florea, on Persicaria maculosa, Lady's Thumb, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
A while back I wrote that in naming our Hoverfly, Camillo Róndani (1808-1879) was rather sloppy in his derivation from the Greek (www.flickr.com/photos/87453322@N00/28918797485/in/photost...); a bit of a Thumb-Sucker our Róndani, as the expression is in Dutch for a largely invented tale.
Perhaps, then, appropriately Deathhead is here sucking sweetness from Lady's Thumb, Persicaria maculosa. In this photo you can't see the 'maculosa', which refers to a dark spot in the centre of the peachiform leaves of this Persicaria. That dark spot is said to be the mark of the Virgin Mary's pinch of that leaf. Often though you won't be able to see it; in any case I didn't this morning. And Deathhead probably could care less...