Ill-Fated Beauty. Triple-Belted Shaggy Hoverfly, Dasysyrphus tricinctus, on Pastinaca sativa, Wild Parsnip, Gaasperplaspark, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Insects, you will know, have an exoskeleton to give them form and to uphold their organs, and moreover to protect them from outside Evils. That exoskeleton is made of a durable mixture of chitin and sclerotin (the latter is strengthening and also gives them that dark color). It's strong stuff and hard for enemies to penetrate except for some nematodes, and notably it can be attacked, softened and destroyed by some kinds of fungus. Once infected, ill is that insect's fate...
Our really very pretty Triple-Belted Shaggy Hoverfly - as far as I know there's not an English name, so I've made up this one - , Dasysyrphus tricinctus, is gravely ill. Her exoskeleton has been fungally infected; see the brownish spot on the last sections; she's probably not got very long to live. Regardless, Her Shagginess is enjoying the last nectar of also quickly fading Wild Parsnip, Pastinaca sativa.
Ill-Fated Beauty. Triple-Belted Shaggy Hoverfly, Dasysyrphus tricinctus, on Pastinaca sativa, Wild Parsnip, Gaasperplaspark, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Insects, you will know, have an exoskeleton to give them form and to uphold their organs, and moreover to protect them from outside Evils. That exoskeleton is made of a durable mixture of chitin and sclerotin (the latter is strengthening and also gives them that dark color). It's strong stuff and hard for enemies to penetrate except for some nematodes, and notably it can be attacked, softened and destroyed by some kinds of fungus. Once infected, ill is that insect's fate...
Our really very pretty Triple-Belted Shaggy Hoverfly - as far as I know there's not an English name, so I've made up this one - , Dasysyrphus tricinctus, is gravely ill. Her exoskeleton has been fungally infected; see the brownish spot on the last sections; she's probably not got very long to live. Regardless, Her Shagginess is enjoying the last nectar of also quickly fading Wild Parsnip, Pastinaca sativa.