Failed attempt to shoot a pollinator

You will probably be surprised by this post containing a failed attempt to photograph something that is practically unphotographable. At least when this attempt has been made with a phone.

So you can imagine me walking around with this phone in my hands, just following a sound, a hum, trying to see this object with my eyes first, find it among the many plants and flying animals, focus it with my eyes and start chasing it in the garden.

A small, furry ball-like thing with a long, straight proboscis.
Two things are noticeable about this animal - the body and its just as long proboscis. Only that. And the sound it makes.
I just follow the sound because it is distinctly different from that of the bees.

Have you started to spot it in the picture yet? 😁

And now?

And now?
Can you see its long proboscis? Despite the lack of focus, even though the photo was taken in motion?

Don't worry, if you don't see it yet, I'll point it out to you in a moment.

This insect, this pollinator, never lands on the plants it feeds on. And that makes photographing it impossible. But considering its incredible and strange appearance, I inevitably think of that episode of the movie Married with Children, in which the main character finally manages to take pictures with a camera of the aliens who come to visit him. Well, then nothing comes from this tape. Because no one can photograph the aliens, right? Well, so do I with this little flying alien in my garden. 😄

Do you see it now?

Of course, not to just talk like that without providing you with any data and definitions, just as I can't provide you with any concrete pictures, I still looked up the name of this animal. It is about Bombylius major.

Here again:

And I can assure you that meeting this animal in our garden was experienced as meeting an alien. 😄
Yes, don't laugh. Because it's not every day that you come across insects with such a strange shape and such a peculiar behavior.

And to show you some pictures today anyway, here are some of its cousins, the bees, and some other insects:

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Copyright: @soulsdetour

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	Soul's Detour is a project started by me years ago when I had a blog about historical and not so popular tourist destinations in Eastern Belgium, West Germany and Luxembourg. Nowadays, this blog no longer exists, but I'm still here - passionate about architecture, art and mysteries and eager to share my discoveries and point of view with you.