Insect Flower Parties

Here are some pictures that I took on a recent visit to the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa. Many different kinds of insects visit flowers for a variety of reasons.  They might be eating the pollen or nectar that the flower produces. They also might be eating other insects on the flower. Of course some of the insects on flowers will be feeding on the flower itself or laying eggs there so that their larvae can feed on the flower. Flowers can also be important meeting places for insects looking for potential mates. I'm not sure which of these activities are going on in the photos, but it can be fun to try to figure it out.