Reverdin's Blue male gathering nectar of a Giant Scabious flower in black marls.
Brown color variant of a Box Tree Moth female gathering nectar of a hemp-agrimony in the company of a most common white form of this species.
The very voracious caterpillars eat the leaves and bark of boxwoods that wither and die. Boxwood is an essential component in maintaining the soil of Diois marl, it is easy to understand that the consequences on this fragile environment will be important in the coming years if humans or nature does not quickly find a solution to regulate this insect.
Marbled White ab procida (The white spots are much thinner than in a typical individual.) male gathering nectar of a greater knapweed flower in a meadow of Diois.
A fairly rare female hoverfly gathering nectar of a giant scabious flower in a wasteland near marls. The adult is floricole, the larvae develop in the rotted wood. It serves as a taxi (phoresy) to a tiny arachnid that look like a scorpion (pseudoscorpion). He uses his pedipalpes to cling to the insects that transport him to places where he will find food. They feed on litter of small arthropods, often acarines and springtails.
A fairly rare female hoverfly gathering nectar of a giant scabious flower in a wasteland near marls. The adult is floricole, the larvae develop in the rotted wood. It serves as a taxi (phoresy) to a tiny arachnid that look like a scorpion (pseudoscorpion). He uses his pedipalpes to cling to the insects that transport him to places where he will find food. They feed on litter of small arthropods, often acarines and springtails.
A fairly rare female hoverfly gathering nectar of a giant scabious flower in a wasteland near marls. The adult is floricole, the larvae develop in the rotted wood. It serves as a taxi (phoresy) to a tiny arachnid that look like a scorpion (pseudoscorpion). He uses his pedipalpes to cling to the insects that transport him to places where he will find food. They feed on litter of small arthropods, often acarines and springtails.
A fairly rare female hoverfly gathering nectar of a giant scabious flower in a wasteland near marls. The adult is floricole, the larvae develop in the rotted wood. It serves as a taxi (phoresy) to a tiny arachnid that look like a scorpion (pseudoscorpion). He uses his pedipalpes to cling to the insects that transport him to places where he will find food. They feed on litter of small arthropods, often acarines and springtails.
A fairly rare female hoverfly gathering nectar of a giant scabious flower in a wasteland near marls. The adult is floricole, the larvae develop in the rotted wood. It serves as a taxi (phoresy) to a tiny arachnid that look like a scorpion (pseudoscorpion). He uses his pedipalpes to cling to the insects that transport him to places where he will find food. They feed on litter of small arthropods, often acarines and springtails.
Praying mantis juvenile and silver-spotted skipper on a giant scabious in a wasteland near marls. Diois, France.
Praying mantis juvenile resting on a giant scabious in a wasteland near marls. Diois, France.
Praying mantis juvenile that I found posted on a plant dried to the foot in edge of the marls. Diois, France.
Nymph of Conehead mantis female found in a small wasteland near the marls in the Diois. It has been several years that I regularly frequent the small valley of Chapias and it is nevertheless my first encounter with this species.
Nymph of Conehead mantis female found in a small wasteland near the marls in the Diois. It has been several years that I regularly frequent the small valley of Chapias and it is nevertheless my first encounter with this species.
Nymph of Conehead mantis female found in a small wasteland near the marls in the Diois. It has been several years that I regularly frequent the small valley of Chapias and it is nevertheless my first encounter with this species.
A swallowtail caterpillar on an umbellifera stem in a calcareous wasteland. Diois, France.
A swallowtail caterpillar on an umbellifera stem in a calcareous wasteland. Diois, France.
halkhill Blue (Lysandra hispana ou coridon) male resting on a faded great scabious in black marls of Diois. Drôme, France.
Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra hispana ou coridon) male resting on a faded great scabious in black marls of Diois. Drôme, France.
Adonis Blue male and Burnet moths gathering nectar of a giant scabious flower in black marl of Diois. Drôme, France.
Adonis Blue male and Burnet moths gathering nectar of a giant scabious flower in black marl of Diois. Drôme, France.
A small bee male of halictid family gathering nectar of a common ragwort flower in a calcareous wasteland. Diois, France.
Lasioglossum are terricolous, they make galleries surmounted by a small pile of earth.
A swallowtail caterpillar on an umbellifera stem in a calcareous wasteland. Diois, France.
Female of Polyommatus bellargus, coridon ou hispana taking a sunbath on a leaf. Diois, France.
A violet carpenter bee male gathering nectar of a knapweed flower in a dry calcareous meadow. Diois, France.
The males of this species are recognizable by the two yellow-orange rings which they have in the last third of their antennae.
.A violet carpenter bee male gathering nectar of a knapweed flower in a dry calcareous meadow. Diois, France.
The males of this species are recognizable by the two yellow-orange rings which they have in the last third of their antennae.
