Lmst

Sweat bee gathering pollen from one of my zinnias last summer.
(08/03/23)

#bee #bees #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Closeup image of a small sweat bee (wasn't able to get an ID on this species) gathering pollen from a floret inside a magenta zinnia flower. This zinnia variety has magenta petals that radiate from a center filled with red and yellow florets. This sweat bee species is roughly the size of one of the zinnia's florets and has a black abdomen covered in fine hairs, a dull metallic-green thorax and head covered in fine hairs, two large compound eyes on either side of the head, three simple eyes on the top of its head, two short antennae, six segmented legs, and two transparent wings with dark veining.

#BugParade

Handsome housefly sampling a goldenrod bloom.
(09/19/22)

#flies #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a house fly sitting atop a goldenrod inflorescence with its proboscis inserted in one of the small goldenrod flowers. Based on its appearance and identification app this might be Graphomya maculata and though the Wikipedia entry for that species does not indicate its presence in North America I've run across identification photos indicating that it is likely present. Goldenrod has large clusters of small yellow flowers or florets. Each flowers is tubular in shape and made up of a group of reproductive organs tightly bound by yellow-green sepals. This species of fly has black and grey stripes on its abdomen and thorax. The stripes on its abdomen are horizontal while the stripes on the thorax run from the abdomen to the head. The fly has large, brown-red, compound eyes, a triangular proboscis, six, black segmented legs, and transparent wings with black veining.

#BugParade

Paper wasp exploring a pink hyacinth.
(04/21/22)

#wasps #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus or northern paper wasp seems likely) exploring the interior of a pink hyacinth bloom surrounded by pink hyacinth blooms. The view of the wasp in through the hyacinth blooms of a hyacinth inflorescence and only part of the wasp is visible. Hyacinth inflorescences are made up of a cluster of conical blooms that extend from a central stalk and whose petals have pointed ends. This species of paper wasp has a black body with yellow stripes and markings and brown markings, large, brown, compound eyes, six segmented legs, and two short, brown antennae.

#BugParade

This was taken early March last year so we're only a few weeks away from having our first blooms this year. Thought I should post this one since I'll likely start seeing the early European honeybees soon and will begin taking new insect and arachnid photos. I miss them as much as the blooms and am looking forward to their return.
(03/07/23)

#bee #bees #pollinators #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a bee (Apis mellifera or European honeybee seems likely) exploring the interior of a pale purple crocus flower. This variety of crocus has six pale purple petals and yellow-orange stamens and pistils. This bee species has a yellow and black striped abdomen, a black thorax covered in fine yellow hairs, a black head covered in fine yellow hairs, two large compound eyes on either side of the head, three simple eyes on the top of the head, two short, black antennae, six black, segmented legs, and two transparent wings with black veining.

#BugParade

It was SO busy at the Sunflower Market that a queue began forming outside.
(08/08/22)

#bee #bees #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of two bees (Svastra obliqua or sunflower bee seems likely) in the center of a frilly sunflower bloom surrounded by green sunflower leaves. A small black wasp (ID not possible) is visible on a flat leaf just below the sunflower. This variety of sunflower has overlapping layers of pointed yellow petals surrounding a center filled with yellow and greenish yellow florets. This species of bee has the typical bee features including a black and yellow striped abdomen. Under these lighting conditions one of the bee's eyes is bright yellowish green.

#BugParade

Paper wasp on white hyacinth.
(04/21/22)

#wasps #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

#BugParade

Longhorn beetle getting a leg up.
(09/19/22)

#beetle #beetles #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a longhorn beetle (Megacyllene robiniae seems likely) grasping a cluster of golden rod flowers with out of focus yellows and greens in the background. The beetle is grasping the cluster but still has its left hind leg on on a golden rod flower cluster just below it essentially using it to boost itself to the upper cluster. Only the face and upper and lower body are visible with most of the beetle's body in behind the cluster it is grasping. This species of longhorn beetle has a black body with yellow markings on its abdomen, yellow stripes on its thorax and head, large, black, compound eyes, large mandibles, six segmented legs, and two long, segmented antennae that resemble long horns.

#BugParade

Sweat bee on pincushion flower.
(06/12/23)

#bee #bees #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a bi-colored striped sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens seems likely) atop a purple-pink pincushion flower (member of the Scabiosa genus). This variety of pincushion flower is made up of a large number of florets with stamens extending from each. For this variety the stamens are purple-pink with purple anthers. This species of sweat bee has a black abdomen with white stripes, a metallic-green thorax covered in fine hairs, two large, green compound eyes with dark spots, three black simple eyes. two black antennae, and blacks legs covered in fine hairs.

#BugParade

Orange sulfur butterfly on clover.
(09/09/23)

#butterfly #butterflies #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Closeup image of an orange sulfur butterfly atop a clover flower. The butterfly is facing left with one eye visible and its proboscis inserted in one of the clover florets. The butterfly has its wings vertical against its body so only the wing underside is visible Orange sulfur butterflies have yellow-green underwings with white and brown spotting and a darker edge (the brown and orange wing top side is not visible), dark bodies covered with fine yellow hairs, a head covered in fine, yellow hairs, two, large, yellow-green, compound eyes with darker spots, two antennae with club-like ends, six legs, and a long proboscis that can be curled up or extended into flowers to reach nectar.

