flower fly (family Syrphidae) with sticky pollen packets from milkweed flowers
UTM 18T 0378739, 4950107 - Long Bay Rd.
Regarding the yellow things stuck to this fly, entomologist friend ,Eric Eaton, posted this note:
This is a flower fly (family Syrphidae), that has visited a milkweed.
The yellow things are the unique, sticky pollen packets that milkweed flowers have. Some insects
become so entangled in these things that they die.
Thanks for that info! I'm so used to seeing mites on various insects that that's what I thought the yellow things clinging to the feet were!
Guest
30-Jul-2004 23:42
This is a flower fly (family Syrphidae), that has visited a milkweed! Those aren't mites, but the unique, sticky pollen packets that milkweed flowers have. Some insects become so entangled in these things that they die.