Bee Fly

This is a blog post devoted to a very intriguing insect. He is called a Bee Fly. I have seen them before, but I have never really gotten a chance to photograph them or look at them closely. That changed yesterday afternoon while I was out getting pictures. 

The photo below is a Bee Fly on a flower. They obviously liked these flowers a lot. He used His super-long nose (or proboscis) to drink the nectar on the flower. I've read that they often use their noses to drink while flying so as to avoid predators on the flower, but I have not observed this yet.

His body is about 1/4-3/8 of an inch long, and with his nose he is probably just under half an inch long. His wings vibrate with a buzzing noise even while he drinks. That is what makes them easiest to find, for if you can't see them, you can often hear them. (For any of these pictures, click for an enlargement)

This was the strangest thing I noticed about the Bee Fly: he flies with his legs sticking straight up into the air! I couldn't figure why. I tried to research him, but there just isn't that much information on his flight behaviors. But as you can see, he just flies along with his legs sticking happily up into the air.

I love this little bug! You can see how he puts his front two pairs of arms together in a somewhat aerodynamic position, while his back two legs float wildly above him. He doesn't fly quickly (unless disturbed. Then he is VERY zippy!), but he is very under control. His flight is very much like a helicopter: he hovers, makes determined flight choices, and always approaches his target with extreme care. Such an amazing creature.

The only thing I could figure about his "leg thing" is that he used them as some sort of air sensor. Perhaps he was getting them above his wings where the air would be less disturbed. That way, if an enemy approached and he sensed the turbulence in the air, he could zip away and escape. Just an idea, but I really don't know.

All I know is that the Bee Fly is an amazing little insect, and there is no way he could have evolved. Only an EXTREMELY creative Creator could have created such an incredible critter. 

If you can find any good information about these insects, please share it with me!

Summer Vegetation

His Favor

A Rainstorm

We've been having the first of our summer thunderstorms here in Kentucky. The photos below are from a rainstorm that hit the morning after a very strong thunderstorm. The wall of rain was really something to see, until we realized that we were too close to it. We got wet!

Oh the power and majesty of God displayed in a storm like this! I look at the clouds, and am reminded just how small I am. Realizing that He is completely in control of the power contained in these storms is really an amazing thing. He is so much bigger than I often realize, so much greater, so much stronger. 

(If this is too hard to read, simply click on the image)

Transformed!

The following photographs are the same caterpillar, through the same chrysalis, to the same butterfly. We found him last summer and my sister Kate took care of him until he hatched.

The life of a caterpillar/butterfly is an amazing depiction of the life of a person whom God has chosen to bring into His kingdom. We start out as ugly worms, like the one below. In order to protect himself from predators, he colors himself like bird droppings! Talk about ugly!

That is an amazing transformation. How is it that an insect that started out as a harmful, ugly worm can become a beneficial, beautiful butterfly? The answer: because God made it to. That is exactly how it works for us. We start out ugly, sinful, dead in our trespasses. But Christ can change all of that: "Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:20-21). When a sinner places his faith on Christ and His Gospel, a marvelous transformation occurs. Isn't that amazing? How wonderful it is that God through Christ can transform my lowly body to be more like His glorious body! Continue the transformation, Lord.

A Doe and Her Fawn

A few days back, I was in the woods when I stumbled upon a tiny fawn curled up in the weeds. He was absolutely adorable, but for fear of somehow causing his mother to abandon him, I left pretty quickly. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me, and the next day when I returned with my camera, he was gone.

However, yesterday morning as I was heading out to feed our dog, I glanced down toward The Field (see map at the bottom of the page) and saw the fawn and its mother! I was terribly excited, so I ducked down out of sight and quietly fed the dog. I then returned to the house, grabbed my camera and tripod, and got positioned. It was tricky, because I knew that the instant the doe saw me, she would take off. I stayed in the weeds and zoomed my camera. The picture on the bottom is my favorite. For an enlargement, I think you can just click on the image.

I was even able to set up and take a movie. It may be difficult to see, but the fawn skips out toward the middle of the screen, then returns to its mother nearer to the bottom.

It was absolutely beautiful watching those two animals. The doe was eating the grass, and the fawn was skipping around playing. I've never seen anything like it before. I wish I could have gotten better photos! Some of the things God creates display His power, and others His majesty, but this one displayed something else: His tenderness and love, both in the delicacy of this playful fawn and in the mother's care for it. What a beautiful experience. Thanks God!

How Great Thou Art!

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O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works Thy hands have made,

I see the stars,

I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy pow'r thro'out the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When thro' the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

 And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;

 Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou Art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; 

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration and there proclaim: my God, how great Thou art!

 Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou art! 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

-Stuart K. Hine, 1953