Tag Archives: pollinators

Aster Visitors

Posted on October 9, 2016 by

Late in the year few flowers are blooming except asters.  I am not sure the species, nor have I taken the time to identify the insects that I photographed.  Maybe it is because I am hearing the presidential debates in … Continue reading →

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More Insects

Posted on September 11, 2016 by

Here are some photos from yesterday. A dance fly, possibly Empis clausa. Peck’s skipper, Polites peckius. And a small bee, possibly Ceratina. The weather is still nice, but turning to autumn.

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San Diego Bugs

Posted on February 9, 2016 by

I recently spent a week in San Diego California for a course that was required as part of my work.  Since it was below freezing when I left, and snowed here in Iowa while I was gone,  I was sort … Continue reading →

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Syritta pipiens

Posted on June 20, 2015 by

To celebrate the end of pollinator week, here is a photo of a small syrphid fly, Syritta pipiens. Just another pollinator.

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Flies are Pollinators, too

Posted on June 16, 2015 by

This is national pollinator week.  Insects are getting some long-overdue conservation attention. I wish I could tell you what this is.  It is some kind of fly, possibly a dance fly.  Beyond that I don’t know. Hundreds or probably thousands … Continue reading →

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There is a Fly in My Buttercup

Posted on May 18, 2014 by

This fly, a Toxomerus species, was getting some breakfast from a buttercup. Small flower, tiny fly.

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Another Tiny Bee

Posted on May 5, 2014 by

I spent some time yesterday photographing very small insects on dandelions.  This small bee was identified as Osmia sp., in the subgenus Melanosmia.  The I.D. was made rather quickly by John S. Ascher on bugguide.  

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A Face Full of Pollen

Posted on May 13, 2013 by

It’s easy to see why honeybees are such good pollinators from this dandelion photo. Last week I was out of state on a training trip.  The accommodations were really good, and the class and people in it were top notch.  Still, I felt out … Continue reading →

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A Small Flower Fly

Posted on September 25, 2011 by

We seem to have a number of Syrphid flies in our constructed prairie, but at least for now three species predominate. This is the smallest of the three. At some point I will try to identify it but I don’t … Continue reading →

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