Nature Accidental Bug Shot

Accidental Bug Shot · 09:00 PM

I'm having my front porch restored and driveway replaced, so I went out to take some photos before the work starts. I'd only planned to take some quick snaps, so of course I had no monopod or tripod, and I was wearing sun glasses....

I thought I'd take a few close-ups of the bushes by the porch, when I saw this bug crawling on my burning bush. As I wasn't prepared for shooting bug macros, it's not nearly as sharp (nor did I get as close) as I'd like. But I captured a bug in less than ideal conditions!

Any idea what kind of insect this is? C & C appreciated too.

**eaglem** · 05-04-2010, 09:06 PM

There's a co-incidence, I took this shot yesterday and think it is the same insect. I believe it is some type of wasp but can't recall it's proper name.

twokatmew · 05-04-2010, 09:12 PM

Yikes! Had I known it was a wasp, I wouldn't have gotten as close as I did!

That is a coincidence indeed.

Did you use flash? I like the black background.

**eaglem** · 05-04-2010, 10:55 PM

Yes I had to use a flash as it was in the shade of the Frangipani Tree.

**Rense** · 05-05-2010, 12:35 AM

It is a wasp indeed, as far as I can say. Not the kind of stinging lemonade wasps, but one that lays it's eggs on an other insect. So it's a very usefull one!!

Nice capture for the circumstances and equipment!

twokatmew · 05-05-2010, 06:42 AM

Thank you, Rense!

foxglove · 05-05-2010, 07:19 AM

I second Rense's diagnosis - totally harmless to humans. Despite your less than ideal equipment, you caught the wonderful metallic blue quite well. I'm pretty sure it's a blue mud dauber, which means it comes out sort of neutral on the beneficial/harmful scale - they build mud chambers (thus the name) to lay their eggs in, and stock them with paralyzed spiders. So they're not going to eat your plants or sting you (unless you grab one and squish it), but they also prey on a beneficial critter. On the other hand, the adults feed on nectar, so they probably contribute to pollination. Very pretty, though. Now you'll have to set out with your bug-shooting gear and get purposeful shot of one!

Julie

twokatmew · 05-05-2010, 07:52 AM

Thank you, Julie! I googled, and sure enough it's a Blue Mud Dauber, just as you said.

I don't know how to do a 100% crop, but I enlarged the image to 100% and cropped around the wasp. As you can see, the image is definitely less than stellar, but I was amazed to find my Kx and DA35 had captured the wasp's colors and geometric shapes. I was trying to hold very still, but I wasn't all that successful, being so close to my subject.

I just ordered new glasses, and I got clear lenses this time instead of Transitions, so I should be able to see more clearly when I'm shooting!

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05-04-2010, 09:06 PM	#2
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,144	There's a co-incidence, I took this shot yesterday and think it is the same insect. I believe it is some type of wasp but can't recall it's proper name.

05-04-2010, 09:12 PM	#3
twokatmew Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lansing, MI Photos: Albums Posts: 509 Original Poster	Yikes! Had I known it was a wasp, I wouldn't have gotten as close as I did! That is a coincidence indeed. Did you use flash? I like the black background.

05-04-2010, 10:55 PM	#4
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,144	Yes I had to use a flash as it was in the shade of the Frangipani Tree.

05-05-2010, 12:35 AM	#5
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	It is a wasp indeed, as far as I can say. Not the kind of stinging lemonade wasps, but one that lays it's eggs on an other insect. So it's a very usefull one!! Nice capture for the circumstances and equipment!

05-05-2010, 06:42 AM	#6
twokatmew Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lansing, MI Photos: Albums Posts: 509 Original Poster	Thank you, Rense!

05-05-2010, 07:19 AM	#7
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049	I second Rense's diagnosis - totally harmless to humans. Despite your less than ideal equipment, you caught the wonderful metallic blue quite well. I'm pretty sure it's a blue mud dauber, which means it comes out sort of neutral on the beneficial/harmful scale - they build mud chambers (thus the name) to lay their eggs in, and stock them with paralyzed spiders. So they're not going to eat your plants or sting you (unless you grab one and squish it), but they also prey on a beneficial critter. On the other hand, the adults feed on nectar, so they probably contribute to pollination. Very pretty, though. Now you'll have to set out with your bug-shooting gear and get purposeful shot of one! Julie

05-05-2010, 07:52 AM	#8
twokatmew Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lansing, MI Photos: Albums Posts: 509 Original Poster	Thank you, Julie! I googled, and sure enough it's a Blue Mud Dauber, just as you said. I don't know how to do a 100% crop, but I enlarged the image to 100% and cropped around the wasp. As you can see, the image is definitely less than stellar, but I was amazed to find my Kx and DA35 had captured the wasp's colors and geometric shapes. I was trying to hold very still, but I wasn't all that successful, being so close to my subject. I just ordered new glasses, and I got clear lenses this time instead of Transitions, so I should be able to see more clearly when I'm shooting!