Any bug photos during August 2015

[JBW]

Poor quality but it is a metallic blue spider!

[piggsy]

I have seen his work and he inspired me to get up close and personal even without the 'proper' gear.

I appreciate that you put the equipment behind the lens and learning how to use all aspects of the equipment you have at the top of your list. The laws of physics state that my equipment simply can't do what yours can. The laws of 'Art' say that if I have a reasonable amount of talent and work very hard to maximize my talent that I can in my own way put out beautiful shots that include close-ups if not macros of insects.

Yep, also can't forget learning how the bugs behave - most of all, where to find them! But also how to get close to them, how long they will spend in one place, where they sleep, how long you have to shoot them before they get annoyed with you, how much light you can hit them with before specular reflections burn out detail in the photo, what plants they're attracted to, etc. Doesn't cost anything and with that in mind it's a lot more bang for buck for the resulting photos than spending more on gear

Which brings us back to an oft stated truth: This group is great for learning and inspiration. Glad you joined.

Thanks!

[James G]

Ok, here's the story. I got up a few days back, and went downstairs to make breakfast etc.. Put my 'comfortable', (aka old and should be in the bin according to Janet), soft sole shoes on. Wandered around, did breakfast , put rubbish out etc for an hour or so, then sat down with cup of tea.
Next thing, electric shock/needle burn in a little toe. Yelped, pull my shoe off, and the biggest house spider I have seen in an age drops to the floor and scuttles under a chair. Meanwhile I pull off sock, and see a drop, a little drop of blood, just underneath the nail of my toe!
Now I like spiders, and I have to acknowledge that the little devil must have been sweating a bit about the tight corner it got itself before it nipped me, so, I retrieved it, had a little chat with it, and in exchange for an 'in your face' Arachnid photoshoot I relocated it to my garage, without prejudice!
(It's fairly rare for people to report spider bites in the UK, and it's the first time it has ever happened to me....glad it wasn't Oz coz I understand their arachnids are really nasty!)
Here's the shots
#1 House Spider, Tegenaria domestica


#2


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#5

[James G]

After my last post, I decided to post a few more arachnids that have appeared this last month or so in the garden and the house.
This Clubonia spider was clinging to a bucket that Janet was using while mopping the kitchen floor. It remained reasonably 'docile' long enough for me to transfer it to a kitchen towel , and cooperated long enough for me to get these shots. (My Macro setup is permanently set up and ready for use at this time of year ) oh yes, this one was transfered out into the garden
#1 Clubiona sp..possibly phragmitis


#2


#3



The Red Velvet Mite shots below, I am particularly pleased with because I've been trying to get any kind of shot of them for months. Since they are about 0.5mm in size, move like the clappers, and are rarely still, I was reasonably satisfied to have this capture 'in the wild'

#4 The Red Velvet Mite (Trombidium sp holocericeum)



The next two though were taken indoors on our Linen basket .

#5


#6


and finally, (I think I may have posted these already), since this little fellow, was kind enough to pose for me in the garden I thought you should get to see it too!

#7 Green orb spider (Araniella cucurbitina)


#8

[James G]

On my previous post I mentioned capturing a Red Velvet Spider mite, but in with the washing was this little Zebra spider...

#1 Zebra Spider (Salticus scenicus)


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#7

[Cantab]

James, these are a really good collection of photos.

You mention that your macro setup is permanently installed on your camera. Do you use two camera bodies (I need an excuse for a second camera body )?

What is your macro setup? (My apologies if you've answered this question previously.)

[James G]

Bruce, I do have two camera bodies, A Canon 7D Mk1 and the Mk2. In truth the Mk1 is 'retired'. However don't think you should take this as a reason not to follow your aspirations for the second body. Under normal circumstances I would also be using a Sigma 50-500 lens for general wildlife and larger insects like dragonflies.
For the present, I am concentrating on macro work.

As regards the setup for insects, I have a Canon 100mm IS 'L' series macro, acquired this season. I also have the non IS version which I have used for a number of years which is pretty good and will stay in service for the fungi. I also have a set of extension tubes that I have used for the really small targets like the Spider Mites.
I use a Manfrotto monopod to provide additional stability, and lighting is supplemented using a Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX ETTL flash. Two weeks ago, I was really lucky to pick up the Twin light version on eBay for £400 (retail price £790 in the UK), so I'm playing around with that at present.

[Geoff F]

I have been searching for some Chrysotoxum elegans hoverflies at a site where I usually find a few each year. Always an uncommon species though.

