Insects 2016

I could start this post with the same line as last time..:mad: But spring is on its way...I guess..

I took advantage off this bumble bee, recovering after a day with drizzly rains. My model was cooperative this time:cool:
I placed a bluish sheet off paper behind it and started shooting.

1: 1x magn.
http://i66.tinypic.com/2ymymog.jpg

2: 2x magn.
http://i68.tinypic.com/2643ktd.jpg

Rudi -- those are spectacular shots!

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Originally Posted by IzzieK

Rudi -- those are spectacular shots!

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Thanks to my spectacular model, :)

in the words of the imortals - 'and now for something completely different' - well okay, may be only a bit different - it was on a mainly white background so I thought what the heck B & W macro insect Eristalis Pertinax Hoverfly, just noticed I clipped the wing shadow - ah well - I have the full shadow in other images

http://i68.tinypic.com/rtpz61.jpg

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Originally Posted by marlunn

in the words of the imortals - 'and now for something completely different' - well okay, may be only a bit different - it was on a mainly white background so I thought what the heck B & W macro insect Eristalis Pertinax Hoverfly, just noticed I clipped the wing shadow - ah well - I have the full shadow in other images

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I have not seen much B&W insects around so yes different, but not bad at all, very nice effort!! I think you got a nice tonal range here. Maybe a bit more clarity to bring out the hairs a bit more ?? Keep in mind that I usually do not 'see' a picture in B&W, though I do appreciate them very much !!;)

Well...at least it is a first. Not bad for a black and white, Mark...I agree to a little bit of clarity...it is not scarey enough...:p

That is certainly a different approach which gives an interesting new take on one of those very common species which so often get overlooked.

Something worth considering for more species.

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Originally Posted by marlunn

in the words of the imortals - 'and now for something completely different' - well okay, may be only a bit different - it was on a mainly white background so I thought what the heck B & W macro insect Eristalis Pertinax Hoverfly, just noticed I clipped the wing shadow - ah well - I have the full shadow in other images

http://i68.tinypic.com/rtpz61.jpg

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Something has gone wrong with tinypics once again. The image on my web browser is of a somewhat scantily clad woman.

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Originally Posted by Cantab

Something has gone wrong with tinypics once again. The image on my web browser is of a somewhat scantily clad woman.

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RATS! They seem to have fixed it.

would have been better than a B & W insect :D

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Originally Posted by marlunn

would have been better than a B & W insect :D

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Interestingly, the black-and-white insect is still not showing up on either my desktop or iPad, only the scantily clad woman. My recollection is that this problem with tinypics is somewhat intermittent and random.

a more colourful hoverfly, very small between 4.5 - 6.5mm - lets see what shows up for others :)

Sphaerophoria - probably scripta but cant be 100%

http://i65.tinypic.com/rljnrp.jpg

and at rest

http://i66.tinypic.com/2ng973l.jpg

Jumping spider about 3mm long:
http://i65.tinypic.com/8x7ktz.jpg

love those jumpers Richard :)

Spotted this little beetle (abt 1 cm long) on a Peonie flower. I wonder iff an ID is possible from this picture ?

http://i63.tinypic.com/2wexqux.jpg

I haven't seen any Sphaerophoria species yet this year Mark; in fact I have found few species of hovers, except the usual early Spring models.

Not sure about that beetle, Rudi, but it is one of the Longhorns (Cerambycidae). Maybe have a look at Common Grammoptera - Grammoptera ruficornis. Perhaps have a look at this German site.

http://www.kerbtier.de/enindex.html

Found my first Scorpionfly of the year, but it wouldn't willingly pose for a photo. However I did manage one snap of it looking rather scary.

http://i67.tinypic.com/2uqbsyb.jpg

And from the other side.

http://i67.tinypic.com/n5iyp.jpg

Geoff, do love the scorpion fly - such a great look and name for such a wimp :) flight is so weak really. Great images.

this one has me stumped a bit - but not really into beetles much especially what I assume is a water beetle - was on a reed in a dragonfly scrap for a second i was hoping for a emerge but then realised it was not, any ideas ?

http://i68.tinypic.com/ngp01k.jpg

Mark, but I have a feeling that it is a Water Boatman Beetle. Those legs look remarkably long and I know that some species are capable of flight.

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

...Not sure about that beetle, Rudi, but it is one of the Longhorns (Cerambycidae). Maybe have a look at Common Grammoptera - Grammoptera ruficornis. Perhaps have a look at this German site.

http://www.kerbtier.de/enindex.html....

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Thanks for ID & the link Geoff. It looks indeed like a Grammoptera ruficornis.

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Originally Posted by James G

Mark, but I have a feeling that it is a Water Boatman Beetle. Those legs look remarkably long and I know that some species are capable of flight.

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James, that was my first thought and the eyes certainly shape it up that way. The 'body markings' threw me off a bit.