Flowers of Oahu 84. Bleeding heart vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae)

Flowers of Oahu 83. Jungle geranium (Ixora coccinea)

Flowers of Oahu 82. Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis)

Flowers of Oahu 81. Golden trumpet tree (Handroanthus crysotrichus)

Flowers of Oahu 80. Turk's cap mallow (Malaviscus arboreus)

Flowers of Oahu 79. Buttonbush (Cephaloanthus occidontalis)

Flowers of Oahu 78. Sky flower (Duranta erecta)

Flowers of Oahu 77. Cape plumbago (Plumbago auriculata)

Flowers of Oahu 76. Giant crinum lily (Crinum asiaticum)

Flowers of Oahu 75. Spotted spurge

Flowers of Oahu 74. Pikake (Jasminum sambac)

No Flies On Us 35. Narcissus fly (Meridon equestris) Bynea, South Wales

 

Last of the flies.

Flowers of Oahu 73. Chinese hat plant (Holmskioldia sanguinea)

Flowers of Oahu 72. Horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis)

Flowers of Oahu 71. Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)

Flowers of Oahu 70. Beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada)

Sandwich Island Saga 46. Modern iteration

Modern fibreglass versions the the canoes used by Polynesians to reach the Hawaiian islands. Now used for sporting contests.

Sandwich Island Saga 45 Introducing the Gold Dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda)

This reptile is a native of Madagascar but has been introduced to the Hawaiian Islands. 

No Flies On Us 34. Midge (Chaoborus crystalline) Oud loosdrecht, Netherlands

 

The bane of campers.

No Flies On Us 33. Lesser housefly (Fannia caniculans) North Gower, South Wales

 

Lesser but just as pesky.

Not So Much Extra Energy As a Big Slug of Caffiene?

No Flies On Us 32. Hoverfly (Xanthogramma pedissequum) Llangennith, South Wales

 

On the wild roses.

No Flies On Us 31. Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) Bynea, South Wales

 

On the nettles.

Flowers of Oahu 69. False bird of paradise (Heliconia psittacorum)

Flowers of Oahu 67. African iris (Dietes bicolor)

No Flies On Us 30. Hoverfly (Volucella bombylans) Neath Valley, South Wales

 

Bee-like hover fly.

No Flies On Us 29. Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) Holland Park, London

 

A London fly.

Sandwich Island Saga 44

Krill extract. Humans finding new ways of depriving whales and other marine organisms?

No Flies On Us 28. Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrasti) Kenfig, South Wales

 

On the Yarrow.

No Flies On Us 27. Hoverfly (Portevinia maculata) Parkmill, South Wales

 

Feeling a little blue?

Painful

Acetaminphen is known as Tylenol in the US and paracetamol in the UK. It's a non-steroidal pain-reliever and fever-reducing agent. Tylenol is thus a medication that can be safely taken by pregnant women. It doesn't interfere with their changing hormones. There's actually no reliable evidence, that taking this drug appropriately, causes autism in offspring. In spite of this, senior US politicians are insisting there's a link and that pregnant women should just "suck up the pain". Pet 'theories' lacking any evidence, is not how science works. Two things 1. A real theory is a hypothesis that's currently accepted by a majority of informed specialists and 2. Autism also probably reflects human neurodiversity (some autists are actually talented original thinkers). An additional attempt to link autism to childhood vaccination schedules is also based on zero reliable evidence. Perhaps throwing multiple 'causes' of autism into the arena is simply an attempt to bamboozle. Science isn't always right (advice changes as reliable information is added) but folk are likely to be damaged by relying on conspiracy obsessions.

Sandwich Island Saga 43

The picture emphasises the impact of humans on the unique flora and fauna of the Hawaiian islands. The state has apparently fierce requirements to restrict the accidental or deliberate introduction of problematic alien species. Groups or families have to complete a form, when entering. This, however, has been (and is) a distinctly porous exercise only applying to certain animsls, plants and soil samples

No Flies On Us 26. Hoverfly (Neoascia podagria) Loughor, South Wales

 

On the Elder flower.

No Flies On Us 25. Hoverfly (Mesembrina meridiana) Bynea, South Wales

 

Another striking hover fly.

No Flies On Us 24. Hoverfly (Melanostoma scripta) Oxwich, South Wales

 

A fly at Oxwich.

No Flies On Us 23. Hoverfly (Melanstoma scalare) National Botanical Garden of Wales

 

Another hoverfly in the National Botanical Gardens Wales.

Sandwich Island Saga 42 Back in Oahu

Once more into the breach!

No Flies On Us 22. Hoverfly (Leucozona leucorum) Loughor, South Wales

 

White flashes.

No Flies On Us 21. Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) National Botanical Garden of Wales

 

In the UK’s largest greenhouse (NBGW)

No Flies On Us 20. Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum cautum) Bynea, South Wales

 

A wasp mimic?

No Flies On Us 19. Hoverfly (Blera sp) Martiniere, France

 

A hoverfly in France,

No Flies On Us 18. Housefly (Musca domestica) Bynea, South Wales

 

Making more houseflies.

No Flies On Us 17. Greenbottle (Lucilia caesar) Oxwich, South Wales

 

Greenbottle on the catkins

No Flies On Us 16. Flesh fly (Sarcophaga carnaria) Loughor, South Wales

 

Sins of the flesh?

No Flies On Us 15. Fever fly (Dilophus febrelis) Bynea, South Wales

 

You give me fever!

No Flies On Us 14. Fallenia fasciata Bynea, South Wales

 

Big and striking.

No Flies On Us 13. Hoverfly (Episyrphus baleatus) Crymlyn Burrows, South Wales

 

Fly amongst the flowers!

No Flies On Us 12. Empis tessellata Loughor, South Wales

 

Waiting for Godot?

No Flies On Us 11. Drone fly (Eristalis tenax)

 

Drone amongst the crocuses.

No Flies On Us 10. Cleg fly (Haematopota pluvialis) Loughor South Wales

 

Yer 'horsefly'