Post your insects

A few items to comment on.

Firstly, Ian, yes that is a Cranefly. I suspect Tipula oleracea which is a rather early species that peaks around May and June. Not sure about those early stage caterpillars. My first thought was Peacock Butterfly, but looking at those egg cases I also wonder about the early form of Emperor Moth caterpillar.

Nat, an interesting shot of a feeding damselfly. As you said, if you disturb a damsel just stay still and the chances are that it will return for a closer look at the strange beast which disturbed it!

On the other hand, I found a Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly today. It was sitting in the hedge watching me while I removed the kit from my backpack and assembled it together, camera, lens, flash, tripod. And immediately I was ready for action - it flew away. I'm sure I could hear it giggling. :D

I did photograph one a couple of days ago but it isn't quite as I would wish as there are a couple of grass stalks in front of the insect.

Yes, manual focus usually works best. Auto focus often gives false focus problems by focusing on the background. In fact, with the shallow focus of macro lenses auto focusing on the tail when you actually want the eyes sharp is also a frequent problem.

For in the wild shots, where approachable distance is usually the constraining factor, I normally use a 180 mm macro lens plus a 1.4x converter. But for 'studio work' where I can get closer I often substitute a 25 mm extension tube for the converter.

And Peter's damselfly certainly looks like a typical form of a male Large Red Damselfly.

Three photos of the same hoverfly. Let me know which one you like best. For me, it is the first one.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5457/7...679bd05d_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7...8bd557de_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7...157e5407_b.jpg

I like the fact that he is feeding in this last photo.

Syrphidae

Nice ones! I like the last one best, too.....I would probably tone the white down, maybe by cloning a yellow over it, it distracts my eye from the fly.

http://i47.tinypic.com/1fhdt0.jpg

That fly, Peter, has it's tongue in the flower on all three shots. The second one actually shows the best detail.

I never realised that the 7 spot ladybirds had such a vast range; assuming that is the same, or very closely related, species in India.

Tried today for another attempt at a Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly but nothing doing. Too windy I think. So here is one from a couple of days ago. I had been hoping to get a better angle with a cleaner background.

http://i45.tinypic.com/28mpdn9.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

http://i45.tinypic.com/28mpdn9.jpg

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It is a beauty this one, those colours look great.

One thing which I did change was that piece of broken grass near the tail. Originally it went in front of the tail, and being broken (probably sheep nibbled) it was too prominent.

Here's a shot with my new macro lens--little bugger would not be still:) Still learning and it's a blast! http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7...f54f240110.jpg
_DSC0502 by kutsies pics, on Flickr

1st macro shot of the season for me.I get these little critters in my flowers every year.
http://i46.tinypic.com/99i4p2.jpg

5DII 100L IS f/16 ISO 400 1/125" MR-14ex flash.Handheld.

Yes, Mary, getting good focus on a subject that won't pose for you is always tricky. That is where I find a quick release ball head on my tripod really makes a difference.

In some ways, Jim, that Katydid resembles the UK Speckled Bush Cricket male.

We've had one cranefly posted recently; so here is another.

http://i48.tinypic.com/uolk2.jpg

and a closer shot.

http://i48.tinypic.com/2ni085l.jpg

I suspect this is Yamatotipula marginata.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jim B.

1st macro shot of the season for me.I get these little critters in my flowers every year.
http://i46.tinypic.com/99i4p2.jpg

5DII 100L IS f/16 ISO 400 1/125" MR-14ex flash.Handheld.

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Nice one Jim, he has great body colours

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vrgl

Here's a shot with my new macro lens--little bugger would not be still:) Still learning and it's a blast! http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7...f54f240110.jpg
_DSC0502 by kutsies pics, on Flickr

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Is he feeding on that other insect? He looks quite formidable.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

http://i48.tinypic.com/2ni085l.jpg

I suspect this is Yamatotipula marginata.

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Geoff, any idea what those two things behind his wings are for? It sems like a rounded top at the end of a small stick...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7...0c48b32c_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7...a274dde2_b.jpg

Two flies

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Letrow

Geoff, any idea what those two things behind his wings are for? It seems like a rounded top at the end of a small stick...

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They are called Halteres and are all that remains of the hind wings, after evolution decided that they weren't really necessary.

All (at least most) two winged flies like this, have something similar. Check out those hoverflies. Nowadays, these stumps are thought to help keep balance during flying.

I think Mary's insect is a form of earwig. And your last two flies are a species of the Muscidae family. But these common flies are remarkable difficult to fully identify.

And now for today's offering . . .

A Caterpillar at Work.

http://i50.tinypic.com/x1g9jp.jpg

A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly caterpillar; one of the few things which will eat stinging nettles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

A Caterpillar at Work.

http://i50.tinypic.com/x1g9jp.jpg

A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly caterpillar; one of the few things which will eat stinging nettles.

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And seeing this little fella up close I am not at all surprised that some caterpillars (like the Oak Processionary) can cause big allergic reactions.

Another one of the Eristalini family (sounds like a Mafia gang doesn't it).

http://i46.tinypic.com/1tn1jd.jpg

The loop in the mid wing vein clearly places this into that group but the entirely black legs, underneath all that pollen, is unique to this species.

Merodon equestris.

Lovely last couple of shots Peter, Geoff, others. Lovely.

I have a question - how do you deal with the tiny, black, shiny, moving critters?

Had a really hard time today trying to get some definition on one such subject. All I got was a sharp outline and nothing much else within that.

Thanks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bobobird

Lovely last couple of shots Peter, Geoff, others. Lovely.

I have a question - how do you deal with the tiny, black, shiny, moving critters?

Had a really hard time today trying to get some definition on one such subject. All I got was a sharp outline and nothing much else within that.

Thanks.

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Bobo, it would depend on the lighting for me. If you are talking about beetles I would probably try to play with reflection. Just black in a dark place would not work for me. It is a result of how I photograph insects, as I am always moving, so I work without tripod or flash. I need a decent amount of light, preferrably sunlight.

Geoff works with flash, so he would be able to create good lighting, especially when he takes it indoors to his studio I would guess.

Thanks Peter.
Tried everything I could think of - flash, diffused flash, off camera flash, no flash - zilch. Tiny, black, shiny, moving bug still won't let me get any definition except the outline. Maybe have to go in really close??