Natural History Photographs


Seasons in the Netherlands
Spring 2007


Wasps & Bees
Lasioglossum
cf. calceatum

Osmia rufa
Bloesembos (Amstelveen); 11 March.
Feeding at Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Amstelveen; 13 March.
Feeding at Lesser Celandine
(Ranunculus ficaria)
Apis mellifera
Amstelveen; 15 March.
Honeybee feeding on male willow catkins (Salix sp.)
Andrena vaga
Fochteloërveen; 22 April.
Collecting pollen on its exclusive larval
food source, willow catkins (Salix sp.)
Andrena ventralis Andrena florea
Geuldal near Epen (Zuid-Limburg);
5 May. At Ranunculus spec.
Vaals (Zuid-Limburg); 6 May.
At Bryonia dioica.
Nomada spec.
Amstelveen; 1 April.
Feeding at Dandelion (Taraxacum sp.)
Ammophila spec. Philanthus triangulum
Tafelbergheide; 18 May.
Feeding on bramble (Rubus spec.)
Amstelveen; 19 May.
Perching male.


Hoverflies

Meliscaeva auricollis Eristalis tenax
Bloesembos (Amstelveen); 13 & 15 March. Feeding at male willow catkins.
Eristalis spec. Syrphus torvus
Bloesembos (Amstelveen); 13 & 15 March. On Coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara.
Cheilosia chrysocoma
Near Fochteloërveen; 22 April.
In flight, this furry fly is a very good mimic of the bee Andrena fulva.
Here it is feeding at female willow catkins.
Eupeodes luniger
Amstelveen; 10 & 17 March. Feeding at Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa.
Syrphus torvus
Amstelveen; 13 March. At Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa.
Xylota sylvarum
Geuldal near Epen (Zuid-Limburg); 5 May.
At Buttercup, Ranunculus spec.
Temnostoma bombylans
Amsterdamse bos; 15 May.
A convincing wasp mimic. The front legs mimic a wasp's antennae.




Flies

Sepsis spec.
Amstelveen; 8 March.
Bloesembos (near Amstelveen);
10 March.
Sepsis punctum
Bloesembos (Amstelveen); 11 March.
Feeding at Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

Myopa testacea
Bloesembos (Amstelveen); 13 March. On the outlook for Bumblebees, its larval host.
Scatophaga spec. Lucillia spec.
Amstelveen; 10 March.
At Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
Bloesembos (Amstelveen); 11 March.
At Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara).
Phaonia spec.
Amsterdamse bos; 17 March. Feeding on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
Bombylius spec. Bombylius major
Geuldal near Epen (Zuid-Limburg); 5 May.
Feeding at Melandirum rubrum
Slenaken (Zuid-Limburg); 5 May.
Female collecting sand to coat the eggs.
Acrosathe annulata
Nieuw Bussumerheide; 25 April.
Dysmachus trigonus
Limitische heide; 25 April. Nieuw Bussumerheide; 18 May.
Gymnosoma cf. nudifrons
Nieuw Bussumerheide; 18 May.


Butterflies

Aglais urticae
Bloesembos (Amstelveen); 15 March.
Small Tortoiseshell at Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara).
Amstelveen; 13 March.
Small Tortoiseshell at Blacthorn (Prunus spinosa).
Polygonia c-album
Amstelveen; 2 April.
Comma butterfly at Blacthorn (Prunus spinosa).