Post your insects

[Geoff F]

After a week of being Chief Gofor with the local regatta I'm back to looking for bugs.

A few common species to start with, but this is the most purple coloured female Meadow Grasshopper that I have ever found.



And this male is also well coloured.



Finally, a pair of Helophilus pendulus hoverflies.



They were hiding away in shadow under some leaves with bright light coming from the wrong direction and showing as over exposed patches in the background. So I have done what I can in the way of shooting and editing to produce something usable, although far from perfect.

[John 2]

Nice set Geoff. Backgrounds are fine. I didn't know grasshoppers were anything other than green. You live and learn.

[bnnrcn]

Nice images Geoff, I'm amazed by the purple one

[Geoff F]

Some are usually brown, like the Field Grasshopper, while others are predominantly green. But there can be quite a lot of individual colour variation. Meadow Grasshopper females are well known for over doing the make up in an attempt to look extra attractive!

[ajohnw]

Nice captures Geoff. I have been looking around carefully for grass hoppers but no luck so far. Can you ID this. Not a good shot I didn't have the flash on. I'm pretty sure it leapt onto a tiny insect but apart from that it was more interested in mooching about in flowers on a Russian vine.



John
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[Geoff F]

That one is known as a Flesh Fly because they lay eggs in any rotting carrion. Sarcophaga species but several similar so needs an actual specimen plus magnification and skill to get a full identification.

You should find plenty of grasshoppers now but you need to look in the right places. Some species like tall damp grass while others prefer shorter dry vegetation. They are inquisitive creatures so if there are any around they should find you while you are photographing other things.

But they aren't keen on grass which is mowed or treated with chemicals.

[ajohnw]

That one is known as a Flesh Fly because they lay eggs in any rotting carrion. Sarcophaga species but several similar so needs an actual specimen plus magnification and skill to get a full identification.

You should find plenty of grasshoppers now but you need to look in the right places. Some species like tall damp grass while others prefer shorter dry vegetation. They are inquisitive creatures so if there are any around they should find you while you are photographing other things.

But they aren't keen on grass which is mowed or treated with chemicals.

Thanks Geoff.
I've looked around in plenty of long grass and at plenty of vegetation. None so far. In fact many places in the Midlands seem to be rather short on insects. I'm almost inclined to say all of it. I visited our local nature reserve a week ago, few bees and that was about it. This one is totally wild and over grown apart from the path - council cut backs. Another a couple of days ago and the same but no sign of even bees. That one does have a wilder part which I may take a look at later this week.

John
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[orlcam88]

Nice colors on the grasshopper!

[orlcam88]

I almost walked into his web. It was dark out so I shot this with a flash.

[Cantab]

Orlando, the spider turned out really well. What is it? I don't recognize having seen one like it, but then I'm not a great friend of spiders.

[deetheturk]

Nice capture!

[deetheturk]

Very nice series Geoff!

[deetheturk]

Well captured John, the whites look a tad blown on my screen?

David

[ajohnw]

Well captured John, the whites look a tad blown on my screen?

David

Just a tad !!!!!!!!!!!! they are well blown. It was in the shade and the flowers weren't and the flash wasn't on the camera so I took it anyway and just loosely used curves to brighten the insect and not change the colouration of the flowers too much so some probably is clipped. I used 300mm on this one hoping to get eye detail so probably over 1:1. I've found the zoom gives me better resolution than the sigma 100mm macro. The Oly macro is ok but often the short working distance is a problem. Not just having to get close but more body contortions which doesn't help steadiness. I'm going to try another achromatic close up lens shortly as getting a bit closer wouldn't be a problem and that might get me away from 300mm for the same magnification as the zoom is dropping off at that length.

To be honest I sometimes aren't all that bothered about PP when I post. This one will never make a great shot but I was curious about what it was.

John
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[deetheturk]

I was being polite John! Now what I really meant to say was Russian Vine? I think you were on the Russian wine when you posted this! Is that more like the truth?

Cheers David

[ajohnw]

I was being polite John! Now what I really meant to say was Russian Vine? I think you were on the Russian wine when you posted this! Is that more like the truth?

Cheers David

Don't think I will try smoking any to find out.

John
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[deetheturk]

Like your sense of humor John, but are you sure you have not been smoking it already?

David

[ajohnw]

Like your sense of humor John, but are you sure you have not been smoking it already?

David

If I was an ancient anglo saxon living in a mud hut or was a druid it seems I would be smoking a certain species of yew or eating hazel nuts some time before I went to bed in the nuts case. Having seen what some substances do to people permanently at a young and tender age and even more as time has passed I stick to alcohol as all that will do is kill me if I use too much which these days I never do. Increasing age has it's penalties.

John
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[PaulRJennings]

Hello all, first post here.....pair of dragon flys at Silver Lake Ontario....

[deetheturk]

On a serious note John, I totally agree with you regarding what it does to people long term, I have seen what it does first hand, losing a few good mates to this evil pastime

On the drink side, i'm a bit like yourself, but when I have a snifter its got to be a good malt

Anyway what the f**k has all this got to do with (posting your insects)

Cheers David