Post your insects

Can't easily place those insects, Franci. Possibly more southern species than we see in the UK.

The hoverfly seems similar to Dasysyrphus albostriatus but we don't see them here after September.

The butterfly is also confusing me. My first thought was one of the Grayling species but those black spots are more like a Ringlet variety. Not sure though, even after consulting the European species book.

If Greg's fly was in the UK, I would be considering Meliscaeva auricolis. There is a little more black on the head than with Franci's hoverfly.

Needs a skilled southern entomologist I suspect.

Thanks Geoff. I have been looking at the web site http://www.linnea.it and I can imagine the hoverfly is eupeodes latifaciatus.
For the butterfly. I need time to look.

Went out again after the Hoverfly today but this time I used flash in the hope of freezing one in flight. No hope :(
But I was really pleased with how the flash brought the colours out in this image. The only pp I have done with this image is cropping and slight sharpening.
Flash is my friend now :D


http://i46.tinypic.com/11cbdjb.jpg


Cheers, Greg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Franci

Thanks Geoff. I have been looking at the web site http://www.linnea.it and I can imagine the hoverfly is eupeodes latifaciatus.
For the butterfly. I need time to look.

---

E. latifasciatus female is indeed possible, Franci. Females normally have the yellow spots as a spectacle shaped band, but separate spots do occur. There is a black area between the spots and abdomen edge which rules out E. corollae. The shape of the frons black area is also important.

Not found in the UK after early October; and usually not common during the summer either. Although in some years numbers can increase.

Many insect photographers mostly use flash, Greg, myself included.

I normally set my camera manually (typically 1/200 F14) then allow the auto flash output to find it's own level. But with a little flash compensation to suit the actual scene.

Remarkable!

The flash is very subtle in this one Greg, very nice effect. I agree with you that nothing else is really necessary.

Hi Peter, I thought this picture fits with the thread you started, although I realize that pictures of pictures do not really belong to it! But it seemed such a good way to wish Happy 2013 to everyone here ! :)

There were several such paints at an exhibition on Brueghels on display here. Definitely, the fancy for insects is older than out pictures


http://i50.tinypic.com/2rdaz35.jpg

Thanks Franci, that looks quite nice. I am always looking for maps like this, with names on them because I find it hard to identify some of the insects sometimes.
By the way, I just booked a flight to Rome for March. A couple of days of playing the tourist. My kids have been there, but for me it is the first time there, so I am looking forward to some nice photographic opportunities.

Not a new shot, but brand new PP.
A Pieris brassicae or a Pieris rapae
http://i49.tinypic.com/2vw9vk4.jpg

I like the translucent wings in the butterfly, looks nice.

This thread has been too quiet lately. Insect are sleepy in this European winter (but spring is nearly back!), but what about magnificent shots from our friends form Austral hemisphere?

OK, I haven't posted for a while.

http://www.robgray.com/photos/images/27014.jpg

Nice one Rob, he is fearsome looking and you've got great detail in those eyes.

Thanks, he's a mean-looking bugger that's for sure.

I just uploaded a larger version that looks a bit better.

I managed to make some time to get to the butterfly pavilion at the zoo in Amsterdam this weekend.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8...f5bfe950_c.jpg
DSC_1336 by g.lang, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8...f4726154_c.jpg
DSC_1412 by g.lang, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8...d0bb7298_c.jpg
DSC_1416 by g.lang, on Flickr

My insect to share with ALL.. :D

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5236/7...b98d50fc_b.jpg

It's amazing how from some angles they appear to be smiling.

I have previously mentioned that sometimes the most important angle for shooting insects isn't the most aesthetic shot but the one which enables identification.

For example, this early hoverfly.

http://i48.tinypic.com/p17h3.jpg

And a close up of the head and thorax from behind.

http://i45.tinypic.com/2vxq7v8.jpg

The black abdomen bands being wider than the yellow suggests this might be Syrphus torvus instead of the commoner S. ribesii. And the faint eye hair which is visible in the close up is a great extra clue as the alternative species have bare eyes.

But subject to confirmation from a real expert.

Another early species is this Green Shieldbug.

http://i50.tinypic.com/206l9aq.jpg

During the winter they change colour from green to this bronze brown.

Great shots all!

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