Any bug photos during July 2015

[John 2]

Good illustration Geoff. That sort of differentiation almost takes the ID to a forensic level. Did I say "almost"? Nice images BTW.

[deetheturk]

A couple of Dragon Fly's


#1


#2

[John 2]

Cracking shots David, particularly the first.

[marlunn]

nice David, think you really have those guys well trained

[marlunn]

Had a bit of an afternoon at a local Nature reserve, a few Hovers and that beetle again :-)

Rutpela maculata


Sphaerophoria sp. female


Chrysogaster solstitialis


Scaeva pyrastri

[deetheturk]

Cheers Mark, I wish lol, great captures looks like you had a good day out mate!

[Barbara Ponder]

Great shots guys! How the HELL do you get so close? That dragonfly would have up and run on me for sure! I need secrets so spill already

[JBW]

This is without a doubt pushing the limits of this thread but there is a spider dead center and it is a very pretty shot.

[IzzieK]

Hats off to you guys for these wonderful shots...!!!

[deetheturk]

Cheers Barbara, the answer to that is loads of patience, and even more disappointment, coupled with tons of swearing and frustration

I have found that Dragon and Damsel Fly's return to the same perch most of the time after you spook them, if your lucky then you can edge closer and get a keeper!

[deetheturk]

Defo one there B

[deetheturk]

Thanks Izzie, have you got that Macro lens yet? and how is Bills recovery coming along?

[John 2]

Cheers Barbara, the answer to that is loads of patience, and even more disappointment, coupled with tons of swearing and frustration.................

......and sore knees!

[deetheturk]

......and sore knees!

That goes without saying John!

[marlunn]

and a bit of judicious cropping sometimes - mind you still pretty close, less than 2 feet

Eupeodes luniger
original


crop to show more detail


but these are hovers so easy to get reasonably close to compared to Dragons.

[deetheturk]

Very nice Mark, I find Dragons easier to get close to than Hovers, that second image is from about 4-6 inches away and has not been cropped

[marlunn]

wow, very impressive David - no way I get that close to them except later in the year when they calm down and the temp drops a bit then only about a foot or so, my macro's closest focus is 1.2ft

[IzzieK]

Thanks Izzie, have you got that Macro lens yet? and how is Bills recovery coming along?

Yes I have got my macro lens already and I love it...the last hibiscus submission was the last time I use it. I just filled up the frame so I do not have to crop anything off.

(Bill's been swearing like a sailor again when watching political tv stations, so I think he is back to normal ...and I am back to taming his mouth again. Thanks for asking...)

[deetheturk]

Sorry pal, I thought you were still waiting on it that will explain how good those last shots were then

Good news about Bill too, let him swear its a man thing

[Geoff F]

Definitely E. luniger there, Matt. Those shots nicely show the Y shape on the frons which is an important part of the identification.