hymenopterahumes's Identifications

Several butterflies drawn to a nearby tree branch caught my attention. As I watched, I noticed a chunky black and white insect moving slowly in the shadows—a bald-faced hornet! At first glance, the butterflies seemed interested in the hornet, moving remarkably close to it, then leaving and returning. That proximity caught my eye as I'd been stung by a bald-faced hornet once while photographing its nest as discreetly as possible. This hornet seemed lethargic or very relaxed—quite different from the hyper-vigilant, aggressive bald-faced hornets I'd observed before. I wondered if it possibly was on its last legs.

Studying the photos on my computer I noticed a glistening on the branch's top and what appeared to be a large, out-of-focus blue bottle fly off to the side. Perhaps the fly, the hornet, and the butterflies were feasting on sap oozing from the broken branch. To have such disparate species feasting cheek by jowl (antenna by proboscis) intrigued me.