Monarch preserve, Pismo Beach, CA.

Hoverfly Rhingia rostrata attracted by the bright colour.

Coenonympha pamphilus

Wings covered in pollen

A pair of Ruddy Darters rest before going down to the edge of the pool where they will start the dipping action as the female lays her eggs in the shallow weedy water.

Thank you to everyone who views, faves or comments on my photos, it is always appreciated.

I sat outside in the sun today, hoping to see Ladybirds in large numbers like last year, but I didn't see one!

Lots of hoverflies, bees and flies buzzed around me but none of which settled for a shot!

This image was from March last year when there seemed to be loads of ladybirds! Maybe this year just hasn't warmed up enough YET!

Hope you have all had a lovely Easter break and had some time for relaxation, photography and flickr :-)

Vale of Glamorgan.

Thanks for looking!!

Hoverfly Species-Eristalis. AKA Dronefly. Not exactly sure which though.

Pismo Monarch Preserve

Aeshna cyanea AKA Blue Hawker (Male)

A very obliging Libellula fulva

Keeled skimmer - Kleiner Blaupfeil - Orthetrum coerulescens

Found and photographed with a fisheye lens in a track of a path on a summer morning here in the south of the Eifel.

In this state, as seen here, dragonflies are flightless but did you know that they are the fastest insects in the world and can fly up to 50 km/h (31 mph).

I have raised eighty of these beauties so far this year. I imagine that most of them have eclosed (hatched) by now. The yard certainly is brimming with their movement.

Paula, my wonderful neighbor took in all of my chrysalises while I was away for a short but unexpected trip. Although I returned Friday evening, I have not checked in with her yet. Paula loves it when I go out of town and she gets to release the butterflies. Then she is happy when I return so I can take all of the containers away.

I always have a backup plan in case Paula is not available but that means giving the chrysalises to Rhonda. Rhonda is a professional butterly farmer so I know they would be in good hands. However, instead of being released in my yard or my neighbors yard they would be sold to various butterfly houses. Who knows where they would end up?

I rarely ask Paula to take in caterpillars that are in protective custody. That is unless they are about to pupate and she won't have to do any of the work necessary for their care. Unfortunately, for unexpected trips, that means the cats are returned to nature to fend for themselves. I had to put twenty goldrims back on their host plants. I bet the birds were happy about that. The birds were gifted a chance at some good sized caterpillars.

It's daylight now, so it's time to get back to normal. I am off to make some "hot" coffee and get started collecting eggs and cats again.

I hope that you are fortunate enough to have good neighbors like I do and to be a good neighbor as needed. Have a wonderful day and happy snapping.