The Adventures of GreedyFly...

[Brian Barnes]

Hello All!
During a recent field trek in one of my favorite local Sarracenia bogs, I came across this interesting and quite thirsty subject. I observed him drinking nectar from several areas around the lip and hood of this Sarracenia minor for about twenty minutes at least!


When he had his fill, he was quite a docile subject to photograph and allowed me to get rather close for a few shots... Despite a light breeze, he still stayed put, even flying on a few occasions to land on my cap, then return to the pitcher.


This last photo shows the fly laying drunkenly on the pitcher lid, absolutely gorged with nectar. He actually lost his footing on two occasions and fell down several inches, before beating his wings and returning to the lid. You can see his sideways, unsure footing! I've therefore given him the well-suited name of Mr. GreedyFly...
I hope you all enjoy!
Happy Growing,
Brian.

[aidan]

He looks very much like a Flesh-fly, even down to his fetching footwear. ;D

Large, easily identified flies with a chequerboard patterned abdomen.

www.cirrusimage.com/flies_flesh_Sarcophaga.htm

[Brian Barnes]

Thanks for the ID, Aidan!
Hmmmm.....either there was a carcass in the area that I couldn't smell or the smell of the dead insects within the pitcher attracted him/her and it decided to gorge on the honey-sweet goodness! More than likely, the latter.
I did peer inside one of them and they are quite loaded... ;D
Happy Growing,
Brian.