Post your insects

[codachrome]

Sorry misread the post...emm..if you recieve an envelope with spiders in just put it in the bin

[Letrow]

Haven't had much time to photograph lately. Too much gardening/yard work. But then this guy showed up on my tomato plants this morning. I merely tossed him over the fence after I shot this, but if he comes back...well, let's say he won't be happy!

Wow, I had to look twice at this photo before I spotted the culprit. Does he eat the tomatoes or their leaves? He looks quite big and I wonder what it transforms in after this stage.

[gregj1763]

Hi Peter,
Your second photo, must be a cousin to mine.



Cheers, Greg

[Letrow]

Hi Peter,
Your second photo, must be a cousin to mine.



Cheers, Greg

Very similar. I am still hoping to get some bigger species, but they are shy and fast.

[ktuli]

Wow, I had to look twice at this photo before I spotted the culprit. Does he eat the tomatoes or their leaves? He looks quite big and I wonder what it transforms in after this stage.

Peter,

If my ID is correct (there are several species that are rather similar in this family), this could be the Waved Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia undulosa) of Silence of the Lambs fame... http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/cundulos.htm

- Bill

[johnbharle]

Wow, I had to look twice at this photo before I spotted the culprit. Does he eat the tomatoes or their leaves? He looks quite big and I wonder what it transforms in after this stage.

He eats the leaves, Peter. He can really strip the plant in almost no time at all. I was wondering the same thing about transformation, but then had court yesterday and didn't get to follow up. I'll check and let you know.

[johnbharle]

Peter,

If my ID is correct (there are several species that are rather similar in this family), this could be the Waved Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia undulosa) of Silence of the Lambs fame... http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/cundulos.htm

- Bill

I was calling him a giant tomato bug. I was close, he's a giant tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta L. Looks like if I had left him, he (or she?) could have gotten up to almost 10 cm in length. You were right. They turn into sphinx moths. Here's a link on tomato and tobacco hornworms: http://tammysrecipes.com/tomato_hornworms

[johnbharle]

Very similar. I am still hoping to get some bigger species, but they are shy and fast.

You're right about shy and fast. I have a fly that I simply can't get close enough to to get a photo. Guess that's my project for the next few weeks

[geordie01]

[ktuli]

Fly


And some sort of leaf hopper

[Geoff F]

Searching for insects and photographing them can vary considerably in 'excitement value' from hour to hour, particularly if you are also interested in submitting records of your finds.

One single sighting can change a mediocre experience into a real 'wow day'.

Recently I was having a somewhat subdued day as the 'strimmer men' had devastated the path through a wood and only a few common insects remained. So I explored a nearby small field instead.

On the first flower that I examined I saw this hoverfly.



Brachypalpoides lentus, an uncommon species which I only glimpse once or twice a year if I'm lucky.

Eventually I had taken sufficient shots and turned to examine the next flower. And . . .



Volucella zonaria another uncommon hoverfly, and just as willing to be photographed. At one time it flew off but actually returned to settle even closer. In fact so close that I actually had to slide my tripod back a bit in order to refocus at a different angle.

But now - the rain and wind has returned; but I suppose that will give me a bit of 'processing time'.

ps. I see that the heading line has changed. I didn't notice that until it was too late.

[ktuli]

Geoff,

I definitely know exactly what you're talking about! That is really cool that you scored two uncommon specimens. Sometimes I feel I can get the same feeling if I can get that interesting pose that I've been trying for... or just that good bit of light or whatever combination of items that come together to give you that one good shot of the day.

Out of curiosity, you say you submit records of your finds. Are you working with local scientists or something to conduct species studies in your area?

- Bill

[Geoff F]

Geoff,

Out of curiosity, you say you submit records of your finds. Are you working with local scientists or something to conduct species studies in your area?

- Bill

Yes, I submit my sightings to the local county recorder and a number of internet sites for specific species.

For example the UK Hoverfly Recording Scheme wants regular records of all hoverfly species including the commoner ones. Getting a 'full spectrum' of records helps to indicate any substantial increase or decrease in numbers.

http://www.hoverfly.org.uk/portal.php

This year, that organisation is holding a Big Hoverfly Watch where, during particular weeks, volunteers visit a particular location and send in their sightings.

[Letrow]

ps. I see that the heading line has changed. I didn't notice that until it was too late.

Lovely detail on this one Geoff, it actually has hairs I see.

You can always go to 'Go Advanced' in the original post or when you edit and change the heading there.

[Letrow]

One of the few ladybirds around in my neighbourhood. I don't see them as much as I did a while ago it seems.

[wlou]

This bug is new to me, anyone know what it is? I cropped the photo to show it better, and tried to lighten it some. C&C welcome

[Geoff F]

I see we have the original heading again.

I always find photographing mating insects is difficult due to focus depth problems. Getting absolutely square on to the can be a problem, particularly when they keep moving, and there is a requirement for 'width as well as length'.

Just focusing on one and letting the other blur into the distance is one answer, but when there are noticeable differences between the sexes I like to show both if I can.

Mating Sawflies (of unknown species)



and a strange looking wasp. One of the Ichneumon Wasp family but they are extremely difficult to identify. Virtually impossible from photographs.



The abdomen really is connected to the thorax, just difficult to see.

ps. I'm not familiar with Canadian beetles, Louise; but identification usually involves counting the number and shape of the antennae segments and toes on all legs. Plus a number of other subtle differences between species.

[purplehaze]

Had another go at a Monarch butterfly egg.



And while I was shooting some flowers, this guy popped into view.

[Vrgl]

This bug is new to me, anyone know what it is? I cropped the photo to show it better, and tried to lighten it some. C&C welcome

It's a flea beetle-they can hop and fly!

[sigrid]

Dead with his lights on. It took a couple of hours for the glow to fade.

[How do you remove the thumnail version?]