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swanlefitte · 07-26-2021, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

This one is alive and feeding on a drop of molasses, .

What reasoning for this choice? I think i will start. I used sugar water but not thick enough. Then I used honey but thought a bee with different honey might be attacked. Went to corn syrup. Molasses has nutrients. I use it to flavor my ginger beer.
I guess you find it thick and with nutrients. But maybe also no less bright than the subject?

Philoslothical · 07-26-2021, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

That first image is spot-on!

Here's the horsefly image taken back in the Film Era. This one is alive and feeding on a drop of molasses, so the eyes have their natural, vivid colors and are almost completely clean (I see one dust speck). SCAN from a chrome. BTW: Almost certainly taken with a 90mm f2.5 Tokina macro.

Beautiful shot! It's rare to find them with their eyes completely clean, so don't worry about that. I had no idea they enjoyed molasses, but it makes sense, and it's a great idea for non-destructively immobilizing them, at least briefly.

Sometimes I entertain daydreams about building a macro rig inside one of those portable coolers... So I could haul the thing into the field and then chill bugs right on the stage, and then let them go after. I think the condensation issue could be beaten by physically isolating the camera and coating the exposed lens or objective with one of those anti-fogging sprays.

**WPRESTO** · 07-26-2021, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by Philoslothical

Beautiful shot! It's rare to find them with their eyes completely clean, so don't worry about that. I had no idea they enjoyed molasses, but it makes sense, and it's a great idea for non-destructively immobilizing them, at least briefly.

Sometimes I entertain daydreams about building a macro rig inside one of those portable coolers... So I could haul the thing into the field and then chill bugs right on the stage, and then let them go after. I think the condensation issue could be beaten by physically isolating the camera and coating the exposed lens or objective with one of those anti-fogging sprays.

It might be better to attach a clear filter than to spray anything on the lens itself.

Philoslothical · 07-26-2021, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

It might be better to attach a clear filter than to spray anything on the lens itself.

I think you're right. If the idea ever gets past the daydream stage I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

pkboy · 07-26-2021, 05:07 PM - **2 Likes**

Some form of assassin bug, sycanus. Not one that can give you chagas disease.

Thagomizer · 07-28-2021, 01:48 PM - **6 Likes**

My first insects in a while. Taken with the DA Limited 35mm Macro.

Family portrait:

I only saw the big one when I was shooting.

Well worn bee:

**ffking** · 07-29-2021, 12:25 AM - **6 Likes**

Almost deterred from doing this seeing some of the recent fly's eyes - my excuse being that these are near perfect (in terms of flaws in the eyes) and belong to a hoverfly (posing on a galvanised ledge next to a hosepipe snake).

**WPRESTO** · 07-29-2021, 05:01 AM

Originally posted by ffking

Almost deterred from doing this seeing some of the recent fly's eyes - my excuse being that these are near perfect (in terms of flaws in the eyes) and belong to a hoverfly (posing on a galvanised ledge next to a hosepipe snake).

No need to hesitate or apologize for that image. Well done. Thanks for sharing.

**K2 to K50** · 07-29-2021, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by Thagomizer

My first insects in a while. Taken with the DA Limited 35mm Macro.

Family portrait:

I only saw the big one when I was shooting.

Well worn bee:

Amazing shots - top-notch fine detail.

---------- Post added 07-29-21 at 07:05 AM ----------

Originally posted by ffking

Almost deterred from doing this seeing some of the recent fly's eyes - my excuse being that these are near perfect (in terms of flaws in the eyes) and belong to a hoverfly (posing on a galvanised ledge next to a hosepipe snake).

Fantastic image!

**ffking** · 07-29-2021, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

No need to hesitate or apologize for that image

I'm English!

(thanks for your comments

)

Originally posted by K2 to K50

Fantastic image!

- thank you

Thagomizer · 07-30-2021, 08:44 AM

Originally posted by K2 to K50

Amazing shots - top-notch fine detail.

---------- Post added 07-29-21 at 07:05 AM ----------

Thank you very much. I was really pleased with the aphid shot with the bonus youngins.

Aaron28 · 07-30-2021, 04:43 PM - **2 Likes**

tamron 90/2.8 DI...flashpoint zoom-mini......k-3ii

**Weevil** · 07-31-2021, 12:52 PM - **5 Likes**

Just wanted to do some macro in my spare time and ended taking picture of this tiny insect, that I never saw befoer, and thought at first it was some kind of sawfly, because of their antennas. However, the red "elytra" like structure confused me and I wasn not able to fix my mind on an ID. I asked the AEAQ FB page and Thanks to my entomologist collegue, Stéphane Dumont for determining at leaste the genus for me.

If we look at its biology, it is very interesting...
(more info on flickr)

Ripiphorus sp. [Coleoptera, Ripiphoridae (Wedge-shaped Beetles)]

**ehrwien** · 08-14-2021, 01:46 PM - **2 Likes**

I have no idea where to start looking for what kind of insects those might be:

Procreating Bugs

And a mundane grasshopper:

Grasshopper

**ehrwien** · 08-15-2021, 08:15 AM - **2 Likes**

Common Darter (?)

08-15-2021, 08:15 AM - 2 Likes	#6405
ehrwien Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 2,784	Common Darter (?) Common Darter (?)

