Bristle Flies and Friends

 I wanted to do a guest post of some photos my wife, Olivia, took while butterfly hunting at the Schoodic Section of Acadia National Park.  She found these two "Bristle Flies" and their friends nectaring on a beautiful patch of Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota).  Above is Hystricia abrupta, a large member of the Tachnidae family of parasitic "true flies."

Great Bristle Fly and Macro Photography link

To give you a good idea of the size of this beastie....here he is with his friend and fellow diner....a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Queen Anne's Lace Poem

Here's another "Bristle Fly," Voria ruralis  nectaring on Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) and making friends with a Goldenrod Spider (Misumena vatia).  I'd be careful if I were you, Mr Fly....that spider eats insects!

Mary Howitt poem, "The Spider and the Fly."

 Voria ruralis link

Goldenrod Spider link

"Mysterious and little known organisms live within walking distance of where you sit.  Splendor awaits in minute proportions."

E.O. Wilson