Post your insects

[ScoutR]

Cool shot of the crane fly Wendy. The way the sun is caught in the wings is beautiful.

Thanks Bobo, they are graceful little things, here is another one from today. GRRRRR, I try so hard to get the eyes in focus, yesterdays is the best of many, but I like the pose in this one.


Panasonic Lumix G1; 14-45mm lens with 8x close up filters; 1/60s; f5.6; ISO 200; 45mm

Wendy

[ScoutR]

Ladybug


Panasonic Lumix G1; 14-45mm lens with 8x close up filters; 1/25s; f5.6; ISO 200; 45mm

Wendy

[Bobobird]

Wendy, ladybug excellent shot, love the way you are presenting him.

[Letrow]

syrphidae
I am starting to like these. Never paid much attention to them in the past, but now that I am more busy with the macro I notice them all the time

[ddp4me]

Love the captions! Just what I needed, a good laugh. I was beginning to get a little creeped out by all the bugs. But I do enjoy trying to capture them even though they give me nightmares.

I'll post some of my flower/bug shots for your opinions, please.

Thanks for all the great inspiration!

[GeorgeM]

Here's a little guy that I found quite by accident while tracking a bee.


cricket by gmontjr, on Flickr

Here's the bee.


gmont bee_9758 by gmontjr, on Flickr

[lycan]

[Geoff F]

Peter. Look at the long middle wing vein on your latest hoverfly. Vein R4+5 to use the technical term. See that deep loop in the vein; which means it must be one of the Eristalini family. We will make an entomologist out of you yet.

In actual fact, with that dark wing cloud this one is potentially very interesting. I would like to see more details of the hind leg but suspect this might be Eristalis rupium. One that I have yet to encounter in person.

But today I did manage an Orange Ladybird with wings open as it took flight. I will post it here as soon as I start editing today's photos.

[Geoff F]

OK here is the Orange Ladybird (Halyzia 16-guttata) from today.

I didn't get both wing cases in perfect focus and the wings are a bit hidden. But I think it makes an interesting shot from this angle.

[Letrow]

Peter. Look at the long middle wing vein on your latest hoverfly. Vein R4+5 to use the technical term. See that deep loop in the vein; which means it must be one of the Eristalini family. We will make an entomologist out of you yet.

In actual fact, with that dark wing cloud this one is potentially very interesting. I would like to see more details of the hind leg but suspect this might be Eristalis rupium. One that I have yet to encounter in person.

But today I did manage an Orange Ladybird with wings open as it took flight. I will post it here as soon as I start editing today's photos.

Me...an entomologist. It is difficult to spot the differences like you do and starts with the question 'what do I look for in the first place?' But, you never know, it has my interest.

It just so happens that I shot this beastie from the other side as well, so it might give you a bit more to go on.

Nice ladybug by the way. Most shots tend to be of this species with the wings folded away. You have it at just the right moment. Weird colour this one (for me that is), we only get the bright red ones here in Holland.

[Geoff F]

Still something of an enigma, Peter. The hind leg tarsus (last segment) should be partly yellow if it is E. rupium, but it does appear rather dark.

And just to add to the confusion, there are a couple of European species which occur from Belgium to Denmark that are very similar. It has me wondering . . .

Those Orange Ladybirds are generally woodland species which mostly live rather higher up in the foliage so often get missed. But they aren't nearly as common as the normal 7 spot.

And a couple of weeks ago I managed a shot of a 24 spot ladybird. There are actually over 20 species of ladybird in the UK. Plus those potentially harmful Harlequin Ladybirds which have now arrived in quantities in some areas; although they are still a bit scarce where I live.

And today's high spot was a strange harvestman which originally came from Morocco. But they are a benign import which is slowly spreading. I will post a photo either here or on the spider thread. Dicranopalpus ramosus and with no common name. I usually see one or two a year.

[Letrow]

My contribution to ladybugs from a while ago. Incredible how shiny these bugs are

[ddp4me]

Those Orange Ladybirds are generally woodland species which mostly live rather higher up in the foliage so often get missed. But they aren't nearly as common as the normal 7 spot.

And a couple of weeks ago I managed a shot of a 24 spot ladybird. There are actually over 20 species of ladybird in the UK. Plus those potentially harmful Harlequin Ladybirds which have now arrived in quantities in some areas; although they are still a bit scarce where I live.

I, too, liked the orange ladybug picture. Never counted their spots either. I will have to pay attention more the next time I see one. I had no idea there were so many types. Learn something new every time I read here. Even about bugs! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[Geoff F]

Part of the trouble with ladybird identification, Darlene, is the arrival of those Harlequin Ladybirds.

Peter's photo could be an Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata) but without the typical rings around the spots if it has black legs.

However, if the legs are brownish it will more likely be a Harlequin (Harmonia axyridis). Probably Harlequin version 'succinea'. There are over 100 recorded colour variations for Harlequins.

Incidentally the Harlequin story is quite interesting - and also worrying.

Briefly put. Originally these were Asian species which were introduced into America for pest control. They grew and bred more prolifically than native species and were active under cooler temperatures.

Somehow they managed to mutate and overcome the natural constraints on their numbers. Now they are starting to exclude native ladybirds.

ps. I have posted another harvestman, Dicranopalpus ramosus on the Spider Thread. This is another immigrant, from Morocco this time, but it seems to be a much happier story and is gradually 'merging into the undergrowth' alongside native species without causing any problems.

[Letrow]

Bombus lucorum or hortorum
I am guessing here, as some of the bumblebees look a lot like each other on some of the identifaction pages I found

[Geoff F]

Yes Bumblebees can be a real problem. This guide from the British Natural History Museum may help http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/l...flash-version/

But it is true that so many are virtually identical; then there are males and Cuckoo Bumblebees, which lay eggs in the nests of other Bumblebees.

With this photo, there could be two species here.

B. lucorum and B. terrestris are similar. Queens of B. lucorum are generally a paler yellow than B. terrestris but workers are identical, at least from photos.

The smaller bee in this photo is probably a worker but the one in the background looks possibly a queen. So they could be different species or the same.

[Myk]

Nice surprise while out shooting flowers at a local park.
and one from awhile ago, that i like for some reason.

both with 55-200

[Letrow]

Yes Bumblebees can be a real problem. This guide from the British Natural History Museum may help http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/l...flash-version/

But it is true that so many are virtually identical; then there are males and Cuckoo Bumblebees, which lay eggs in the nests of other Bumblebees.

With this photo, there could be two species here.

B. lucorum and B. terrestris are similar. Queens of B. lucorum are generally a paler yellow than B. terrestris but workers are identical, at least from photos.

The smaller bee in this photo is probably a worker but the one in the background looks possibly a queen. So they could be different species or the same.

It is confusing. I looked at the bumblebee.org site yesterday and the hortorum seemed to make sense as well. The lucorum looked possible as well. I think the terrestris is possible as well. Ah well, this is fun

[GeorgeM]

Bombus lucorum or hortorum
I am guessing here, as some of the bumblebees look a lot like each other on some of the identifaction pages I found

Really like this one. The focus is great. The flower is eye-catching.

[chrisa62401]