Make love not war

[deetheturk]

These guys are at it everywhere in my area at the moment,my neighbor told me that they were a type of firefly? This little fellow is the end result,all 3mm of him! C&C welcome.

Cheers David

[Wavelength]

Excellent images

[flashback]

David,
Great shots, the details are amazing.
Image #1 are not fireflies, which are beetles in the Order Coleoptera. Rather they are a type of true bug in the Order Hemiptera. I'm going to say possibly some type of milkweed bug.

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[deetheturk]

Thank you Nandakumar!

[Geoff F]

Not sure of the exact species, David, as this is something of a specialist subject.

Almost like a Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) but there are other options like Rhopalidae family bugs. I did wonder about Corizus hyoscyami which I once discovered in a similar situation. And there are other bugs like Arocatus longiceps from the Lygaeidae family.

But none of these seem to be an exact match.

There is more information, although referring to UK species here http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/hetero...hyoscyami.html

I remember that when I was attempting to photograph them in bright sunshine I was struggling with over exposure and high saturation on the bright red areas. You seem to have got that under control here.

[deetheturk]

Thanks Jack,much appreciated,and cheers for helping with the I.D

David

[deetheturk]

Cheers Geoff,and thank you as always for help in the identification of these bugs,the one in your link is almost identical,give a spot or two!

I have to agree with you about trying to photograph them,they are a nightmare in sunlight,not to mention how fast they can run

David

[bnnrcn]

Very nice images,I loved the baby

[deetheturk]

Thank you Binnur,appreciated bud!

Cheers David

[Stagecoach]

Good captures David, I like the colours with the background. I think all my bugs have been washed away in the heavy rains we have had but the hornets nest is getting more interesting, will get some shots tomorrow if dry.

Grahame

[deetheturk]

Cheers Grahame,will look forward to those,just be careful,i'm off to Scotland today for a week and have you seen the weather there getting?

Its not a Photographic visit so hopefully wont cause me to much hassle

David