Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Bugs
Technicolor Throne
This skipper moth was overlooking the splendor of his kingdom from the comfort of his technicolor throne, a purple cone flower.
This is a photo taken on our recent vacation. This image came from a flowerbed just outside the gift shop of the Topeka Zoo. While the rest of our party went to look through the shop, I stayed outside to snap more photos.
To view a larger version of the king on his throne, click on the image.
Damsel in Distress
When I walk through the woods with my camera, I walk slowly. I’m being careful to observe all that is around me – eyes attuned to the slightest movement or color or pattern or light that might make an interesting image. On such a walk, I noticed a small, white butterfly moving though the weeds along the path. I decided to try a take a photo of it when it finally found a place to land.
I watched as it fluttered a bit from spot to spot. At one point it was fluttering under a large leaf. With my camera ready, I waited for it to emerge. Despite it’s continued fluttering, it wouldn’t come out in the open. Tired of waiting, I stooped down to get a better look and discovered why it wasn’t flying out into the open.
A spider had snatched it. It wasn’t caught in a web. This spider, hiding on the underside of this leaf, grabbed it as it fluttered by.
This is a close-up view of some tiny critters. Both of them together would not be much bigger than my thumbnail.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Tiny Surprise
Danger lurks here! When I took this photo on a walk through the woods, I saw only a nice collection of wild violets. It wasn’t until I viewed this image on my computer that I noticed the tiny crab spider hiding in the bloom on the left.
Crab spiders don’t make webs. They hide, often in flowers, waiting for unsuspecting insects to be drawn by the flower’s nectar or pollen.
I’ve posted photos of crab spiders before – even with a short video of one trying grab lunch – that can be viewed HERE.
To view a larger image of this photo, click on it.
Buzz By Here – To Infinity and Beyond!
This portly bumble bee looks as though he’s heading off past the flowers, into infinity, intent on some important bee mission. No doubt, for his honey. (You’ve got to award style points for that perfect form.)
If you have a decent sized monitor, you can get a better view of Buzz by clicking on the photo.
Pick Your Poison
On a cool fall day, I uncovered my barbecue grill and found a large spider clinging to the grill cover. The moment I spotted it, I ran into the house…to grab my camera, of course. As I was taking photos of the spider, a wasp buzzed into the shot. (An insect photo bomb!)
I took several shots of the pair before the winged one flew off. While together, they seemed to get along just fine; no signs of tension or animosity.
I’m not sure I’ve ever photographed a more unlikely pair…a more menacing pair…a more dangerous duo.
No insects, arachnids or photographers were injured or harmed in the production of this image.
To get view an even larger version, click on the photo.
Blind Side Attack
While working over a purple thistle, this bumble bee was attacked from behind by another competitor. The skirmish was short and seemed pretty insignificant. After bouncing off the backside of the busy bee, the aggressor simply flew away. I’m guessing, it flew off to look for someone more its own size to pick on.
To view more of the detail in a larger version, simply click on the image.
Simple Butterfly
I was able to catch this butterfly resting for a brief moment on the purple coneflowers near our home. Butterflies have been scarce this year – at least around our place – so I was glad to capture this one digitally.
To see a larger version, simply click on the image.
On a Mission
I’m always taking photos of bugs – and bees are some of my favorites. I usually catch bees busy about their business, working on flowers. It’s rare when I can capture one in flight, and even rarer to catch them in focus. This was one of those rare moments.
A couple of other images where I was able to catch bees in flight are Popular Spot and The Beeline.
To get a closer view, click on the image.
High-Tech Armour
I don’t know what kind of bug this is. It happened to see it while photographing some flowers in our yard. About half the size of my thumbnail, I would have missed it had it not been perched on some dried foliage. It’s color, contrasting against the dull brown, caught my eye.
I think it looks like the creation of some sci-fi movie maker – a futuristic, warrior bug clad with high-tech armour that can withstand any attack from earth’s conventional weapons. But don’t panic. Some unlikely hero will discover a weakness we can exploit to vanquish this foe and save the world. I’m sure peace and tranquility will be restored before you reach the bottom of that huge tub of buttered popcorn. Just sit back and enjoy the show.
You can get a closer look at this other-worldly menace by clicking on the photo.
Honey Bee on Sedum
Near sunset last night, I stepped outside for a moment…with my camera. I paused to watch and snap this honey bee. It was meticulously moving from blossom to blossom on a sedum plant in the flowerbed near our house.
You can view a larger version of this photo by clicking on it.