Yesterday I struck lucky and found the first one within a few yards. Ended up finding three for the day.





An unexpected bonus was a Volucella zonaria. They have become relatively common in parts of the south east after arriving in the UK during the 1930's but where I live is on the edge of their range so they are another rarity here.

[IzzieK]

All shots perfect! What metering on your camera did you use? I am suspecting it is spot..

[Geoff F]

When walking around and recording insect life I tend to take snaps of common species instead of taking notes because it gives me a visual double check.

These started out as just notes like that but when I had a closer look I found myself imagining something of an 'Enchanted Landscape'. But it might just be me being weird.

[James G]

No Geoff, not weird... but enchanted.... yes
The Peacock is glorious, but... at a quick glance there's an exotic owlish fairy face peering back at you... How's that for a 'piskey' capture

[alan20d]

Came across these (as of yet) unidentified butterflies while hiking around a lake in the Hudson Valley in NY. I enjoy photographing insects, especially while they are at work. Bees are my favorite but this one is special since I was able to get three in one shot. There were five when I was focusing but two decided they had better things to do!

[IzzieK]

No Geoff, not weird... but enchanted.... yes
The Peacock is glorious, but... at a quick glance there's an exotic owlish fairy face peering back at you... How's that for a 'piskey' capture

Yesterday, I saw this post and I kept looking at it because I saw those big eyes and the pink chin. I thought it was funny really because not only I traced a face that I thought is a female because of the pink/purple chin but also a ribbon (wings) on her head. Now if that is not cute, I don't know what is...

Love it, Geoff. You outdid yourself this time around with your creature...

[Geoff F]

Thanks.

When I saw these images I was reminded of those New Age Music tape and CD covers which featured this sort of scene a few years ago. And with the second image (Eristalis arbustorum) I could see a mischievous little elf looking down from his hiding place.

Just adding some sort of plant hopper which at the moment I can't identify. A tricky shot under poor conditions, so far from perfect but I thought it looked interesting anyway.



And another difficult angle deep in the undergrowth. A Digger Wasp of unknown identification has just caught a hoverfly which is as big as its self. The hoverfly is Scaeva pyrastri.



Alan. Not sure what you get over there but those butterflies rather look like one of the Skipper species to me.

[IzzieK]

You sure try to get these creatures with a creature, Geoff...nature is being good to you for these two batches of shots...your elf is smiling back at you...perhaps you are not in Devon anymore...click your heels three times: Quick! Be careful...next time you might see the Wizard of Oz from Kansas...

Thanks.

When I saw these images I was reminded of those New Age Music tape and CD covers which featured this sort of scene a few years ago. And with the second image (Eristalis arbustorum) I could see a mischievous little elf looking down from his hiding place.

Just adding some sort of plant hopper which at the moment I can't identify. A tricky shot under poor conditions, so far from perfect but I thought it looked interesting anyway.



And another difficult angle deep in the undergrowth. A Digger Wasp of unknown identification has just caught a hoverfly which is as big as its self. The hoverfly is Scaeva pyrastri.



Alan. Not sure what you get over there but those butterflies rather look like one of the Skipper species to me.

[Geoff F]

Perhaps it is fumes from suspicious looking woodland fungi, Izzie.

The latest thinking form a nature site which I use is that the hopper might be a juvenile of Evacanthus interruptus. I have found adults there, so it is a possibility.

[marlunn]

Lots of good spiders, love the jumpers - very envious of the Chrysotoxum elegans Geoff, not seen one yet, a hover from me nothing special but a nice image I think Geoff, not seen one yet, I would upload a couple of images but Tinypic seems to not want to work

[Geoff F]

Chrysotoxum elegans is mostly a south coast species, Mark; although they have been recorded at the Gower Peninsular. But they aren't frequently seen anywhere.

Chrysotoxum cautum and festivum occurs in your area but are uncommon here.

Some little red beetles were feeding on Bindweed flowers and scuttling around over foliage never pausing long enough for a decent portrait. Anthocomus rufus.



These little hoverflies have such interesting markings; but another species which doesn't stay still for long. Eristalinus sepulchralis.



A Plume Moth was resting on Fleabane but this was the best angle I could manage.

[marlunn]

well just tried again - since upgrade to win 10 cant upload pictures via tinypic

[Geoff F]

I haven't read anything about that on the Windows 10 discussion here

Windows 10

Are you using the Go Advanced option? I often fail to load images with the Post Quick Reply alternative; but I'm still with 7.