Natural History Photographs


Hasliberg, Switzerland

28 June - 10 July 2008



Flies
Neoitamus spec.
Hasliberg, 30 June & 3 July. Left, male; right, female.


Villa cf. cingulata
Hasliberg, 10 July.


Bombylius semifuscus
Mesembrina mystacea
Innertkirchen (ca. 1400 m); 9 July. Rosenlaui, 1 July.


Stratiomys chamaeleon
Reichenbachfall; 29 June.
Several of these magnificent Soldierlifes were feeding on Hogweed growing on a small patch of unused land close to the Reichenbachfall.


Arctophila bombiformis
Hasliberg, 3 July.

As its name suggests, this hoverfly mimics bumblebees. The match between model and mimic is often not very well conveyed by photographs, since they freeze the insect, eliminating all dynamic aspects. This might apply to these photos, too - they obviously show a fly mimicing a bumblebee. But in reality I perceived a bumblebee - only to realize after a minute or so it might not be a bee at all! Since very similar bumblebees were rather common, and bumblebees can sting, this species might well enjoy generous protection from its color pattern.

Chrysotoxum arcuatum
Innertkirchen (ca. 1400 m); 9 July.
Hasliberg, 6 July.


Chrysotoxum bicinctum
Hasliberg, 9 July.
Hasliberg, 5 July.
While I photographed this beautiful hoverfly, it expelled a droplet of yellow fluid - the meconium. This consist in metabolic waste products accumulated during metamorphosis. As the meconium is expelled shortly upon emergence, this hoverfly had only just eclosed before I spotted it.


Hasliberg, 6 July.


Epistrophe grossulariae
Hasliberg, 5, 6 & 10 July.


Dasysyrphus pinastri
Eristalis jugorum
Rosenlaui, 1 July.
Hasliberg, 29 June.


Eristalis nemorum
Hasliberg, 29 June.


Leucozona laternaria
Hasliberg, 10 July.


Leucozona lucorum
Innertkirchen (ca. 1400 m); 9 July.


Leucozona glaucia
Hasliberg, 5 & 10 July.


Melangyna spec.
Left: Hasliberg, 5 July; others: Reichenbachfall, 29 June.


Meliscaeva auricollis
Rosenlaui, 1 July.


Paragus cf finitimus
Hasliberg, 3 July.


Platycheirus spec.
Hasliberg, 8 July.


Scaeva pyrastri
Scaeva selenitica
Hasliberg, 5 July.
Hasliberg, 3 July.


Sericomyia lappona
Volucella pellucens
Innertkirchen (ca. 1400 m); 9 July. Hasliberg, 10 July.


Xanthandrus comtus
Hasliberg, 5 July.


Haematopota spec.
Hasliberg, 10 & 3 July.

Hybomitra spec.
Hasliberg, 6 July.

Hybomitra caucasica
Hasliberg, 9 July.

Hybomitra auripila
Hasliberg, 5 July.

Tabanus bromius
male
male male female
Hasliberg, 4 (bottom row) & 10 July.