Sunday, April 21, 2013

Thistle Magnet

All Photos by Fred Fisher  4/10/2013
Lots of insects like New Mexico Thistle (Cirsium neomexicanum); bees dive in above.




The 'bugs' above are a type of Blister Beetle. From Margarethe Brummermann:

Dull orange beetles of the genus Nemognatha love the thick pink heads of New Mexico Thistles. Their elongated maxillae form a sucking tube that allows them to compete with bees for the nectar. On the flower heads they also find mates and lay their eggs.




Thanks, Fred Fisher, for these fantastic finds!

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