photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Fletcher Wildlife Garden | all galleries >> Monarch Waystation Project (3 Galleries) >> Milkweed plants (Asclepias) > Soldier beetle with pollen pads from milkweed flowers
previous | next
11-JUL-2011 Christine Hanrahan

Soldier beetle with pollen pads from milkweed flowers

I am posting this photo to illustrate two things, how milkweeds are pollinated, and how insects sometimes get fatally caught in the flowers. YOu can see the pollen pads on this beetle's feet. When an insect lands on a milkweed flower head, its feet sink into the individual florets and attach to the pollen pads (or packets). When the insect flies off, the pollen pads go with them and when it lands on another plant, the pads attach to the next flower. However, sometimes insects cannot extricate themselves and they die on the flowers, unable to fly away.

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
1/640s f/2.8 at 5.0mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time11-Jul-2011 11:47:25
MakeCanon
ModelCanon PowerShot SX20 IS
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length5 mm
Exposure Time1/640 sec
Aperturef/2.8
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
MarcViskens23-Jun-2012 21:08
very nice macro
Marc
Pierre07-Nov-2011 23:32
Une phot splendide et des informations très instructives! V
Fabienne28-Oct-2011 17:14
C'est la première fois que je vois que je vois qu'elle transporte du pollen, pourtant j'en ai souvent observée.
C'est une excellente macro.
joseantonio27-Oct-2011 18:50
Beautiful macro
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment