Show Us Your Bugs

[JohnRostron]

Is this some kind of robber fly? Small for one, less than 1 cm.

I'm not familiar with American Robber Flies Dan, but it looks rather like one.

How did you photograph it whilst it was on your hand?

John

[James G]

Hi Dan, It certainly looks life a type of robber fly... though yours appears much more colourful than ours in the UK. Those spurs on the front legs look capable of holding anything!

[James G]

John, thanks, Spring is certainly springing... I've still got to work the other images of the pond skaters, and they appeared to be propagating wildly...

[DanK]

John and James,

Many thanks.

How did you photograph it whilst it was on your hand?

Fortunately, it landed on my left hand. I used my thumb as a support for the end of the lens. Not the most stable arrangement in the world, but it worked long enough for me to get about 8 shots.

[JBW]

apologies for the less than spectacular shot. However, it is almost midnight, It has been a very long and hard day, it is impossible to get a tripod to work and at least I remembered to adjust my white balance in camera.

I may try tomorrow to do so0me pp but this is just how it came out of the camera (barring some scaling)

[Geoff F]

Good photos, James, but just one slight thought. Is your Large White actually a Green-veined White (Pieris napi) ?

[marlunn]

bit of a cheat here on this thread as not photographed this year, found this last year - not seen it yet this year but its early and this was nr Lincoln so when we go back up next month I will have some time to have another search and try to improve on the shot - its not too common is probably a better statement than its a bit rare.

Agapanthea villosoviridescens

[James G]

Geoff... Thanks...I stand corrected... yes I'd agree with you it's a Green-veined white.

[Gayathrie Senaratne]

interesting clicks. love insects <3

[Geoff F]

Sometimes, quite often in fact, I find the best shot for identification purposes isn't the most pleasing nor the most technically perfect of a series.

I'm hoping that a better experienced person, possibly on another site, can give me confirmation or correction for identification of this beetle.



I'm thinking about Cantharis livida but it doesn't quite fit perfectly. So is this a bit of natural variation or have I got it wrong?

[deetheturk]

Hi guys, I still have family here and travel to Scotland on the 29th for 1 week hence not posting or commenting I have managed a quick look through the thread and there are some wonderful captures from all involved, well done guys

I see someone has a new camera and lens if I'm not mistaken? Geoff, how are you finding it?

This has turned into a great thread for us macro shooters, but unfortunately for me, having an absolutely crap internet service here where I am in Turkey, the bigger it gets the longer it takes for me to open it up this is why I never really took part in the last bug thread, anyway I will try and stick with it

Here are a few Jumpers for Jack Flashback


#1


#2


#3


#4

[marlunn]

David, love the jumpers, really good, did you see the new Auzzie ones - sparklemuffin?

One from today - a Cardinal Beetle, Pyrochroa serraticornis

[Geoff F]

Jumpers always look good and these are well photographed.

My 7D was starting to get a bit tatty looking after a lot of use, David, so after a bit of thought I decided to upgrade to the Mk II 7D. Eventually, I will send my old 7D off for a complete clean and check then have it as a spare and probably get rid of my 40D.

Quite a few differences with the Mk II and definitely an improvement. It even has GPS and a compass! Little things like the really sensibly designed viewfinder level indicator are helpful. But still a lot of options which I haven't used yet.

The big problem was that although it uses CR2 Raw it is a different form and wasn't recognised by my edit software; and I couldn't seem to get updates. So I looked at several options and tried a few trial downloads before finally deciding that my only real choice was, rather reluctantly, to go down the Adobe CC route.

My macro lens is the updated Sigma 180 which I purchased last year; often used with a 1.4x converter for those more nervous little creatures.

Getting a bit behind on editing and identification, plus recording so need a couple of wet days to catch up.

Incidentally, today I sat down on a low shady branch for something to eat and a check/delete of shots in the camera when the first Wasp Beetle of the year landed on my hand. Had to carefully place it on a leaf prior to photographing it.

Those Red-headed Cardinal Beetles are so difficult to photograph without getting 'hot spots' everywhere aren't they Mark. Found my first of the year last week.

[Ziggy]

Some great work by all. Enjoying this thread.

[marlunn]

Now, this one is here for a different reason, not something i have seen before - walking in the woods today and noted a clearing in the canopy above me with a shaft of light and in that was a 'swarm' of craneflys, they were circling around at a fast pace and the number of insects grew and declined as they spiraled, I assume its some sort of mating dance - I tried to capture it but as they change height, speed and rotation rapidly was very difficult to manually focus and catch a frame - but this is the best I got

[James G]

Weevils and a Woodlouse.... getting a bit better with my macro setup, but still finding it difficult to get a steady focus... persistence is a virtue.. I think

#1 Common Striped Wood Louse (Philoscia muscorum)


#2 Acorn Weevil (Curculio glandium) I believe this could also be a Nut Weevil, since they are basically identical?


#3 Acorn Weevil


#4 Acorn Weevil


#5 Green Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus) I assume this to be correct since it was on nettle!


#6 Green Nettle Weevil


#7 Green Nettle Weevil

[flashback]

Here are a few Jumpers for Jack Flashback

David, you know I love these little guys. They always remind me of a puppy trying to be a big, fierce dog.
#1 looks like *fierce* tiger.
I think it's the big eyes, makes them look puppyish and....just adorable. Makes my day every time I see pics of these guys.

[Geoff F]

Weevils are another species which are very difficult to photograph, James, due to bright spots appearing in the slightest sunlight. They can even be difficult under lightly overcast skies so you have done well.

Managed to catch up a bit with editing/identification but it will need another day!

However, here are a few random shots which might be of interest.

Broad-bodied Chaser female



and a male



They wouldn't cooperate and land in an area of decent background so I had to make do with what was available. Perhaps I will find another one in a better position sometime.

Another awkward customer which refused to settle in the correct position was this Green Hairstreak. Eventually I grabbed this one by flashing into the light.



Thick-legged Flower Beetles are another subject which causes problems in the slightest of bright light.



And a Snipe Fly (Rhagio scolopaceus) which preferred to have an overly complicated background.



I do shoot principally for identification recording so I'm still happy to get an identifiable subject even if it isn't a perfect photograph; which is just as well with the majority of my shots. But having plenty of failures and second rate images is all part of real life photography.

[Geoff F]

A few more which may be of some general interest.

These little Dark Bush Cricket nymphs are everywhere amongst the foliage now.



And in the undergrowth, female Pardosa spiders are rushing around while carrying their egg sacs behind them.



An odd looking sawfly which isn't often seen. Zaraea fasciata.



Another common fly which I find difficult to photograph because of its reflective surface. One of the Dolichopus species; there are several rather similar options in that group so I'm not totally sure of the exact full identification.

[JBW]

No idea what they are but the long one is about 4 MM long.