flower and bee

Trying to photograph an insect is like trying to catch the wind. I was inspired by Squirrel Queen's bee photos on her blog post and by Mackin-Art. And then that very same day, I just happened to see this bumblebee crawling all over the Lantana blossoms, wallowing in its food, sucking lustily. Eating food should be this much fun!
Squirrel Queen has 3 blogs. Do check them out. Her photography is wonderful!
The Road to Here
Through Squirrel Eyes
The Chase for Baja
more about bumblebees:
lots of information-fascinating and
here
more about lantana:
here and
here
photo by me © 2009

butterflies (number two)

Buttterflies taste with their feet and drink nectar with their proboscis, a straw-like tongue.
This is a Julia (Dryas iulia). It is native from Brazil to southern Texas and Florida. In summer, it can be found straying north into the central US. This butterfly feeds on the nectar of flowers such as lantana. Its caterpillars feed on the leaves of passion vines. It belongs to the family brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae). This photo was taken in April at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Here is my post butterflies ( number one).
photo by me ©2009