During a recent trip to the Desert Botanical Garden we saw insects showing off their wings.
Most people notice the zebra butterflies.
But up close the picture-winged fly’s wings are just as showy.
What do you think?
Category: insects (Page 24 of 88)
The little leaf cordia (Cordia parvifolia) is covered with white blooms right now.
They attract quite a few flying insects.
Wonder why this fly is sitting on a leaf rather than a flower.
Most of the leaves are dry and slightly fuzzy.
However, some of the leaves are dripping with nectar, which seems to be coming out of glands near the petiole.
Flies have a mouth like a sponge which they use to sop up liquids like nectar.
The little leaf cordia is a visual treat for humans and a sweet treat for insects.
Have you ever wondered what life is like for insects?
For example, take these aphids feeding on a sunflower stem. Look at how spiky the stem looks from a closer perspective. Must make getting lunch a bit more challenging, don’t you think?
We usually consider aphids to be fairly sedentary. They put their straw-like mouthparts into the plant and stand sucking the juices. Do they ever get uncomfortable? Too hot? Too full?
Just as I was pondering this, the biggest aphid pulled out her mouthparts and walked away, leaving the tiny nymphs behind.
Apparently aphids aren’t so sedentary after all.
For more information, see Roberta Gibson Writes.