Nature, Cultural, and Travel Photography Blog: 9/1/08

Pink Velour Crepe Myrtle

Crepe Myrtle or Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a species of flowering plant in the genus Lagerstroemia in the family Lythraceae.

Crepe Myrtle Flowers

Hoverflies also called Syrphid Flies or Flower Flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. The adults of Syrphid Flies feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.

Hoverfly Pictures

Purple Heart-Tradescantia pallida

Wandering Jew or Purple Heart (Scientific name: Tradescantia pallida) is an evergreen perennial plant of scrambling stature native to the Gulf Coast region of Mexico. It is distinguished by elongated, pointed leaves - themselves glaucous green, fringed with red or purple - and bearing small, sterile three-petaled flowers of white, pink or purple. Widely used as an ornamental plant in gardens and borders, as a ground cover or hanging plant.

Purple Heart Flowers

Red Bug Eggs

These pictures are of some unknown bug eggs, I found in my grapes plant. Any help in the identification would be highly appreciated.

Red Bug Eggs Pictures

Red bug eggs on leaf

Flesh Flies

Flies in the family Sarcophagidae are commonly known as flesh flies. They usually have gray bodies with three black stripes on the thorax. The abdomen has a light and dark gray checkerboard pattern and is often red at the tip. Though some species may be smaller than house flies, most flesh flies are about 10 to 13 mm long.
Flesh flies feed on a wide range of liquid substances. Most larvae infest wounds, carrion or excrement. The larvae of some species of flesh flies are beneficial in that they prey on eggs, nymphs, or larvae of more harmful insects including Lesser house fly larvae, blow fly larvae, and grasshopper nymphs.

Flesh Flies Pictures

Stray Dogs In Pakistan

Stray Dog

Stray dogs, one of the things we have in abundance in Pakistan. Pakistan is one of several countries that is still to eliminate rabies. The disease affects the central nervous system of most warm-blooded animals. Pakistan has one of the world's highest rates of rabies—an estimated 2000–5000 human cases per year. Due to poverty, lack of eduction and lack of health facilities and vaccination a large number of people die from rabies each year.

Stray Dogs Pictures

Death's Head Hawk Moth

The name Death's-head Hawk moth (Bee Robber or Bee Tiger Hawk) is a collective name for three species Acherontia atropos, Acherontia styx and Acherontia lachesis of moth in the genus Acherontia, family Sphingidae (Hawlk Moths). These moths can be easily identified by the skull-like pattern on their thorax. The pictures here are of specie Acherontia styx moth found in Asia. The larvae eat plants in the nightshade family. The moth use their short proboscis to feed on honey, rotting fruit, and tree sap.

Death's Head Hawk Moth

Death Head Moth Larva

Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) also known as Indian fig opuntia or barbary fig is a species of cactus in family Cactaceae. It grows wildly in barren and hilly areas. It's fruit know as "Tuna" is edible and are available in the local market. Due to low level of sugar in Tuna it's recommended to patients with diabetes .

Prickly Pear Cactus Flower

Prickly Pear Cactus Buds

Melon Fly-Bactrocera cucurbitae

This fruit fly called Melon Fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) belong to family Tephritidae. It's a pest of economical importance and mainly affects plants such as cucumbers, pumpkins, rockmelons, squash, watermelons, but also chillies, green beans, mangoes, papayas, tomatoes, citrus and stone fruits. It's a body length of about 6-8 mm. In pictures below you see a Melon Fly damaging pumpkin.

Melon Fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae)

Yellow Cestrum Blooms

Yellow Cestrum (Cestrum auranticum) is a perennial shrub used as an ornamental plant. Other common names are orange cestrum, orange jessamine and orange flowering jessamine.

Yellow Cestrum Blooms

Duranta Flowers Pictures

Duranta (Duranta erecta, Duranta repens) is a popular ornamental shrub, often cultivated as a hedge. Other common names are Golden dewdrop, Sky flower, Sheena’s gold, Aussie gold and Geisha girl.

Duranta Flowers