Figwort Sawfly Tenthredo scrophulariae
e6filmuser
Registered Users Posts: 3,379 Major grins
As is typical, recently, I was out to photograph one subject and ended up with another.
I had seen a female Darter dragonfly land some distance from me. Was unlikely to get it filling the frame, because of obstructions between us, but might get an environmental portrait. So it was not a problem that my camera was fitted with the Kiron 105mm and a single flash gun.
When I returned with the camera the dragon was gone. What I did find was this sawfly, occasionally flying short distances between rhubarb leaves but mostly walking slowly across them. Occasionally, it would seek shade between overlapping leaves.
I was able to approach closely and, by waving my left hand, persuade it to face in various directions. I even lifted the edge a huge leaf to uncover it, holding the camera only in my right hand. Towards the end of the session, having nothing to lose, I even prodded it with my finger tip to position it.
What made me suspect it was something of interest was the very neat, regular yellow banding on the abdomen. Otherwise, it was about the size of a social wasp (Vespula).
The crosseye stereo is not as technically good as I would like, not least with the wingtip just in the frame, but it works for me.
http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/figwort-sawfly
Harold
I had seen a female Darter dragonfly land some distance from me. Was unlikely to get it filling the frame, because of obstructions between us, but might get an environmental portrait. So it was not a problem that my camera was fitted with the Kiron 105mm and a single flash gun.
When I returned with the camera the dragon was gone. What I did find was this sawfly, occasionally flying short distances between rhubarb leaves but mostly walking slowly across them. Occasionally, it would seek shade between overlapping leaves.
I was able to approach closely and, by waving my left hand, persuade it to face in various directions. I even lifted the edge a huge leaf to uncover it, holding the camera only in my right hand. Towards the end of the session, having nothing to lose, I even prodded it with my finger tip to position it.
What made me suspect it was something of interest was the very neat, regular yellow banding on the abdomen. Otherwise, it was about the size of a social wasp (Vespula).
The crosseye stereo is not as technically good as I would like, not least with the wingtip just in the frame, but it works for me.
http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/figwort-sawfly
Harold
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Comments
Brian v.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
Thanks, Brian.
They look so like Vespula at a glance that who knows how many we might have missed without a close look. I am now taking more notice of behaviour, to help distinguish them at a distance.
I don't know where the nearest figwort is but probably not far from our garden.
Harold