I spent all day working in the garden and kept the camera nearby to catch any visitors. I’m used to the bumblebees and the big fat carpenter bees but this was a new one feasting on the Clarkias today. His abdomen was very flat. I haven’t been able to ID it yet. Any bee experts want to give it a shot?
This moth was hiding under the Mimulus guttatus.
Damselfly but I can’t id what kind.
Strange bee chasing creature working on her suntan.
Not much into insects, but that puppy is the CUUUUUTE!
Yeah, I wasn’t much into insects into I put in the native garden. Now there are all kinds of cool critters showing up.
Cassie cracks me up with that black fur going out to lay in the sun. Guess it’s exhausting chasing bees. 🙂
It’s not a bee but a fly — either a drone fly or a hover fly. These flies mimick bees, which is a very useful ploy. Flies have only a single pair of wings and big eyes and a wide waist, while bees have two sets of wings, smaller eyes, and a small waist. Here’s a website that will show you several species — http://www.gardensafari.net/english/hoverflies.htm
I think it’s a drone fly, personally.
Amazing pictures — your garden is clearly teeming with life! And the one of Cassie soaking in the sun made me smile.