Category: Dune Ridge Trail

The Fly’s Eye

Posted on by MC2 · Leave a comment

You’ve heard the phrase the Bee’s Knees? Well this post is about the Fly’s Eyes. The eye’s of many insects are fascinating to look at up close. Flys in particular have some of the most interesting and down right beautiful eyes in nature.

This is a photograph of a Hoverfly which was hovering about a foot above the sand on the Dune Ridge trail in the Indiana Dunes National Park. It was taken on a bright and very hot afternoon in June at a particular spot on this trail which I know from past visits is a good place to find Hoverflys in the act of hovering. Getting a clear photograph like this is an interesting technical challenge which I will touch on in an upcoming post. For the moment however I just want to focus on the beautiful eyes of this cute little Hoverfly.

Awesome Flies

Posted on by MC2 · Leave a comment

Flies are one of natures most under-appreciated pollenators. Bee’s and Butterfly’s get all the glory, but Flies do much of the work. Plus they are really very photogenic when you get up close and personal as I like to do. Some fun facts about flys…

  • There are over 150,000 species of flies.
  • Flies are second only to Bee’s when it comes to pollenating, and they totally smoke Butterflies in this role.
  • Flies are among the first pollenators to emerge in the early spring. They are hard at work long before the majority of Bee’s and Butterflies have even gotten out of bed for the season.
  • Flies play a crucial role in breaking down animal waste into nutrients.
  • Sure Flies carry and transmit diseases, but disease is part of a healthy ecosystem.
  • Maggot Debridement Therapy. Certain maggots (fly larvae) are used to debride dead flesh associated with injuries in people. Removal of the dead flesh promotes faster healing, and the maggot’s secretions have antibiotic properties.
  • Flies are simply prettier than Bee’s and Butterflies, at least in my opinion.
Here we see a typical fly, hard at work pollenating the first wildflowers of the season in early April.
This one is tough to see against the muddy background as it is brown and light tan itself. But just left of center is one of the more unusual flies, the Bee-Fly which mimic’s Bee’s to scare off predators. You may have to click on the image and view it full size to make out the fly.
Crane Flies are pretty big. They don’t bite however, in fact they lack mouth parts. Most species live about 10 days and do not eat in this time.
Flies are simply fascinating in their appearance. But you have to get a real close view to really appreciate them.
Mosquitos are a species of Fly as it turns out. Although widely regarded as blood sucking pests, there are some varieties that subsist on nectar, and thus act as pollenators.
Click on this image to view it full size. If you look closely just behind the Butterfly, you will spot a Hoverfly.
Here we have a more close-up view of the back side of a Hoverfly. This species is really attractive and typically sports vibrant colors.

Yep, Flies really are the Rockstars of the pollenating insect realm.