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Red admiral butterfly posing with wings open. Strong natural light. Focus stacked using zerene. See www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/37148502786/in/dateposted/ for a 3D version
It was around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and foggy in the field of Grindelia this morning at 10AM. I know that at this temperature and below insects become inactive and seek refuge, but I didn't expect that to be in the blooms of flowers. Not only these Long-horned Bees but many Yellow-faced Bumblebees were dead still in numerous blooms still not awakened from their overnight torpor.
When active, these bees normally battle each other over possession of a flower but here in torpor it seems they pal up for safety and extend their enormously long antennae outward to sense danger. In torpor they still remain aware of movement and sound and can awaken instantly to flee.
The torpor is diurnally related here on the coast to the overnight low temperatures overnight.
"Sleeping" in flowers makes sense in that you wake up to breakfast just when the nectar also begins flowing. In this case, it was brunch around 10:30.
MLK Shoreline RP, Oakland, CA
Love is like a butterfly, it goes where it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes.
Love is like a butterfly, hold it too tight, it'll crush. Hold it too loose, it'll fly.
About a half inch long, they are fairly common but keep low to the ground in flight. This one is feeding on Buckwheat.
MLK Shoreline RP, Oakland, CA
This strange looking insect is neither a scorpion or a fly and is completely harmless. It scavenges around in the undergrowth looking for dead insects to feed on. Seen in Dunwich, Suffolk.
This poor Eastern Phoebe looks a little raggedy and I would have passed it up except it had an insect in its beak and the more I looked at it, the more I believe it to be a horsefly with eyes of green and black stripes. What I found interesting is that the Phoebe didn't just chuck it back but had it in its bill for at least a minute. I thought that was interesting but have no idea why the bird would do that. Was it just enjoying the capture? But, in the end, thank you to the Phoebe because I hate the bite of horseflies. There's one less thanks to you!
Taken 13 June 2016 at Huntley Meadows Park, Virginia.
These skeletal remains of an insect were found clinging to several blades of grass at the Jones/Hungryland Wildlife & Environmental Area in western Martin County, Florida.
The Sphingidae are a family of Moths better known as Hawk Moths. Sphinx Moths, and Hornworms, Rather drab looking insects they are about 1450 different species.
I was actually trying to shoot some lichen on this twig, when this guy wandered into the scene and demanded some attention.