When I downloaded this photograph, I noticed that there is alot going on in it.
I have taken a few photos of wetland plants for identification purposes, and I keyed this little floating plant (well, the larger one of the two…. I think the smaller one is either Lemna aequinactialis or Spirodela polyrhiza [Duckweed]) to Limnobium laevigatum. After I keyed it out, I noticed the aphids or other sucking bug, and then I noticed the fly in the upper left. It was hard enough to key the one plant out… now I have two plants in one picture, potentially competing, a herbivore concentrated on one plant, and another spectating insect that could itself and/or its larva be a predator on the herbivore!
cool pic and as you say…lot’s going on…are the three different aphid colors just different instars or different species? Do they have wings? If not, how did they get there…if you look at your duckweed, there is evidence for herbivory on it as well…? Do you ever wonder what the situation would be at night, or first thing in the AM — many thoughts…
Not sure. Maybe I’ll collect some.