The nature reserves in the floodplains of Empel and Hedel are never mowed and therefore sport flowery meadows and bushes in spring
and summertime.
On a warm day the area is buzzing with bumblebees and bees, but also scores of fly species, like hover fly, drone fly,dance fly and flesh fly.
The reserves are extensively grazed by cattle that via their dung create smelly ocal habitats for dung flies.
Scorpion flies got their name because the resemble real scorpions/
Crane flies sit on and under the plants and water striders gracefully
dart across the calm water surfaces.
I use a Canon SX70 HS camera to shoot the insects. The camera may not always
produce super-sharp images, but the extreme focal length of 1365 mm allows you to get close while keeping your distance. But depth
of field is an issue.
The photos are from 2022 onwards.
