A small wasp on yarrow

[DanK]

Some of you may be seeing a pattern--at least in this area, if you want to attract pollinators, plant yarrow. Yellow seems to work better than red.

This is two images of a small reddish wasp (no idea what species) that was munching away today. It is perhaps 12-15 mm long. These have a good view of the three ocelli (simple eyes) on the top of the center of the head.

C&C welcome, as always.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[bugster0121]

These are very well done. Really like the colors. Almost wish the 2d one had a larger depth of field. Were any lights used on these?

[IzzieK]

Your bug shots are becoming interesting, Dan...I like them very much, including the tinnie weenie bees...

[DanK]

Thanks, all. Tim, these were done in bright sunlight, but with diffused flash. I'll post below a photo of the setup I used. It's a diffuser made out of two soda cans and a few sheets of parchment, along with a lot of tape. Bright sunlight generally gives a washed out look, but the light from the flash tempers that. The settings were my default for bugs: ISO 200, 1/125, f/13. The 2nd one has the bug almost perpendicular to the sensor, which makes the DOF insufficient for the full body. Some people with steadier hands would deal with this by focus-stacking, but I am not able to do that quickly enough and with good enough alignment for bugs. (I do it for flowers.)

[deetheturk]

Great captures Dan, very well done bud!