A Motley collection of bugs

Lord Vetinari

A few recent bug macros
Brian V.

Small bee about 10mm long posing



Fungus gnat? about 4mm long



Monk beetle about 4mm long



Shieldbug #1 - focus stacked from 3 pics



Shieldbug #2- looks like it's made from copper or bronze



Ichneumon wasp about 4mm body length



It's that hoverfly again

boogie

A fine and dandy Motley Crew these are. If these bugs were actually the size showing I'd never go outside.

I have one question...what exactly is a hoverfly? Is it a type of bee? Does it sting?

Great shots Mr. Vetinari.

Lord Vetinari

Thanks Boogie
Hoverflies do not sting but often get mistaken for bees or wasps- many mimic bees or wasps so it's not suprising. In general they are goodies- the adults just eat pollen or drink nectar so are valuable flower pollinators,but many of the larvae eat aphids . The only dodgy one I know of is the narcissus fly which has larvae that eat flower bulbs. Not suprisingly most hoverflies can hover, something most bees and certainly not wasps, can do.
Brian V.

Antonio Correia

Brian,
Very nice pictures and very well done.

Awais Yaqub

Great work as always after littel delay how are you our friend

Skippy

Lord Vetinari wrote:

A few recent bug macros
Brian V.
Small bee about 10mm long posing
Fungus gnat? about 4mm long
Monk beetle about 4mm long
Shieldbug #1 - focus stacked from 3 pics
Shieldbug #2- looks like it's made from copper or bronze
Ichneumon wasp about 4mm body length
It's that hoverfly again

Gosh Brian you are so good at your own Stackin Technique
It amazes me how you keep finding all these bugs are you breeding them or what heck I can't find a dang thing at the moment.....spose it doesn't help that its Winter here hu
Your work is just Brilliant Brian, thanks again for sharing your work with the Forum ...... Skippy (Australia)

Maestro

Very nice macros!
You so make me want to invest in a good macro lens. :

John Desjarlais

Great pics, as always! I've admired your macros frequently.

I thought I'd note that hoverflies are actually an example of what's called Batesian mimicry - they've evolved to look like scary bees/wasps so that predators don't mess with them. Although they are generlaly goodies, as you say, I do wish I could get them to stop congregating in my garage every day!

Dalantech

Excellent work Brian!

It looks to me like you're using more flash than natural light for those shots, but with the size of the critters you're shooting there isn't much choice...

System

Incredible detail and color...thanks for sharing.

Lord Vetinari

John Desjarlais wrote:

Great pics, as always! I've admired your macros frequently.

I thought I'd note that hoverflies are actually an example of what's called Batesian mimicry - they've evolved to look like scary bees/wasps so that predators don't mess with them. Although they are generlaly goodies, as you say, I do wish I could get them to stop congregating in my garage every day!

Thanks
Quite right about the Batesian mimicry.
Brian V.

Lord Vetinari

Dalantech wrote:

Excellent work Brian!

It looks to me like you're using more flash than natural light for those shots, but with the size of the critters you're shooting there isn't much choice...

Thanks
You are right- only shot with any natural light in is the bee- others were taken at too high a mag or I was deliberately shading the bug from natural light to keep out unwanted reflections.
Brian V.

Lord Vetinari

Thanks for the comments all Always a pleasure to post here
Brian V.