A bug I've never seen before.

[DickyOZ]

I have no Idea what it is. Looks like a cross between a dragonfly and a butterfly.


And an in-camera focus stack of a Jewel beetle (about 3mm long)


C&C welcome.
Dicky.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures, does look like a dragonfly.

[ucci]

Nice sharp capture, well focussed to clearly show the wing venation, a most difficult thing to do. Nicely done.

But as to its species? Well, there was a film ' The Martians Have Landed." Now I am not suggesting that this may be the case here. But it does rather look like the beasties in that film. So, as they did in the film, it might be a good idea for your own protection to get yourself a copy of Frank Ifield's " I Remember You," and play it continually as a loop over a loudspeaker system set up on your roof. The neighbours complaints? Never mind them. It is these bloody Martians we have to sort out. And Frank's nasal warbling about remembering someone or other is just the thing to do it.
Why do I write such rubbish do I hear you ask? Dunno. Maybe I just have a talent for doing so. Maybe I just like to get my jollies testing the patience of others. Who knows and who really cares?

But your post is excellent and well done. Thanks for sharing. Hope someone out there can come up with a species classification.

[Ziggy]

Excellent. Love the wings.

[flashback]

Just when I think I know everything there is to know about knowing things I realize there's a few things yet I don't (or didn't) know. What you have in image #1 is an owlfly, a neuropteran similar to lacewings and antlions. Often active at night hence the name owlfly. Great shot and you learned me something new today.

[DanK]

Richard, good capture.

Jack, thanks for the explanation. I do a fair amount of bug macro work but was totally unaware of these critters.

[bnnrcn]

Those are beautiful images Richard

[IzzieK]

Both nice images, Dicky...I do not know which one to choose because I am more attracted to the second one too...

Thanks for the ID, Jack...

[Wavelength]

Great images

[DickyOZ]

Just when I think I know everything there is to know about knowing things I realize there's a few things yet I don't (or didn't) know. What you have in image #1 is an owlfly, a neuropteran similar to lacewings and antlions. Often active at night hence the name owlfly. Great shot and you learned me something new today.

Many thanks for the ID Jack. Perhaps if they are mainly nocturnal it is not surprising that I've never seen one before - they would be hard to spot after dark. I was lucky that the wind stopped blowing for a second while I got the shot. I would have liked to have used my 60mm macro lens but couldn't get close enough and the Owlfly was soon on the move.

[JBW]

As flashback says it is an 'Owlfly'. We also have them here in the Philippines.