Bug + flower III

I think the wildflower/weed is Erigeron philadelphicus (family Asteraceae, the sunflower family).
The insect should be fairly easy to identify with its distinctive markings on top (magnify for more detail), but that will have to wait until papers are graded and grades are in!
I liked that I caught the fly’s shadow on the flowerhead!

Bug ID.
It’s a “Syrphid fly” (order Diptera, family Syrphidae, genus Toxomerus), species Toxomerus marginatus (no common name).

One of the things I am enjoying about photographing flowers in the greenhouse is discovering flowers that are — scientifically-speaking — in the same family. For example (here), the sunflower family. Click on the family tag (right, “Asteraceae”) or follow this link, http://365project.org/tags/asteraceae

Species page at PhytoImages, http://phytoimages.siu.edu/cgi-bin/dol/dol_terminal.pl?taxon_name=Erigeron_philadelphicus&rank=binomial

Photo taken outside SIUC Plant Biology Greenhouse, http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/facilities/plant-biology-facilities/greenhouse/index.php

One year ago (“Convex reflections”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-05-10
Two years ago (“Which chain is the fan and which one is the light?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-05-10

10th May 2013 10th May 13