Mika Geiger Photography

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Mika Geiger Photography

Nature photography, specializing in macro

04/13/2026

She reminded me of a kid diving into a ball pit.

This cactus chimney bee disappeared into the center of an alicoche bloom, leaving just a hint of her behind before popping back out coated in pollen. (You can just see her bottom sticking up in the next photo)

She’s built for this—compact enough to push deep into the flower, with dense hairs that catch pollen as she moves through. And the flower seems to be designed for her as well. To reach the nectar, she has to push through that pollen, and there’s no real way in or out without brushing against that large green tube in the center—leaving pollen right where it needs to be, and carrying the rest with her to the next bloom.

04/10/2026

Eight legs… and eight eyes to match.

If you’ve ever felt like a jumping spider was watching you… you’re probably right. There’s something about those eyes that makes them feel a little relatable. They’re also part of what makes them such skilled hunters.

Those four big ones front and center are doing the detailed work—locking in on prey, judging distance, and helping them make those precise little jumps.

But they’re not working alone.

The smaller eyes, including the ones off to the side (like on this cardinal jumping spider in the second photo), are always on the lookout for movement—quietly keeping track of what’s happening all around them.

All of that vision adds up to a pretty effective hunter… even if they come across as more curious than anything else.

04/06/2026

Tucked inside this wine cup bloom, this ligated furrow bee may look like she’s sleeping, but she’s working hard. She’s fast—spinning around collecting pollen, in and out of the bloom in just a few seconds before heading to the next.

As I watch bees, I try to notice their patterns—how they fly, how long they stay at each bloom - she was a 3 second bee😅. It helps me anticipate where they’ll be next and stay with them a little longer. There’s always a lot of luck involved though.

I’m so grateful that our neighbors planted this small strip of wildflowers between their fence and the sidewalk. It’s a lively little mix that draws in all kinds of insect visitors, and it’s become one of my favorite places to take a break from my computer and get lost for a while in whatever’s unfolding there.

03/16/2026

Wasp or Bee?

At first glance, I thought this tiny visitor on a Texas baby blue eyes flower at Zilker Botanical Garden was a wasp. With its smooth body and yellow markings, it certainly looked the part.

But it’s actually a masked bee — a native solitary bee. Unlike most bees that carry pollen on hairy legs or bellies, masked bees swallow pollen and nectar and carry it inside their bodies. Later, they regurgitate it to provision the nursery for their larvae.

They nest in small cavities like hollow stems, lining each chamber with a cellophane-like secretion before sealing an egg inside with its food supply.

I’ve learn a lot about Texas native bees from wildbeesoftexas.com — a wonderful resource.

🐝

03/09/2026

I first noticed the Mexican plum trees at Zilker Botanical Garden by their scent. The fragrance carries surprisingly far, and when I followed it I found the trees full of happy pollinators.

While I was watching the activity around the flowers, this White-lined Sphinx Moth began hovering above the blooms, reaching in with her long proboscis for nectar. In flight, sphinx moths are remarkably agile, able to hover in place and dart quickly from flower to flower — which is why they’re often called “hummingbird moths.”

When I returned the following week with a longer lens, hoping to photograph more insects from a distance, the Mexican plum blossoms were already finished. Their blooming window had already come and gone.

03/06/2026

This Long-tailed Skipper drifted through the blossoms of a Mexican plum tree, the flowers behind it looking almost like little clouds.

The long tails on their hindwings aren’t just decorative. They may help the butterfly survive an attack. The tail often draws a predator’s strike away from the butterfly’s body, and it can tear without seriously harming it. Better to lose part of a wing than the head.

03/04/2026

Male and Female Blueberry Mason Bees
These two bees are blueberry mason bees (Osmia ribifloris), one of our early spring native pollinators. They often gather around flowering trees like redbud, mexican plum and mountain laurel, which provide some of the first nectar and pollen of the season.
The bee with the longer antennae is the male (1st photo). Male mason bees emerge first in spring and spend their time patrolling blossoms and waiting for females to appear.
The bee with the shorter antennae and pollen on her belly is the female (2nd photo). Female mason bees carry pollen on dense hairs along the underside of their abdomen rather than in baskets on their legs like bumble bees. That golden dust you see is redbud pollen.
After mating, the female won’t stay long in the blossoms. She’ll search for a hollow stem or an abandoned beetle tunnel in wood. There she’ll gather pollen and nectar, pack them into small chambers, lay a single egg on each carefully prepared bundle, and seal each nursery with mud.
So while the males wait among the blossoms, the females are already gathering supplies for the next generation.

02/23/2026

I was out hiking with the photo group from Balcones Canyonlands Texas Master Naturalist at CTX chapter when Ruthann Panipinto spotted this Carolina green anole.

From 10:33:43a.m. to 10:34:29a.m.— less than a minute — it shifted from brown to yellow while I was photographing it! I only noticed the change when I reviewed the photos later.

Carolina green anoles don’t change color just to match whatever they’re sitting on. Their shifts in color are driven by specialized pigment cells in the skin that respond to temperature, light, stress, and social signals.

It’s less about blending in and more about responding to what’s happening around them.

02/19/2026

more about those “mittens” on that male leafcutter bee in my last post.

Those fuzzy front legs have a very specific purpose.During mating, males place them gently over the female’s eyes. They’re believed to help her determine he’s the right species — likely through a mix of touch, light, and even scent.

Male leafcutter bees don’t actively gather pollen or build nests, but their job is no small one. Their persistence is what ensures the next generation.

Very little in nature is accidental.

02/16/2026

I had barely stepped onto a sunflower-lined trail when a tiny standoff caught my attention.

This male leafcutter bee was patrolling a small stretch of the trail, chasing off anything that flew too close. You can recognize males by the little “mittens” on their front legs — though despite all that bravado, leafcutter bees are harmless.
The grasshopper, meanwhile, seemed completely unimpressed and kept right on munching.
The bee returned again and again, each pass a little closer than the last…
until the grasshopper finally made his opinion known (2nd photo)

Sony 7RV
Sony 90mm macro lens

12/22/2025

The Magic of Rain

Maybe butterflies decorate for the holidays with raindrops.

A Ceraunus Blue resting as she warmed up and dried off after the rain, with a single drop balanced on the tip of her proboscis.

Hope you discover a little of nature’s magic during your holiday

12/09/2025

Guess who was peeking out at me?

Meet the Ailanthus Webworm Moth.

When they’re flying, they can look more like tiny wasps than moths. When they land, they tuck their wings in tight, which is why they’re often mistaken for beetles at first glance.

The “webworm” name comes from the caterpillars, which create loose silken webs while feeding—nothing webby about the adults at all.

Address

241 N Commons Ford Rd
Austin, TX
78733

Website

https://www.mikageiger.com/

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