This is a Bee - _TNY_5798

You might think this is a photo of the butterfly known as the scarce copper (Lycaena virgaureae) on a tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) - and you'd be excused.

 

But look a little closer and see what is really in focus. Can you see the small red and black bee down on the right? That's a female blood bee (Sphecodes sp.). 16 of the 40 European species of blood bees can be found in Sweden, but it is difficult to tell them apart at the best of times so this one can't be identified further than just genus.

 

Blood bees are parasitic and parasitise on other solitary bees and lay their eggs in the nest holes of other bees where their larva then kill the host larvae and eat the provisions the other bee female has left its offspring.

 

If you look even closer at the shot, you can also see that the butterfly isn't in the background - it is actually in the foreground here.

 

I actually have a shot with the very same female scarce copper on a tansy in focus here if you want it: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53280367613/

Done