Post your insects

[Geoff F]

Certainly an odd one there, Peter. There isn't a white spot in the dark wing eye.

Can't think of anything else though, so probably just a slight variation.

Amongst a variety of insects today, was this Epistrophe grossulariae. Only the second one I have seen this year.



And if this shy fly is what I think it is; something really interesting.



Possibly Xanthandrus comtus which would be a new species for me.

It kept flitting around, coming closer and looking seductive but moving further away every time I tried for a photo.

[Green Mountain Girl]

When photographing flowers with my macro lens, I have an opportunity to also get pictures of insects. Although I am still learning to use my macro lens, thought I would share these images.

This is a bee on some goldenrod growing along my driveway, near a small swampy area.



Same goldenrod, this time a wasp.



This ant was on a bloom of the Variegated Wiegela bush in my front yard.



I am not knowledgeable about kinds of bees, but find the variety to be fascinating. They all move so quickly, it is difficult to get one to pose so I can get it without any blur!

This is a great thread - I enjoy seeing what everyone else sees in their natural places (and pet tarantulas!).

[Cantab]

Susan, I enjoyed all three of your photos. In terms of focus/sharpness, the ant is I think the best, plus it's on a very attractive flower.

You're right about bees. They simply won't pose long enough to make it easy to photograph them. I have a large number of very unsuccessful bee photos.

[Geoff F]

Yes, you need to catch bees on a large nectar rich flower where they spend more time instead of quickly flitting from flower to flower. They are never easy though.

Nothing uncommon in this photo from today; except I have managed to find a pair of them.

[Cantab]

Yes, you need to catch bees on a large nectar rich flower where they spend more time instead of quickly flitting from flower to flower. They are never easy though.

Nothing uncommon in this photo from today; except I have managed to find a pair of them.

Geoff, you seem to have a knack for seeing pairs of insects!

Parts of these two look very leaf like. Is that for real or perhaps you put it in to see how long before someone noted it?

[Green Mountain Girl]

Susan, I enjoyed all three of your photos. In terms of focus/sharpness, the ant is I think the best, plus it's on a very attractive flower.

You're right about bees. They simply won't pose long enough to make it easy to photograph them. I have a large number of very unsuccessful bee photos.

Bruce, thank you for the comments. Yes, the ant is the sharpest. I'm going to keep trying to get some sharper bees!

Susan

[Geoff F]

Bruce. Most of the grasshoppers/crickets have fairly good camouflage colours when amongst the grass and leaves. Sometimes it is difficult to spot them until they move.

And too often, when I'm focusing on a different species, a grasshopper will leap in and disturb my intended subject!

There are hundreds of these Meadow Grasshoppers at this particular site. Today I found a Field Grasshopper there. More buff in colour but well hidden amongst the dead grass. At many sites that species is the more common.

Mating insects, or unusual behaviour, are things which I always look out for to create that little bit of extra interest.

[Geoff F]

OK. Hot from the Editing Mill. Today's grasshopper.

But there is a slight fault with this particular insect. So it's a case of 'buyer beware'.



Field Grasshopper - Chorthippus brunneus

And what I think is probably a juvenile of the same species from another site. Juveniles (nymphs) can be tricky to identify and there are a couple of points here which make me a little uncertain.

[Letrow]

Shot in le jardin de Cadiot





Not sure what it is exactly. Constant movement, high on its legs...

[Cantab]

Peter, these are fascinating photos. I'll be very interested to hear what it is, presumably some sort of bee, wasp or fly on stilts.

[Geoff F]

It could indeed be one of the Stilt Flies. Not sure if I have any information on them though.

[Rob Zijlstra]

No 'real' macro lens, but a 135mm + extension tubes:

[Letrow]

Beautiful photos Rob, an extension tube does the job perfectly.

[Rob Zijlstra]

Beautiful photos Rob, an extension tube does the job perfectly.

Thanks Peter. I'm seriously considering to get a 85mm PC-E (tilt Shift). That one can get 1:1 and has the added convenience of getting a better dof because the tilting possibilities. (Let alone using it with extension tubes)

[Franci]

I found this little thing so cold and wet! Possibly a bumblebee, but it is difficult to judge, also because I had a 35 mm lens with me.

[Geoff F]

I find the only time bees are easy to photograph is when they have had a soaking like this. Should dry off and be OK eventually.

Certainly looks like Bombus terrestris as far as I can see.

[Geoff F]

And, believe it or not, this isn't a bee.



A slightly uncommon hoverfly which pretends to be a fierce bee!

Apparently this one is a rare migrant fly.



And this Clouded Yellow butterfly is a new species for me.



ps. I forgot to change the heading back to Post Your Insects. A job for the next person; or use another title.

[Letrow]

I would have guessed that wasn't a bee Geoff. Looks more like a bumblebee actually, but the eyes are different from what a bumblebee has. It is difficult to guess the size from the macro, so I can imagine that to you it might have looked more like a bee.

[Brownbear]

Beautiful photos Geoff, the detail you captured, especially in the first image is just amazing.

And, believe it or not, this isn't a bee.



A slightly uncommon hoverfly which pretends to be a fierce bee!

Apparently this one is a rare migrant fly.



And this Clouded Yellow butterfly is a new species for me.



ps. I forgot to change the heading back to Post Your Insects. A job for the next person; or use another title.

[Letrow]

pieridae coliadinae

and a sneaky approach



from behind