Zizotes milkweed

 Our neighbor's zizotes milkweed is flowering again!

Woolly butterfly bush

Our woolly butterfly bush has never really flourished that much. But it's survived since we planted it in May 2009. I happened to notice that it's blooming a little right now. Closer examination revealed these tiny moths, both nectaring and hanky-panky-ing. (I thought it was funny how they have to insert their entire head inside the bloom to get the job done.)

Berlandier's trumpets

 We planted this Berlandier's trumpets vine in October 2013. This is the first time I've seen blooms! Pretty!

Bustin' out Part II

Black dalea

Rock rose

New butterfly species

Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius)...another new species in our Texas Wildscape!

Soldier fly

Ever seen one of these? Stunning, right? The green immediately caught my eye. Plus, the insect was new to me. That's why, as soon as I spotted it nectaring on our Texas kidneywood yesterday evening, I had to run for my camera! 

After a little Internet sleuthing, I learned that this is a soldier fly, perhaps Odontomyia cincta. Soldier flies lay their eggs on the edges of water, and the larvae stick the tips of their abdomens up through the water surface to get air. The soldier fly family name of Stratiomyidae refers to the insect's bold markings that resemble a military uniform.  

In the meantime, I requested an ID on Bugguide.net. It wasn't long before expert Ken W. placed my photo of this fly with the tribe Stratiomyini. 

Here's more information on a related species, the black soldier fly.  

All eyes

All legs

Thought I'd throw in a photo of a bee working on a velvet-leaf mallow bloom. She's loaded down with pollen.

Bustin' out

Velvet-leaf mallow

As soon as I notice something blooming and take a photo, something ELSE has joined the color show. It's hard to keep up!

Lantanas

Windowbox wood sorrel

Evergreen sumac about to flower for first time!

Glad to see the cowpen daisy reseeded.

Oxblood lilies

Rock roses