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Natural History Photographs
by Cor Zonneveld
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Hasliberg, Switzerland
28 June - 10 July 2008
Flies
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Several of these magnificent Soldierlifes were feeding on Hogweed growing on a small patch of unused land close to the Reichenbachfall.
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Arctophila bombiformis
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Hasliberg, 3 July.
As its name suggests, this hoverfly mimics bumble bees. 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 photo's, too - they obviously show a fly mimicing a bumble bee.
But in reality I spotted a bumble bee! - only to realize after a minute or so it might not be a bee at all! Since very similar bumble bees were
rather common, this species might well enjoy generous protection from its color pattern.
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Chrysotoxum bicinctum
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Hasliberg, 9 July.
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Hasliberg, 5 July.
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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.
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