Jakub Steinhűbel

It is zero or something abow the zero and We finally got a true snow after long years of wantage. I have been walking this road for many time but not in winter. It is quite different with cloudy sky unpenetrable for sun and snow under my feet. So quiet all around.  But still... I found Boreus hyemalis. This small jumping insect belongs to order Mecoptera and is found only in winter. During this cold period of the year not so many insects are seen. And that is the point. This is the life strategy how to avoid predators, but on the other hand risking freeze to death. (GPS: 48.58385, 17.24536). Winter in nature. Snow is covering fields.   Boreus hyemalis apterous ♀ with ovipositor. Boreus hyemalis  ♂ with rudimental wings.

The most spectacular sandy area Šranecké piesky si located in military area. It is former open sand mine that formed terrain depression with small periodical water ponds. In far distance are Little Carpathian mountains. (GPS: 48.53502, 17.24724) Šranecké piesky the eolitic sands.

  Nature answers only when She is questioned. If You know the question, You know the half. The Right question reveals the Truth. So why is there something, rather than nothing?   •••  Some questions don't have answers...

One of the worst blood feeder that I seasonally encounter in forest is Hyppobosca equina . Especially during the early September their attacks are somehow more frequent and always give Me multiple bites. It is hard to get rid of them once they find you. The flies are dorsoventral flattened with strong exosceleton hard to crush. The  middle pair of leg is pointed forward to the head that gives them akward look. The adult female lays mature larvae that immediately pupate in soil. (GPS: 48.59011, 17.26525). Middle pair of legs of Hippobosca equina are pointed forward to the head and wings are folded over the abdomen.   

The peculiar structure that consists of concrete blocks stretch throught the pine forest in four long rows. The main aim of this was to protect military base in deep forest against enemy tank invasion. Now it is abandoned and unfinished. Along the way small Antophora bee found Me and kept Me a company for long time until I left Its territory. During the hot summer days these green-eyed solitary bees were fast fliers that collect nectar and pollen from flowers. Especially from Echium vulgare and various Lamiaceae that are common in this sandy area. (GPS: 48.54177, 17.25331) Blue sky, fine sand and endless concrete obstacles in between. A small green-eyed Antophora bee that kept Me a company.  

This small solitary living bee builds its nests in holes that fill with trichomes from various woolly plants. The female scrapes trichomes with mandibles useing feet and coiled abdomen to make small ball that carry to nest. The emerged larvae from the egg is protected by puffy lining consist of trichomes. Until mature and pupate It feeds on pollen and nectar that female carry to nest alongside with trichomes. (GPS: 48.58390, 17.23615) .   Female of solitary bee Anthidium manicatum pilfering trichomes from Senecio maritima. Ball of trichomes ready to be transported to the nest.