Jon SullivanOct 13, 2024

From my wildcounts run yesterday, here are broom seed beetles (an introduced biocontrol agent) and Darwin's ants (an Australian native) feeding from rockrose flowers (native of the Mediterranean) in Christchurch, NZ. All three are wild species here.

Adult broom seed beetles are fueling up from flowers before laying their eggs on developing seed pods of the weed Scotch broom.

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/247037037
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/247037038

#insects #flowers #FlowerVisitors #nz #nature #Christchurch #ลŒtautahi

Broom Seed Beetle (Bruchidius villosus)

Broom Seed Beetle from Cashmere, Christchurch 8022, New Zealand on October 12, 2024 at 05:52 PM by Jon Sullivan

iNaturalist NZ
Show threadFlatbush Gardener ๐ŸŒˆDec 27, 2022

Another of my favorite species is our largest #Wasp, Eastern cicada killer, #Sphecius speciosus. Ground-nesters, females dig out impressive mounds of dirt, often the only evidence of their presence.

Males of this species also emerge before females in the Spring. Territorial, they will also fly right at you! Again, harmless; males have no stingers.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/126702296

#InverteFest2022 #InverteFest #Macro #Photography #Photos #Insects #iNaturalist #FlowerVisitors #Pollinators #Hymenoptera

Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus)

Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp from Beverly Square East, New York, United States on July 16, 2022 at 11:08 AM by Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener). Male Sphecius speciosus in my front yard, 2022-07-16

iNaturalist
Show threadFlatbush Gardener ๐ŸŒˆDec 26, 2022

Our largest #bee, the Eastern carpenter #Bee (#Xylocopa verginica ssp. virginica) is well-known to those in proximity to outdoor wooden structures. Females carve out long tunnels underneath protected wood, e.g. porch rails, eaves.

Males emerge first in Spring. Territorial, they will fly right at you! Harmless to us.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129009312

#InverteFest2022 #InverteFest #Macro #Photography #Photos #Insects #iNaturalist #FlowerVisitors #Pollinators #Apidae #Bees #Anthophila #Hymenoptera

Virginia Carpenter Bee (Subspecies Xylocopa virginica virginica)

Virginia Carpenter Bee from Beverly Square East, New York, United States on July 30, 2022 at 01:39 PM by Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener). Xylocopa virginica ssp. virginica on Vernonia noveboracensis in my front yard, 2022-07-30

iNaturalist
Show threadFlatbush Gardener ๐ŸŒˆDec 25, 2022

#Colletes thoracicus, rufous-chested #CellophaneBee (#Colletidae) is another #Bee species making its home in my #Garden. Ground-nesters, each generation lives just one year. I've tracked this population since 2008, 14 generations!

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41200694

#InverteFest2022 #iNaturalist #Macro #Photography #Insects #FlowerVisitors #Pollinators #Photos #InverteFest

Rufous-backed Cellophane Bee (Colletes thoracicus)

Rufous-backed Cellophane Bee from Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY, USA on May 26, 2008 at 05:53 PM by Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener). Colletes thoracicus, rufous-chested cellophane bee, collected from along my driveway, May 2008 ...

iNaturalist
Show threadFlatbush Gardener ๐ŸŒˆDec 25, 2022

#Eristalis transversa, transverse-banded #FlowerFly (#Syrphidae) is my "spark bug". When I first noticed it in my #Brooklyn backyard in 2009, I thought it was a bee! When I learned it was a #Fly (#Diptera, "two-winged"), I was hooked.

When I saw how many different insects my #NativePlants attracted, I devoted my entire #Garden to #WildlifeHabitat #Gardening.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/98277733

#InverteFest2022 #iNaturalist #Macro #Photography #Insects #FlowerVisitors #Pollinators #Photos #InverteFest

Transverse-banded Flower Fly (Eristalis transversa)

Transverse-banded Flower Fly from Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY, USA on September 29, 2021 at 03:27 PM by Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener). *Eristalis transversa* on *Solidago* in my front yard, September 2021

iNaturalist
Show threadFlatbush Gardener ๐ŸŒˆDec 25, 2022

A beautiful native #Bee is #Augochlora pura, pure green #SweatBee. Like most of our #Bees, they are tiny!

This is one of my favorites. Aside from its beauty, its one of at least 5 bee species that nest in my yard. These nest in rotting wood, provided by logs I place in my #Garden for this purpose.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/116978932

#InverteFest2022 #iNaturalist #Macro #Photography #Insects #FlowerVisitors #Pollinators #Photos #InverteFest

Pure Green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura)

Pure Green Sweat bee from Beverly Square East, New York, United States on May 11, 2022 at 01:01 PM by Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener). Augochlora pura? exploring a log in my front yard, May 2022

iNaturalist
Show threadFlatbush Gardener ๐ŸŒˆDec 25, 2022

Wow that got the most likes of any of my pachy posts so far, and quickly! So let's keep it going.

Most of my observations are from my own garden in Brooklyn, NYC. #Harmonia axyridis, multi-colored lady #Beetle (#Coleoptera), is the 2nd most common species. This one is infected with a recently described host-specific #Fungus: Hesperomyces harmoniae.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120246696

#InverteFest2022 #iNaturalist #Macro #Photography #Insects #FlowerVisitors #Pollinators #Photos #InverteFest

Hesperomyces harmoniae

Hesperomyces harmoniae from Beverly Square East, New York, United States on May 29, 2022 at 12:00 PM by Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener). Note tufts at front of carapace and carapace-pronotum joint.

iNaturalist
Flatbush Gardener ๐ŸŒˆDec 25, 2022

Happy #InverteFest2022!

Most of my #iNaturalist observations, and much of my #Photography, are of #Insects, especially #FlowerVisitors/"#Pollinators". (Not all who visit, pollinate. Some are hunting!)

In the spirit of the season, I'll share some fave #Macro #Photos.

My most frequently observed #Species is #Bombus impatiens, the Eastern bumble #Bee.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139295658

#InverteFest #BumbleBee #Anthophila #Bees #Hymenoptera

Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens)

Common Eastern Bumble Bee from Kensington, New York, United States on October 16, 2022 at 01:41 PM by Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener). Eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) visiting Tithonia flowers, East 4th Street Community Garden...

iNaturalist