The Flickr Redeyes Image Generatr

There are two hornet hoverflies, this one which is the lesser hornet hoverfly (Volucella inanis) and also the greater hornet hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) which looks very similar, only a bit larger and with more red on the abdomen.

V. zonaria was only first spotted in (the south of) Sweden ajust a few years ago, but V. inanis here can be readily found quite far up in the country - specimens have been reported as far north as Luleå which is almost at the top of Bothnia Bay where Sweden and Finland meet, about 1,200 km (750 miles) north of the southern tip if Sweden. The larger species is slowly making its way up the country, but so far, I've only seen this one. The particular specimen here on a thistle at Åva-Stensjödal in Tyresta National Park is a male as evidenced by the eyes being so large they touch each other.

The fly here is known as Helophilus pendulus and is sometimes called the footballer becaused of its striped thorax. It is also known as the sun fly which is because of a mistranslation.

You see, the scientific name is Helophilus which means something like "marsh lover" in Greek, but someone misread it and added an "i" in there and thought it was "Heliophilus" - "sun lover" in Greek which led to "sun fly".

Regardless of the meaning of the name, the cool-looking flower it is sitting on is a woolly burdock (Arctium tomentosum) and they really have the most amazing colours once you get in close - and the bugs love them as well.

I got her to come and see me and to come up on land and pose for some pictures.
Sometimes, she will stay for just a short time, then sometimes she has stayed for about 30 to 45 minutes.
She is a Gorgeous Loon and I am so lucky to be able to work with her for so many years
Camera Settings: f/11 - 1/250 - 200mm - ISO 500
Using fill flash.
Please view large.

May 6th, this was the first day I saw her this year, after being away all winter.
10 years now that I have been photographing her.
I first saw her in May, 2015.
Over the years we have bonded and she trusts me enough to come out of the water and up on land to see me, when I call her.
I love working close with animals and gaining their trust.
I feel very honored when that happens and they know that they can trust me.
Camera Settings: f/14 - 1/250 - 100mm - ISO 1250
Using fill flash.
Please view large.

Genus Prosapia - Superfamily Cercopoidea - part of the froghoppers group because they can jump several times the length of their body.

They seem to like my feeders. I think they are a mated pair. But I have not seen any fledglings or juveniles. Happy to have them.
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Garland, Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com

Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland, Florida

Majestic Emu at the Bonanza Exotic Park, Khao Yai, Thailand

The Coot one of our most common waterfowls are great birds to watch possibly the angriest bird I know - I am fascinated by them and I’m always pleased to get a shot of one in the right light

Here is a cool-looking fly in the Myopa genus which was chilling in the grating of the gate into our garden back in early May.

Unfortunately, there are several species which look quite similar so ID will have to nd at Myopa sp.

These guys are endoparasites on bees/bumblebees/wasps, meaning their larvae develop inside their hosts.

A close-up shot of a beautiful Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) resting on a vibrant green water lily leaf. The damselfly's characteristic red eyes and blue-black markings are clearly visible, highlighting the delicate beauty of this insect.

While visiting Tyresta National Park just south of Stockholm, Sweden in the tail end of August, there were still lots of dragonflies out and about. This one is a female common darter (Sympetrum striolatum), a species known in Norwegian as "senhøstlibelle", which translates into "late autumn dragonfly". This as this species keeps flying quite late in the season - the latest sighting of one in Sweden was on November 24th though this was in the more southern parts of the country.

Anyways, this smiling little lady and a couple of her friends were really fond of the wooden railing on the bridge over the Stenbäcken creek. just below the old mill ruin and kept returning everytime I stuck my camera too close to them.

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/54193545723/

Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/54329628745/

Plus another one here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/54512002635/

This spool-shaped little creature on a tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) in my mother-in-law's garden is a female of a species known as Myrmus miriformis.

These belong to the family Rhopalidae which sometimes are known as the scentless plant bugs as they unlike the members of Coreidae lack the scent glands which can produce a foul smell to deter predators.

This species is a bit unusual in that they come in a green and a brown form. Both however only for the males - the females like this one (I think) are always green.

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/54302900940/

I took this photo while re-exploring the Malice In Wonderland sim by July Foxglove in the virtual world, Second Life.

While this particular scene is pretty macabre, the overall sim is a trippy, eclectic place ... and very explorable with its teleporters that lead to different levels that feature a variety of themes and aesthetics.

The inworld landing area for Malice in Wonderland is at: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Enchanted%20Woodlands/157/...

Male Eastern Towhee ready to fly off!

Carden Alvar,Ontario
Canada


* July 2nd my wife and I are taking off from Toronto to Seattle,Washington.✈ Spending a couple days there and then boarding our ship to Alaska! See you when we get back! 🚢

This little Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) let me get one shot up close - then flew! We walked one of the greenways in Forsyth County GA for the first time in ages - thru wetlands along Big Creek. Were thrilled they had a patch of Common Milkweed growing for the Monarchs.

Up in a Elm tree in Sedge Wren Marsh.

Carden Alvar,Ontario
Canada

Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland, Florida

To be honest, I didn't see the fly until later when processing. If I had, I would have stayed to see the outcome.
Pale Green Assassin Bug (Zelus luridus)
Common Lantana (Lantana camara)
Garland, Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com