Very nice Paul, welcome to the forum's at C in C
David
Very nice Paul, welcome to the forum's at C in C
David
Yes there is a lot of variation amongst insects, Carol. Some common species are quite colourful while some rare ones are rather drab. Some need to hide amongst the foliage while others are brightly coloured to attract a mate or give a warning that they are dangerous to meddle with. And then, some placid species have developed the classic warning colours although they are incapable of carrying out the threat.
And from today - a strange looking harvestman. They are similar to spiders but have a solid body and lack the poison glands of spiders.
Dicranopalpus ramosus. Originally from Morocco, they were first found in the UK around 50 years ago. They are gradually spreading in numbers but this is the first one I have found for three years. It was hiding amongst leaves so I struggled to find an acceptable camera angle.
And a pair of sawflies.
Possibly Tenthredo scrophulariae. They kept moving around so I struggled to find a suitable angle; and it was in shade so getting an acceptable exposure was also a challenge. Anyway, forgetting the technical faults, I just thought the scene might be of some interest.
Thanks Bruce. It's an Orb spider, probably an Orb barn spider. I see them every summer around this time. I went out this morning to check on it and it and the web where gone. Hopefully I'll see another but unlike last year, there aren't too many around. This was the first one.
Nice capture Paul!
Nice capture Carol
Love the Harvestman Geoff, never seen one before!
Nice images Steve, well done!
I posted a photo of a Common Groundhopper last month; well here is another species found nearby, Slender Groundhopper. And like all the best insects, it was hiding amongst leaves so camera angle and exposure are simply the best that was available.
They come in various colour forms, another one was quite dark with white edging. Compare this one to an average grasshopper and see the subtle differences.
Nice capture Geoff, it amazes me the amount of variation you can find in these little critters
It's been a slow year for insects up here but one or two warm days in the last week have caused an explosion of activity. The Marmalade hoverflies seem to be AWOL this year but there are quite a few others. I think the second two images are of Syrphus Ribesii. Haven't been able to ID the first one though.
All with the Fuji XT1 plus 60mm macro.
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Lovely captures John, well done mate
I suppose that is the only angle you have on the first insect, John?
Looks rather like a sawfly or a digger wasp. Possibly a wasp waist just hidden from view?
The others are Syrphus. Possibly ribesii but I can't quite see enough of the hind femur to be certain.
You mention Episyrphus balteatus, being low in numbers. Well although they started slowly and are going down in numbers now, during mid summer there were hundreds of males everywhere around here. Some years we get an influx of migrants like that. But obviously, they don't appear everywhere.
Very sharp images with good colour John, I dont know the detail names , usually just pleased to geta sharp one.