Since I have a large Tree Cholla stand in my front yard, I visit it during May each year when it flowers. The images here were taken in 2016 and 2017. When I am photographing these beautiful purple flowers, I often see insects and other creatures that come to feed on the nectar and pollen that they produce.

In the first image, a honey bee is approaching a blossom that is fully opened for the day’s visitors.

In the next image, you can see the bee’s behind while it prospects for nectar and pollen deep inside the flower. Did you happen to notice the lurking crab spider in each of these photographs?

In this image, two emerald metallic green Halictid bees are visiting.

In this image, you can see the abdomen of a green bee who is doing the same as the honey bee you saw earlier. Also visible in this picture is a digger bee above and to the right of the green bee. The digger bee is in the same family as the honeybee but has a different lifestyle.

In the above image, a tiny red ant is on the petal of the cholla flower.

In this last image, a copper colored blow fly has stopped by for something to eat. Since he has no mouth parts for chewing, he has to slurp nutrients from the surface he is on. Flies will deposit digestive juices on these surfaces to liquify the food so they can slurp it up their straw like mouthparts. Sort of an icky way to make a living.

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