May 5, 2009
The rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora) attracts its share of insects.
This morning the brilliant magenta blossoms drew honey bees, carpenter bees and hover flies.
As a hover fly (aka syrphid fly or flower fly) gathered nectar, a spider crawled up a leaf of the succulent, presumably to check out the best place to weave a web.
The rock purslane is drought-tolerant and a good plant for xeroscaping.
And perfect for attracting pollinators--and an occasional spider.
Attached Images:
![ROCK PURSLANE (Calandrinia grandiflora) opens in the morning sun. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) ROCK PURSLANE (Calandrinia grandiflora) opens in the morning sun. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/1697.jpg)
Rock purslane
![HOVER FLY is drawn to the nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) HOVER FLY is drawn to the nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/1698.jpg)
Hover fly
![SPIDER crawls up the leaf of the rock purslane, probably scouting for the best place to build a web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) SPIDER crawls up the leaf of the rock purslane, probably scouting for the best place to build a web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/1699.jpg)
Spider