And yet more insects ...

[James G]

A few more from the last couple of weeks... Barston Lakes, Birmingham

#1 Bee Fly, Bombylius major


#2 Fold-Winged (Phantom) Cranefly, Ptychoptera contaminata



#3 Panorpa sp (possibly germanicus) male

#4 St Mark's Fly, Bibio marci (male)


#5 St Mark's Fly, Bibio marci (female)


#6 Pondlife, (larva and snail?) & network of Fungal Mycelium

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[RandyRFJP]

All first rate images, Jim. Excellent detail, great compositions, and interesting subjects.

[Wavelength]

Nice images; last one is something rare and special

[Stagecoach]

No 6 is a cracker James.

[FootLoose]

I love #6, James. You chose a good section to capture. Even though it is clearly identified (well, now that you told us), it still has an abstract appeal for me.

[JBW]

If I had shot #6 I'd be happy for a month.

[James G]

Thanks all, I've been a bit slow posting this last few weeks.... making room for life does get in the way of photography!

This season I've been giving myself 'specific' challeges and the shots of St. Marks fly was one... they are not in hard to find, but getting one with the light just right has been the challenge. #4 is the money shot but I'm afraid the female #5, falls a bit short.

The pond shotwas one of those 'curiosity' captures. At first I just thought it was a bit of scum floating in a stagnant no flow area of the pond. And like Greg it was the rather abstact pattern of the mycelium that prompted a closer look.

[bnnrcn]

Nice and clear shots James

[IzzieK]

All very nicely done, James. My favourite is #6 and and #3 in that order. #6 because of the abstract look as pere Greg's comment (+1) and #3 because of the expression on its face. What is that yellow/orange thingie near its bottom. Is that an egg or something? Just curious...male insects don't have eggs or is he fertilizing it?

[James G]

Izzie, the orange thing is part of the insect. To be specific,part of its genitalia (male).it is a bad angle for the shot but square on it would look a bit like a scorpion sting..

[JohnRostron]

An impressive collection. I particularly like the Sr Mark's flies. I often wonder why they have such small heads. I was fascinated by #6, but I could see no sign of either a larva or a snail.

Izzie, the orange thing is part of the insect. To be specific,part of its genitalia (male).it is a bad angle for the shot but square on it would look a bit like a scorpion sting..

Which is why they are called Scorpion Flies.

John

[James G]

Hi John, I seem to remember something about St Marks fly along the lines that the male has large eyes and they are connected to its brain such that it can use the upper half to position itself in flight and simultaneously use the lower half to pinpoint females. At least I think that is so. I presume the females have smaller heads/eyes because they do not need be able to do this?

As regards the pondlife.. I probably have my life stages wrong and maybe it is a nymph but it is fairly central but far right of image, hanging below surface. The snail, at least I think it is, is somewhat to the left of central and a bit up, over a strand of mycelium. It is very small and a pretty dense black, mostly a silhouette.

[James G]

I havn't posted much this year, I'm still having problems starting new threads. So.... I'm adding to an old thread I started last year.

#1 Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa (male)


#2 Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator female (depositing eggs)


#3 Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator female (depositing eggs)


#4 Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum male


#5 Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum male


#6 Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum male


#7 Black tailed Skimmer, Orthetrum cancellatum Male


#8 Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator in flight (kind of obvious really )


Probably best viewed in the Lightbox?

All these were photographed at Upton House, near Stratford on Avon (Ornamental Lake, not the Stew ponds, although there are dragonfly's there also)

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/upt...se-and-gardens

C&C welcome