Post your insects

[Letrow]

First Eristalis pertinax hoverfly of the year. A male feeding on Mahonia.



The pale yellow Mahonia flowers posed a bit of a challenge but I eventually managed some shots where they are bright but not exactly over exposed.

7D with Sigma 180 macro lens and flash on tripod. 1/200 F14 ISO 200.

Just a thought - considering the size of this thread, is it now time to start a new 2012 Insect post for everybody to contribute?

Great shot Geoff, really nice details on this ... uhmm I think you for its name actually

On a new thread...sounds fine, but do we need it? I am not really sure whether the loading is hampered by the many photos we put in here. I never noticed really so far.
What do you guys think?

[Letrow]

The first insect I spotted in the garden this year. I always love the ladybirds.



Coccinella septempunctata (as far as I could tell).

[Letrow]

Not as close as I would have liked it, so I had to crop this photo a bit...

[Geoff F]

Not totally certain from that angle, Peter, but the black areas of it's abdomen seem rather triangular; so at this time of the year my first thoughts would be Meliscaeva auricollis (male).

[Letrow]

Not totally certain from that angle, Peter, but the black areas of it's abdomen seem rather triangular; so at this time of the year my first thoughts would be Meliscaeva auricollis (male).

Thanks Geoff

[Skyline]

[Letrow]

Nice ones Dave. I love the colours on that ladybird. Good detail on that bumblebee.

[Skyline]

Nice ones Dave. I love the colours on that ladybird. Good detail on that bumblebee.

Thank you Peter. The bee was taken yesterday evening. It had one leg up in the air like it was going to karate chop me lol

[wlou]

Thank you Peter. The bee was taken yesterday evening. It had one leg up in the air like it was going to karate chop me lol

Hi Dave, from your quote I would have like to see it! Did you crop it or was it not included in the picture?

[Skyline]

Hi Dave, from your quote I would have like to see it! Did you crop it or was it not included in the picture?

Hi Louise.

Here's the full picture....

[wlou]

Hey, way cool! Nice catch!

[Skyline]

Thanks. Now I'm looking at it I don't know what's best. Full frame or crop. I cropped it at first because I didn't like the hole/line going up the left. Now it might add as it looks like it's coming out of there.

[Letrow]

The full photo might be better I think. Or at least the full leg, it looks good.

[ktuli]

I agree - I like the uncropped version much better.

[Skyline]

Thanks guys for the help. I've replace the one I put up with the leg in and cropped it. Hope that looks better

[Letrow]

These are the first ladybirds I spotted this year. 6 spots!

Edit: 7 spots

[Geoff F]

Seven spots actually, Peter, the central spot, on both sides of the wing covers just behind the head, counts as one spot.

In the UK, this has been the most prolific year ever for them. Vast numbers are everywhere. I have to be careful when working in the garden so as to avoid damaging them.

And it's still early Spring.

[Letrow]

Seven spots actually, Peter, the central spot, on both sides of the wing covers just behind the head, counts as one spot.

In the UK, this has been the most prolific year ever for them. Vast numbers are everywhere. I have to be careful when working in the garden so as to avoid damaging them.

And it's still early Spring.

You are right, so this would be the Coccinella septempunctata then

[Letrow]

Another 7 spotter



I like the structure of that shield (which I couldn't spot with the naked eye)

[Joelle Herman Photography]

This one was accepted into a local DC gallery exhibit !