#BugParade

Greeting the morning sunrise on the Iowa River.
(09/18/23)

#spider #spiders #arachnids #sunrise #SunrisePhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of an orb weaver spider at the center of its web with an out of focus river and river bank in shadow, and a golden rising sun in the background. The spider in in the right center frame and the sun is in the upper left. The spider's legs are semitransparent and are lit from behind by the rising sun and portions of the spider's web are highlighted by sunlight as well. The spider's web consists of lines of spider silk radiating from the center joined by crossing spiral of silk. The spider has six, segmented legs, a large abdomen, a cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) , pedipalps, and two chelicera with fangs.

#BugParade

Heavy traffic on Marigold Street.
(08/24/23)

#bees #bumblebees #grasshopper #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a bumblebee and a grasshopper atop a yellow marigold bloom. The bumblebee is likely a common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) and the grasshopper is likely a differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis). This variety of marigold has layers of curled and curved petals that extend from and hide the flower's center. Common eastern bumblebees have a black abdomen covered in fine black hairs, a black thorax covered in fine, yellow hairs, a black head covered in fine yellow hairs, six segmented legs, two large compound eyes and three simple eyes on its head, two short antennae, and transparent wings with black veining. Differentiated grasshoppers have a long abdomen, a small thorax, a bulbous head with large compound eyes and mandibles, two antennae, and six, segmented legs with long, powerful back legs for jumping.

#BugParade

Common house spider guarding its egg sack.
(09/19/22)

#spider #spiders #arachnids #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a common house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum aka American house spider seems likely) grasping its egg sack with its front two sets of legs. The globe-shaped egg sack is tan and the surface is shiny due to light reflecting off the silk that makes up the sack. Common house spiders have six, tan segmented legs, a large, tan, bulbous abdomen covered in darker spots, a darker tan cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) with darker markings, two tan pedipalps, and two chelicera with fangs.

#BugParade

Bumblebee on New England aster.
(09/12/22)

#bees #bumblebees #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a bumble bee on a New England aster flower. This variety of aster has layers of purple-pink petals that radiate from a center filled with orange and red florets. This species of bumblebee (Bombus impatiens or common eastern bumblebee seems likely) has a black abdomen covered in fine black hairs, a black thorax covered in fine, yellow hairs, a black head covered in fine yellow hairs, six segmented legs, two large compound eyes and three simple eyes on its head, two short antennae, and transparent wings with black veining.

#BugParade

"Well, hellooooo."
(09/08/22)

#mantis #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Closeup image of what is likely a Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) peeking around the side of a small group juniper bush needles. The mantis is facing directly into the camera. Chinese mantises have long bodies and a triangular head. This particular mantis has a tan abdomen, thorax, and head with a lateral green stripe on the edge of the front wing. Mantises have six legs with the "teeth" along the bottom of the first two section of the front legs that assist inn grasping its prey. They have large mandibles, two antennae, and two large compound eyes that can move independently.

#BugParade

This is black-and-yellow mud dauber wasp (Sceliphron caementarium seems likely though that relies on an ID app). I noticed them for the 1st time two years ago when I started my garden. I'd go out and water and they'd come down to gather the new mud. Had to be careful not to dowse them while I watered. Haven't photographed them gathering mud yet but hopefully this year.
(08/11/23)

#wasps #pollinators #InsectPhotography #nature #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a black and yellow mud dauber wasp (Sceliphron caementarium seems likely) atop a common milkweed leaf. Black and yellow mud dauber have black abdomens with a yellow marking that is connected to the thorax via a long, black, slender structure or "waist" called a petiole. They have a black thorax with yellow markings and covered in fine hairs, a black head with large, black compound eyes and small, black simple eyes, six, black and yellow segmented legs, and two black antennae with yellow bases where they connect with the head.

#BugParade

This behemoth atop my great blue lobelia last summer is a cicada hawk aka cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus seems likely). The 1st time I saw it it scared the crap out of me, not because I'm afraid of wasps, but because it was SO big. The males are very aggressive & territorial but have no stinger. All bark, no bite. The females have stingers but aren't aggressive unless antagonized. Beautiful creatures 👍.
(07/24/23)

#InsectPhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #photography #AltText

Image of a cicada hawk or cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus) atop a great blue lobelia plant. Cicada hawks have black and yellow striped abdomens, black and brown thoraxes covered in fine hairs, black heads with large, brown compound eyes and small, black simple eyes, thick, black antennae, six brown, segmented legs, and two transparent wings with brown veining.

#BugParade

My crocuses are just starting to put out leaves. Not too long till the first flowers show up. All winter I've been posting old flower photos under #FlowerParade. Since the flowers will soon be here, thought I'd post some insect/arachnid photos since it's not too long before they show up too.

Here's a pale green assassin bug exploring a periwinkle flower.
(09/20/21)

#FlowerPhotography #InsectPhotography #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText

Image of a pale green assassin bug (ID via ID app) atop a periwinkle flower. This variety of periwinkle has lobed, overlapping, white petals that turn to red-magenta at the flower's center. The flower's reproductive organs are in a small cone in the center and are not visible. Pale green assassin bugs have green bodies and reddish eyes. They're bodies are long and slender with six long legs, two long antennae, and a long proboscis that it uses to suck the the juices of its victims. The proboscis is not visible in the image and is likely tucked underneath its body.

#BugParade #FlowerParade

Life among the clematis blossoms can be hazardous. Especially if the lurkers are barely distinguishable from the flowers in which they lurk.
(08/25/21)

(@val, photo was bit better than I recall. I forgot about the fly)

#spider #spiders #arachnids #pollinators #flowers #FlowerPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #macro #MacroPhotography #MastoArt #photography #AltText