Friday, January 24, 2020

Insect Talk

In 1828, at the age of 21, Charles Darwin wrote:

I am dying by inches from not having anybody to talk to about insects.
Check out the pollen baskets on this bee.  You can tell the color of the flowers she's visited by the color of her pollen baskets.  The bees are loving the Thai basil on my balcony.  It is grown here as an ornamental plant because it grows big and bushy and can survive the summer heat.
Only managed one walk this week.  My husband had a hacking cough last week and Sunday morning I woke up with my throat burning like crazy.  Tried to do some yoga but wound up feeling nauseous.
Made myself go out on Monday to get some movement and fresh air.
In the meantime, as I mentioned in my last post, my balcony continues to bring me great joy and entertainment.
The hoverfly is known as the helicopter of the insect world because of its ability to hover and dart quickly.
An Instagram friend messaged to say that I have a really good camera to get these kinds of shots and was surprised when I told her that these are all taken with my iPhone 6.  With natural light and insects indulging my curiosity, I'm able to get up super close for what looks like macro shots.
I was especially pleased when this painted lady allowed me to get up close and personal.
Really close.
So interesting to discover that painted ladies have fuzzy bodies.
No doubt wondering who the crazy lady with the camera is.  :)

On January 13th, I saw something yellow flutter by so went to investigate.
A butterfly I'd not see before.
Did some research and believe it to be a Colias croceus a/k/a Clouded Yellow.
This one also let me get up super close to take some amazing photos.  Love how its proboscis is curled up in the first photo and then is unfurled for feeding above.
Yellow butterflies are thought to deliver spiritual messages about hope and transformation.
Yellow represents energy, optimism and joy.

Happy Friday!

14 comments:

Quinn said...

I hadn't had a bad cold in many years until last October - and then I went through a range of symptoms that seemed to make up for all the colds I had managed to miss! I survived three rough weeks by taking timely sips of an herbal syrup I discovered when I was in Ireland and found available online from the UK. I had ordered it on a whim and it sat in my cupboard for a couple of years, but wow, was I glad it was there when I needed it.
I hope you soon feel completely well, Tammy!

linda said...

Amazing photo's Tammy, the subject for my photography group in July is insects I hope that I can get some shots nearly as good as these. :) xx

Mary said...

Sorry you've both been ill - hope better health ahead.
These really are great pix taken with your phone Tammy, especially the iPhone 6. I have the 7+ which is probably about the same camera and must admit some shots, mainly close ups, are better than my reg. camera!
Love the colors here, especially the golds with the purplish flowers.
Have a good weekend .

Betsy said...

I'm so sorry you haven't felt well this week Tammy. I hope you're feeling a bit better by now. I don't think it's any surprise that the insects stay still for you. I think the word has gotten out in the insect world that you and your balcony are safe harbors for them. They know they have nothing to fear. That Painted Lady with the furry body is simply amazing. And the shot of the butterfly feeding, before and after is so detailed. My phone is an iPhone 6 but my photos never, ever turn out as stunning as yours. Thank you so much for sharing the beauty with us Tammy. I will be praying for you to feel better very soon. Lots of nasty bugs out there this year.
Blessings,
Betsy

Wanda said...

Those hacking coughs are the worst. Sorry to hear you and your hubby have been under the weather. Your photo's are contest winners. I just love how close up and personal you get with the little creatures on your balcony.

Get well soon, and sending love and hugs and prayers.

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Tammy,
Those are incredible insights in the feeding of insects on your balcony!
Pieter made the other day the same remark about in the past having to tote a big camera and different lenses and now, we make real good photos just with our iPhone!
Life is less complicated in that area.
Hope your husband is fit again and you yourself too.
Just had a bad week with severe midback arthritis flaring up once again.
Usually I'm without any problem but it had to show me its still there and lurking...
Also had a very sad week where a sweet blogger friend had suddenly passed away at age 61.
So very sad but she left a legacy in her educational and also humorous way of writing and excellent photos.
Her love for life and for nature, cats will be passed on to her children and grandchildren and we can feel grateful for having met them!!!
Hugs to you sweet lady!
Mariette

Sam I Am...... said...

Beautiful photos! I had no idea about the significance of the yellow butterfly! My favorite color is yellow.

Teresa Kasner said...

Sorry you two had an illness.. but I'm glad you're on the mend. I'm scared to death to get a bad cold or flu. I love all the flying creatures that are attracted to your balcony garden. Your phone is capturing some wonderful close-ups. I use my iPhone 11 for all my blog photos except the zoom images which the iPhone is not good at. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Linda said...

Hi Tammy,
So this is where all the bees and butterflies are in the winter! lol :) It's nice to see them and those are wonderful photos. I've managed some photos like that with my iPhone but I prefer using my Nikon camera for most. I'm not always happy with my phone photos; I'm picky. ;)

Sorry to hear you and your husband weren't feeling well. Hope you're better now. We don't seem to get ill very often; hoping that continues. Of course, we rarely are out with other people since we retired. Mostly it's just me and Jim together at home, except for the couple of times a week that we might be with Sarah and her husband Dakota. We truly don't have friends that we see often and neither of us are involved in any outside groups. Funny, but it's exactly the kind of life my parents lived together.

I did manage to get out for an outside walk/run this week - I try to do that on the mild winter days without a cold wind. Otherwise, every morning it's up and at'em on the treadmill in the garage where I blast my must and run for 4 miles and lift weights. I've been doing the weights for 2 months and my arms are quite defined now which is exciting to me.

Oh well, didn't mean for this to be so wordy, but it's been a bit since I wrote on here. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
Linda

Mrs. Micawber said...

Oh, I am loving these flower and bug photos! They make me long for summer. That curled proboscis on the butterfly is so darn cute.

Hope you both feel better soon, Tammy.

Angie said...

Tammy - sorry you and the hubby have been under the weather. Thank goodness you have your balcony - nature and entertainment come to you!! The only insects I am seeing these days are flies, stinkbugs and small spiders - I certainly prefer your photographs!!!

PKBrandon said...

Hi Tammy, I haven't visited in ages. These photographs are incredible and I love them. I love watching wildlife of all types.

Hope you feel better soon. I know a lot of people here are coming down with a virus of some sort that lasts about a week. :(

Jodiebodie said...

Oh wow! Those photos are amazing! So fascinating! I can see now that the 'bee' in a later post is most likely to be a wasp? I hope you are feeling much better by the time this message reaches you. Take it easy. Resting on the balcony sounds like good medicine. xx

A Casa Madeira said...

Beautiful images.
You can paint beautiful watercolors

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