Magnified Insects

More Microscope Pics

In one of Busch Gardens' many well-kept flower beds we saw what looked like a large bee flying from flower to flower. On closer inspection we noticed the "bee" had a flat tail area unlike any familiar bee. I believe we saw a Hummingbird Moth with yellow and black coloring. It really resembles a bee at first glance as you can see in the following picture.

Just a few feet from the Hummingbird Moth a yellow Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly fluttered from blossom to blossom.

A Painted Lady butterfly is also present in the upper left corner of the previous picture.

Lots of Tiger Swallowtails are flying about these days, and they frequently collide with cars. I found a well-preserved dead specimen in a parking lot. Under the microscope details of its head were revealed.

Since the eyes and coiled proboscis are different distances from the microscope lens, they are not simultaneously in focus. The next picture focused on the coiled proboscis.

The next image focused on part of the eye closest to the lens. (The bright silver-colored eye area is a reflection of the bright overhead light source.)

Next is a magnified portion of the colorful butterfly wing.

Since the wing was nearly flat, it was possible to bring the crescent-shaped yellow portion above into focus at higher magnification.

A dead Robber Fly from my front porch was a good subject to magnify. Check out the claws on its legs.

Next is a side and top view of the tail.

Notice the small dark oval opening just to the left of the neck in the next picture.

When I magnified the oval opening I noticed movement! An ant was feeding inside the body of the fly! One of the ant's antennae is emerging from the cavity in the close view below. Part of the ant's head is also visible within the hole.

I still marvel at the microscope's wonderful ability to reveal things hidden from normal sight.