Regal Jumping Spider

Regal Jumping Spider
Phidippus regius

Eastern Yellow Jacket

And the food chain...

Eastern yellow jacket eating an insect larva...







Eating a dead baby bird...



Being eaten by a Green Lynx Spider




I took the first three photographs this morning, keeping in mind the warning I read in the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida regarding yellow jackets:

"Stings repeatedly if bothered."

I kept my distance.

Robber Fly

Family Asilidae: Robber Fly

White Peacock Butterfly

White Peacock
Anartia jatrophae



More White Peacock photos here and here.

Bee Fly, Part III

I promise imagine that this will be my last bee fly post, but my fascination with this tiny insect drew me back out to the field where spermacoce prostrata - a false buttonweed that I think looks like a tiny wedding bouquet - grows in abundance and I first discovered the bee fly.

Bee Fly, Part II

I was fascinated by my bee fly discovery, so as soon as I could grab my camera late this afternoon and head out to the field nearest the road where I had found the bee fly on Saturday, I did, and I was not disappointed. I'm still not satisfied that I've captured the best photos, but at least it is a bit more than what I had posted before.

Bee Fly

Bee Fly (Bombylius major)
Family: Bombyliidae

More Photos Here

Esmeralda Longtail Butterfly

(Photographs updated 07-18-07)

Esmeralda Longtail Butterfly
Urbanus esmeraldus

Fiery Skipper

Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus

Delta Flower Scarab Beetle

(Identified and Updated 7/24/07)Order: Coleoptera (ko-lee-OP-ter-a)
Family: Scarabaeidae
Genus: Trigonopeltastes
Species: delta

Milkweed Bug

Milkweed Bug

Dragonfly

The Dragon-fly
by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Today I saw the dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
Of his old husk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Thro' crofts and pastures wet with dew
A living flash of light he flew.

Mine - all mine!

Strange creature

A new coat...

...on an old friend?

Me and my shadow...

A drink

Dragonfly

Sweet

Grasshopper