x3 images. Double click to enlarge.
This is the 600th insect species I have uploaded on Nature Journeys, and what a bright and beautiful one it is, too.
It is a fly, a hoverfly called Epistrophe grossulariae. It prefers woodland edges, meadows and wetalnd areas where it will feed on the nectar from flowers. The larvae are aphidophagous – feeding on aphids.
Beautiful shots, Pete. I love hoverflies and you have done a spectacular job in capturing the details of this one.
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Many thanks, Mike! It was a muddy knees job … but sometimes you have to make scarifices to get the shot as you know all too well 🙂
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I am often wet and scratched when I am out shooting–the hazards of the hobby we pursue.
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Indeed! 🙂
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Congratulations again for the 600! and a great shot of this colorful hoverfly.
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Many thanks! I love hoverflies, so to complete another 100 with this one was just great 🙂
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Stunning images, Pete and congrats on your 600th! Your site is a great and informative resource.
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I really appreciate that, Eliza, thank you! 🙂
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Lovely little hoverfly and nice shots of it, Pete. I was just photographing one this afternoon.
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Thank you, Steve. Sometimes you get lucky with these. I find they can be quite nervous as you approach them and they zoom off, but this one was intent on feeding.
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I’ve found the same, Pete. You have to get them while they are drunk on nectar. LOL Btw, I neglected to congratulate you on 600 species. I am not sure how many I’ve got here in the yard but I am sure it is nowhere near 600. Nicely done.
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Thanks again, Steve. I still have a lot of stuff to go through and get ids on properly, and of course there are the new and exciting discoveries, so always in my element 🙂
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Excellent shots Pete, really spot on. 600 species is quite an achievement, congratulations!
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I appreciate that, David! Many thanks 🙂
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Amazing job on these captures, Peter. 😊
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Thank you, Irene 🙂
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This is an especially pretty one. Even though they’re so small, in some ways they’re more approachable than dragonflies — at least, they are if we’re lucky!
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Yes, luck and how intent they are in feeding, which these were. They knew I was there up close, but I guess they saw no threat in me and they were hungry! 🙂
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Lovely shots and a wonderful round number! Congratulations, Pete!
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Thank you, Belinda 🙂 There were quite a few of these lovely hoverflies around intent on feeding.
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I don’t know that I have seen all 600, but I have learned so much from those that I have seen since I discovered your excellent photos and information! I think we are all looking forward to the next 600!
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Thank you, Marilyn. I will do my best for another 600 insects! 🙂
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I guess you will never run out of possibilities!
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Congrats on 600….and these are wonderful shots, as always!
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I really appeciate that, Sandy! Many thanks 🙂
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You are most welcome.
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A golden 600, you have done it again. Keep on with this important work, because that is what it really is.
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Thank you very much, Hans! That means a lot to me 🙂
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I cannot resist this:
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder’d.
Honor the charge they made!
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
Quite a different six hundred, yet you are nobly bringing us closer to the small yet far from insignificant creatures of our world. Congratulations!
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Nice one, Anne! 🙂 Many thanks, I appreciate that 🙂
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Wonderful. ♥️
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Thank you 🙂
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Contratulations als well for the 600th pic as for the images itself !
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Beautiful
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Thank you!
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Congrats for your 600th, Pete!! And what a stunning image you offer us, very well detailed.
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Many thanks, Greta 🙂
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Wonderful detailed captures for this milestone, Peter!
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Many thanks, Eleen! 🙂
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600!! WOW! Well done, Congratulations! I am already looking forward to the next 600 🙂
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Many thanks, Simone! 🙂 I will do my best 🙂
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Well done!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Sure is bright and beautiful! Congrats on 600! That’s fabulous .. Gosh I didn’t know that their larvae enjoyed aphids ..
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Many thanks, Julie! I really appreciate that 🙂 Yes, many hoverfly species larvae consujme aphids, so area a welcome friend in the garden 🙂
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