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07-26-2021, 02:23 PM	#6391
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Originally posted by WPRESTO This one is alive and feeding on a drop of molasses, . What reasoning for this choice? I think i will start. I used sugar water but not thick enough. Then I used honey but thought a bee with different honey might be attacked. Went to corn syrup. Molasses has nutrients. I use it to flavor my ginger beer. I guess you find it thick and with nutrients. But maybe also no less bright than the subject?

07-26-2021, 03:57 PM	#6392
Philoslothical Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,889	Originally posted by WPRESTO That first image is spot-on! Here's the horsefly image taken back in the Film Era. This one is alive and feeding on a drop of molasses, so the eyes have their natural, vivid colors and are almost completely clean (I see one dust speck). SCAN from a chrome. BTW: Almost certainly taken with a 90mm f2.5 Tokina macro. Beautiful shot! It's rare to find them with their eyes completely clean, so don't worry about that. I had no idea they enjoyed molasses, but it makes sense, and it's a great idea for non-destructively immobilizing them, at least briefly. Sometimes I entertain daydreams about building a macro rig inside one of those portable coolers... So I could haul the thing into the field and then chill bugs right on the stage, and then let them go after. I think the condensation issue could be beaten by physically isolating the camera and coating the exposed lens or objective with one of those anti-fogging sprays.

07-26-2021, 04:00 PM	#6393
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,144	Originally posted by Philoslothical Beautiful shot! It's rare to find them with their eyes completely clean, so don't worry about that. I had no idea they enjoyed molasses, but it makes sense, and it's a great idea for non-destructively immobilizing them, at least briefly. Sometimes I entertain daydreams about building a macro rig inside one of those portable coolers... So I could haul the thing into the field and then chill bugs right on the stage, and then let them go after. I think the condensation issue could be beaten by physically isolating the camera and coating the exposed lens or objective with one of those anti-fogging sprays. It might be better to attach a clear filter than to spray anything on the lens itself.

07-26-2021, 04:14 PM	#6394
Philoslothical Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,889	Originally posted by WPRESTO It might be better to attach a clear filter than to spray anything on the lens itself. I think you're right. If the idea ever gets past the daydream stage I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

07-26-2021, 05:07 PM - 2 Likes	#6395
pkboy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Lantau Island Posts: 890	Some form of assassin bug, sycanus. Not one that can give you chagas disease.

07-28-2021, 01:48 PM - 6 Likes	#6396
Thagomizer Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: London Ontario Posts: 2,068	My first insects in a while. Taken with the DA Limited 35mm Macro. Family portrait: I only saw the big one when I was shooting. Well worn bee:

07-29-2021, 12:25 AM - 6 Likes	#6397
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,039	Almost deterred from doing this seeing some of the recent fly's eyes - my excuse being that these are near perfect (in terms of flaws in the eyes) and belong to a hoverfly (posing on a galvanised ledge next to a hosepipe snake).

07-29-2021, 05:01 AM	#6398
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,144	Originally posted by ffking Almost deterred from doing this seeing some of the recent fly's eyes - my excuse being that these are near perfect (in terms of flaws in the eyes) and belong to a hoverfly (posing on a galvanised ledge next to a hosepipe snake). No need to hesitate or apologize for that image. Well done. Thanks for sharing.

07-29-2021, 07:04 AM	#6399
K2 to K50 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ipswich QLD Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,823	Originally posted by Thagomizer My first insects in a while. Taken with the DA Limited 35mm Macro. Family portrait: I only saw the big one when I was shooting. Well worn bee: Amazing shots - top-notch fine detail. ---------- Post added 07-29-21 at 07:05 AM ---------- Originally posted by ffking Almost deterred from doing this seeing some of the recent fly's eyes - my excuse being that these are near perfect (in terms of flaws in the eyes) and belong to a hoverfly (posing on a galvanised ledge next to a hosepipe snake). Fantastic image!

07-29-2021, 08:07 AM	#6400
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,039	Originally posted by WPRESTO No need to hesitate or apologize for that image I'm English! (thanks for your comments ) Originally posted by K2 to K50 Fantastic image! - thank you

07-30-2021, 08:44 AM	#6401
Thagomizer Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: London Ontario Posts: 2,068	Originally posted by K2 to K50 Amazing shots - top-notch fine detail. ---------- Post added 07-29-21 at 07:05 AM ---------- Thank you very much. I was really pleased with the aphid shot with the bonus youngins.

07-30-2021, 04:43 PM - 2 Likes	#6402
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	tamron 90/2.8 DI...flashpoint zoom-mini......k-3ii

07-31-2021, 12:52 PM - 5 Likes	#6403
Weevil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Near Montréal, Québec Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,446	Just wanted to do some macro in my spare time and ended taking picture of this tiny insect, that I never saw befoer, and thought at first it was some kind of sawfly, because of their antennas. However, the red "elytra" like structure confused me and I wasn not able to fix my mind on an ID. I asked the AEAQ FB page and Thanks to my entomologist collegue, Stéphane Dumont for determining at leaste the genus for me. If we look at its biology, it is very interesting... (more info on flickr) Ripiphorus sp. [Coleoptera, Ripiphoridae (Wedge-shaped Beetles)]

08-14-2021, 01:46 PM - 2 Likes	#6404
ehrwien Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 2,784	I have no idea where to start looking for what kind of insects those might be: Procreating Bugs And a mundane grasshopper: Grasshopper

Thematic Show me your insects

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