Any bug photos during July 2015

[Barbara Ponder]

Only here do I find myself enjoying bugs! All are great images! Could you please come get the mosquitos in Texas and take them to photograph where you are? With all the rain here you might not even need a macro lens

[IzzieK]

Mark, you did very well in that image...I like it...and Geoff, I like the first one. It really looks like a lady but then the blue part in the tail, does that make it a male...you know, blue for boys kinda thing? What is that marking? Does it mean anything?

[TobyMac]

Great shots everyone! Love the idea of these thread.

David your jumpers are again awesome as always and have again made me sad that it is winter here at the moment. Tried finding some but unfortunately nothing. Especially like Nr.2 of yours though.

[deetheturk]

Cheers Toby, I'm sure when summer hits your parts you will have plenty to add to the thread!

[Ziggy]

Think it is some type of Arrowhead Moth.

[deetheturk]

Nice capture Jim, we have something similar here, but with black-orange markings on the wings!

Just had a look and I think my one is an Ornate Moth?

[Ziggy]

Nice David. Yours is better than mine.

[deetheturk]

Maybe closer Jim, not any better mate

I took this pic ages ago and forgot all about it until I saw yours, maybe I will P/P some more later

[Geoff F]

Beautiful Demoiselle female



When they land their wings are held rather upright and clear of the abdomen but as they settle the wings tend to drop over the abdomen. And of course, by the time I get focused they have dropped. This was the best I could achieve from a rather friendly insect which kept flitting and settling around me.

Five spot Burnet Moths fly during the day but aren't overly common. The shiny black wing background colour makes photography difficult and I had a lot of rejects due to over exposed areas. Couldn't get that perfect angle on it so this is another case of 'the best of many shots'.



When I went to a new site for me consisting of a reedbed I did wonder about the little hoverfly Tropidia scita. They aren't supposed to be in this area but a couple of years ago I did find some at another similar site. And the second insect which I found was this very species. Once again I struggled to get a 'correct' angle. There is an enlarged area under the hind femur which gives identification but I couldn't quite make my perfect shot.



You can just about make out that area on the far leg. Later on I did capture a shot of that area but the face etc wasn't sharp. So next time I will have to try harder for a better angle. I really need one sitting up on a flower not hiding amongst leaves.

[marlunn]

nice shots Geoff, not sure - I don't think I have put this one up before but shout at me if I have ! both Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle - banks of the river Torridge at Torrington when we were there a few weeks ago there were a lot about - the females were everywhere but most males were not yet in full colour

[Ziggy]

Nice Damsels Mark and Geoff.

[deetheturk]

More great captures Geoff!

[deetheturk]

Very nice Mark!

[marlunn]

Something taken in May, a scorpion fly - too pale to id fully as it had just emerged and was getting to some high point to fly - I assume. It was on vegetation on a sunny bank so a nice position to photo for a change. However, poor thing, while I was taking its photo there was a sound of a flurry of wings behind me and a flash of brown in my eye line on right and in the viewfinder and it was gone - looked up and there was a smug looking robin on a branch to the left of my position finishing it off ! so this is a image of its last moments !

[deetheturk]

Nice capture Mark, never come across one of these, not even when I lived back in the U.K.

[deetheturk]

A couple of Wasp images



#1


#2


Cheers David...

[marlunn]

Very nice David, love the detail on the nest - and that the wasp is a friend of batman

[marlunn]

Just took this, it did not hang about and was a bit breezy so wasp and leaf were moving about a bit. Did a quick pp - Ancistrocerus gazella I think but, Geoff any build on that ?

[deetheturk]

Nicely done Mark, there has been a breeze blowing here for the last two months and although it helps with the 40+ temps, it's playing havoc with my macro!

[Geoff F]

That may be the correct identification, Mark, but it is so difficult to be absolutely certain without microscopic examination.

Going back to the previous identification attempts on horseflies. I found this today.



Never managed a side or front view.

Seems like a Hybomitra species to me; but they are tricky and I seem to be stumped.

Hairy eyes and orange first antennae segment. Though I might narrow it down by location but they all appear to be seriously under recorded and the most likely matches are very local, and not close, or rare.

ps. Can't get a match on David's wasp either. Rather unique face markings so possibly a southern species.