A spicebush swallowtail butterfly is sitting on the ground. The pic, shot from above, shows large black wings slightly apart. The black background is contrasted by white-to-teal splotches on the wing edges, with two orange spots near the body.

Spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus). #photography #butterfly #butterflies #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #lepidoptera #spicebushswallowtail #spicebushbutterfly #naturephotograph #photos A

A small zebra wing butterfly collects nectar from the cone of a echinacea flower that has light purple and white petals.

A zebra longwing butterfly (Heliconius charithonia) on an Echinacea blossom. #photography #butterfly #butterflies #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #lepidoptera #zebralongwing #zebralongwings #naturephotograph #flowers #echinacea #flowerphotography

A pair of colorful orange, yellow, and black delta flower scarab beetles are mating on a large white petalled duck potato blossom.

Amorous delta flower scarab beetles (Trigonopeltastes delta) on a duck potato blossom (Sagittaria latifolia). #photography #scarabs #beetles #insects #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #coleoptera #arthopoda #wetlands #wetlandplants #naturephotography #insectphotography

Female eastern amberwing dragonfly sunning atop the leaf on a blossoming jasmine vine

Female eastern amberwing dragonfly (Perithemis tenera) sunning atop the leaf of a blossoming jasmine vine (Jasminum spp.). #photography #dragonfly #dragonflies #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #odanata #amberwing #naturephotography #arthropoda #wildlifephotograpy

A spicebush swallowtail butterfly, with black wings speckled with white, orange and aqua blue splotches, is drinking nectar from the red flower of a cypress vine morning glory. The morning glory vines are entangled with the mesh of a chain-link fence.

Spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) getting a drink out of a Cypress vine morning glory (Ipomoea quamoclit). #photography #butterfly #butterflies #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #lepidoptera #spicebushswallowtail #spicebushbutterfly #naturephotograph

Sunlit male eastern pond hawk dragonfly basking on a fence railing. His transparent wings cast an shadowed illusion of very large wings.

Male eastern pondhawk dragonfly (Erythemis simplicicollis). Dragonfly wings create some of the most interesting optical effects. #photography #dragonfly #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #odanata #pondhawk #naturephotography #arthropoda #wildlifephotograpy

Banded bee-fly resting on some grass. The fly is a bumble bee and honey bee mimic with alternating light and dark stripes.

Banded Bee Fly (Villa spp.) The mimicry works well on humans. Most people will shy away from beeflies. #photography #fly #beeflies #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #diptera #naturephotography #arthropoda #mimicry

Slender parasitic wasp harvesting pollen from horsemint blossoms.

A solitary, parasitic wasp(Campsomeris plumipes fossulana...I think) collecting pollen from Horsemint(Monarda punctata). These wasp parasitize beetle grubs like Japanese Beetles. Good for lawns and gardens. #photography #wasp #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #hymenoptera #naturephotography

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). I believe this is a female. tors. #photography #butterfly #butterflies #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #lepidoptera #monarch #monarchbutterfly #naturephotography #insectphotography

Red paper wasp (Polistes carolinas) feeding on pollen. Short tempered near the nest the females are much more easy going when foraging. FYI, many adult wasps are important pollinators. #photography #wasp #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #hymenoptera #polistes #paperwasp #naturephotography

Male thornbush dasher dragonfly (Micrathyria hagenii). #photography #dragonfly #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #odanata #dashers #naturephotography

Female eastern amberwing dragonfly (Perithemis tenera). These small dragonflies mimic wasps behaviorally, and can be seen on her abdomen coloration, some anatomical mimicry. #photography #dragonfly #insect #floridainsect #nature #wildlife #odanata #amberwing #floridainsects #naturephotography

Female eastern amberwing dragonfly (Perithemis tenera). Love optical illusion nature of this shot (wings look to be behind the screen though the body clearly shows it is in front of the screen). These small dragonflies mimic wasps behaviorally. #photography #dragonfly #insect #floridainsect #nature