Post your insects

[James G]

The weather this year has been terrible and not good for insects. It improved last week got very warm and I managed to get out to a local country park for a few hours....
















C&C welcome

James

[Geoff F]

You have managed the exposure well with these images, James.

Banded Demoiselles (#1 & 3) are always tricky due to their extremely shiny surfaces.

Tetragnatha spiders are also difficult due to the pale areas on their sides. I tend to expose for that area which then makes everything else dark and needs a lot of editing to recover the midtones.

The female Scorpion Fly and Common Carpet Moth also have contrasting bright areas which are very prone to over exposure problems.

[Quincy]

Hi,

My first post, hope it's O.K.

This is a shot of the parents to your hover fly.

Q

[Geoff F]

Ah yes, Helophilus pendulus. I've only seen a couple of mating pairs so far this year.

Your photo, David, is a bit on the small side. If that wasn't intentional, have a read of this information.

[Quincy]

Thank you Geoff.

[Letrow]

Some beautiful photos in your post James, that spider is my favourite of the bunch. Very graceful.

[Letrow]

My shot of insect over last Sunday Jun-09. Thanks for viewing. Your c&c would be helpful and appreciated:



Cheers.
Walj

Beautiful colour and detail Walj. I like the cut-out itself, the dark border around and the letters below the insect don't really appeal to me though.

[James G]

Peter, Geoff, thank you.
The Stretch spider has been a species I've been trying to photograph for a couple of years.lots of images, but not quite the angle etc... Struck lucky with this shot, up to my neck in stingers but managed to avoid disturbing the spider.

I want a dorsal view next! James

[Franci]

Hi Walad, beautiful dragonfly and interesting framing. Only I wonder if it is a little bit distracting. Great, anyway

[Geoff F]

Peter, Geoff, thank you.
The Stretch spider has been a species I've been trying to photograph for a couple of years.lots of images, but not quite the angle etc... Struck lucky with this shot, up to my neck in stingers but managed to avoid disturbing the spider.

I want a dorsal view next! James

If you can also get an underside view, James, it may be possible to narrow down the identification, although they are a tricky family. also note if they are close to water.

This is the best that I've managed so far this year.



Like you, I've seen plenty but not in the right position or lighting for the desired result.

[James G]

Geoff, my specimen was photographed at a local nature reserve/country park. It's bounded closely 50 to 100m by the River Blythe and a number of 'lakes' (flooded marl pits I believe). I'm very much a tyro when it comes to taxonomy, but I did note the proximity to water as a species indicator.
They are a challenge though

The capture below was from the same shoot, not the same individual, but a few yards away.......

[Geoff F]

Being well away from water is the better option, James, as this narrows down the possibilities. All Tetragnatha species can be found close to water.

On your full size image, check the sternum (under the thorax) to see if there is a pale area running from the front of the sternum about two thirds of the length. It should be around one third of the width. There is a slightly lighter area there but I think this is natural light running the length of the spider.

Tetragnatha extensa has this pale area but other species don't. Apart from T. pinicola which is noticeably smaller.

Without this pale area, your spider is most likely to be T. montana. The other alternatives are noticeably different in markings or are somewhat uncommon.

[Letrow]

A damselfly from two different angles





I think the first one gives you most detail. He didn't want to sit still for me, so this was it.

[Geoff F]

Large Red Damselfly, Peter.

They are often a bit flighty, particularly when it is windy.

Last year I started photographing and recording any moths which get attracted to a window which looks onto my garden. Here are a couple from last week.

Puss Moth - Cerura vinula





With a massive 3 ins wing span and distinctive markings this one is easy to identify. And it will readily hold on to a finger which makes handling easier!

A more conventional species, the Heart and Dart Moth. Named after the wing markings.

[Nat]

Wow, some really great insects being shot....great job, guys! I am still waiting for more insects to show up....but I did have a go with an ordinary bumble bee on a milk weed the other day.


Bumble by 123smile4me, on Flickr

[Cantab]

Nat, a good shot. I took a number of bee photos a week or so ago: the darned bees keep flitting around!

[Jim B.]

Fork Tailed Katydid Nymph


5DIII / Sigma 150 OS f/10 ISO 1600 1/125" 600EX-RT on Wimberly macro bracket Lumiquest Mini Softbox
Handheld.

C&C always appreciated.

[Geoff F]

Works well, Jim; obviously a tricky exposure to prevent any of the paler areas from becoming over exposed.

[Jim B.]

Thanks, Geoff. I just got the 150 back from Sigma.Had to replace the OS unit. I'm really pleased with it's performance.

[SpiderBob]

I have these little critters infesting my flower garden. They are hard to get rid of, but stay in place for photos. And, if someone knows what they are, that would be helpful.