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#flies

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@BBCNews Black soldier flies have beautiful eyes, and their abdomens can be bright red:

inaturalist.org/observations/1

The "ugly" maggots are always hidden away, into soil. Whereas adults are beautiful and sleek, and are quite easy to recognise; with their distribution being worldwide almost certainly there are some near where you are. See a few that I've spotted:
inaturalist.org/lifelists/albe

iNaturalistBlack Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)Black Soldier Fly from Hvar, Jelsa, County of Split-Dalmatia, HR on August 14, 2022 at 02:56 PM by Albert Cardona. Astounding blueish eye. On a lemon tree leaf.

Excerpt from "Gardening for Butterflies and #Pollinators" -- #IowaStateUniversity Cooperative Extension

"Common Pollinators in #Iowa

"Common insect pollinators in Iowa include honey bees [not native, and can compete and overwhelm native bees], #bumblebees, #SolitaryBees, #beetles, #butterflies, #flies, #ants, and #wasps. These insects are not selflessly doing a favor to the flowers. The insects are enticed to do the job with a reward of food. The food is usually nectar (sugar and water) and pollen (protein).

How to Establish a Butterfly or #PollinatorGarden

"Sunny Location

"Locate your garden where it receives the greatest amount of sun exposure possible. Insects such as butterflies and
pollinators are cold-blooded and depend on the sun to warm their bodies. Also, the plants on which butterflies and pollinators depend generally grow better in full sun (six or more hours of sunshine per day).

"Nectar and Pollen Sources

"Different species of butterflies and pollinating insects are active at different times of the year. Therefore
it is important to provide pollen and nectar sources throughout the growing season and offer various flower shapes and sizes. Plant in groups—not rows— to increase the likelihood of butterflies and pollinators finding and choosing your garden for a feeding stop."

Web page:
yardandgarden.extension.iastat

Link to PDF:
store.extension.iastate.edu/Pr
#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForBees #Gardening

Gardening for Butterflies and Pollinators
Yard and GardenGardening for Butterflies and PollinatorsA butterfly garden can be created as simply as planting a bunch of butterfly-favorite plants in a sunny corner of your yard. Learn about effective butterfly garden characteristics and which host and nectar plants are best for different butterflies.