Sweet Hitchhiker

Wicked_Dark · August 27, 2011

Found this brightly colored crawler on my backpack yesterday. Moved it to a more photogenic location. Only when I got the images into LR did I see that it had little flags on its back. No idea what it turns into. Went to a couple websites for ID, but didn't see anything. It's about an inch long when not stretching to crawl. Found in southern NH.

E-30 | OM 90mm f2 macro | 1 sec | f11 (?) | travel tripod | minor adjustments in LR

basflt · August 27, 2011

whatever it is , you captured it well

J Allen · August 27, 2011

Really awesome shot.

cbbr · August 27, 2011

Fantastic shot.

Wicked_Dark · August 27, 2011

Thanks peeps.

ziggy53 · August 27, 2011

Looks like a "Helicoverpa zea/Heliothis zea" larva, called a "corn earworm":

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/monarch/helicoverpa_zea_larva_800.jpg

http://www.oisat.org/images/cornearworm.jpg

http://utahpests.usu.edu/uppdl/images/uploads/Noctuidae%20Corn%20Earworm%20Larvae%20Ryan%20Davis%20Utah%20State%20University.jpg

Besides corn this larva also feeds on soy beans and other vegetation. The exact coloration will vary by its diet.

Wicked_Dark · August 27, 2011

yeah, that could be the culprit. Must have been eating newts! ; )

Syphonius · August 27, 2011

Brilliant image. Was it really a 1 second exposure? The EXIF seems to be missing lens info so I'm not sure.

0scar99 · August 27, 2011

Nice shot..

clickin girl · August 27, 2011

Very nice shot! So crisp and I love the colors!!

Wicked_Dark · August 27, 2011

Thanks everyone. yes, it really was a 1 second exposure. natural light in the woods tends to need long ones, especially when I have to stop down past say f5.6. I use an 80s vintage macro lens, so it being manual and all it's not picked up by the camera. Funny, I just put up a blog post about this lens. You can check it here -
http://wickeddarkphotography.com/2011/08/27/olympus-90mm-f2-macro-lens/

IPClark · August 27, 2011

Stunning detail and exceptional lighting. That lens you have there certainly is quite special and I do not blame you for allowing it to be the very last lens you'd part with (read your blog).