Thematic Show me your insects

**tmlawes** · 06-08-2019, 02:56 PM - **1 Like**

I think this might be some kind of robber fly.

Attached Images

**Skodadriver** · 06-09-2019, 03:12 AM

A Bee and a Bug.

Doundounba · 06-11-2019, 11:14 AM

I don't know about you folks, but I've so far been seeing incredibly few dragonflies & damselflies in my outings compared to previous years. I'm hoping it's just because of the very cold spring we've had, and they're just late to the party, so to speak... This is my first Odonata shot of this season.

**WPRESTO** · 06-11-2019, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by Doundounba

I don't know about you folks, but I've so far been seeing incredibly few dragonflies & damselflies in my outings compared to previous years. I'm hoping it's just because of the very cold spring we've had, and they're just late to the party, so to speak... This is my first Odonata shot of this season.

Some quantitative data collected in Europe, and observational reports from elsewhere, suggest that the world-wide number of insects has declined as much as 40% over the past three of four decades. A personal observation: when we first moved here in the early 1970's, the boys (there were a bunch in this neighborhood), as boys will, loved catching fireflies (lightning bugs) on a summer evening. But, those delightful insects have all but vanished. Where there used by scores and scores in the back yard, now I'm lucky to see two or three, and commonly there isn't a single one blinking in the darkness.

To quote Pogo (again): "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

swanlefitte · 06-11-2019, 01:28 PM

I actually have more dragonflys this year. Have a blue, 3-5 green, 2 small yellows, and 2 big golden ones in my tiny backyard. Forget the names. The damsels are virtually mite free this year. I haven't seen any saddlebags yet though. Here in New Orleans we didn't even have a frost this year.

**WPRESTO** · 06-11-2019, 03:57 PM

Some hawk weed in bloom and some insects taking notice.

Doundounba · 06-13-2019, 05:46 AM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

... A personal observation: when we first moved here in the early 1970's, the boys (there were a bunch in this neighborhood), as boys will, loved catching fireflies (lightning bugs) on a summer evening. But, those delightful insects have all but vanished. Where there used by scores and scores in the back yard, now I'm lucky to see two or three, and commonly there isn't a single one blinking in the darkness.

Yes, the science of global insect populations is dire. My father also used to talk - decades ago! - about what is now described as the "windshield phenomenom", about how when he had been a young adult driving his VW Beetle during mayfly season, he actually had to stop to physically clean the windshield because he couldn't see a thing anymore. But that was no longer necessary in the nineties (though the windshield still got dirty). Now the windshields barely even register any hits at all...

But I was just expressing a personal observation about what I hope is a seasonal variance. Although I can't imagine what it may have been like 40 years ago, even last year I saw (relatively) many Odonata at the Botanical Garden in late May and early June, but this year very few. Scarily few. I can't imagine being a predator who depends partially or largely on eating Odonata at this time of the year... I really hope I'll see more dragonflies/damselflies when I next go out shooting. They are my favorite subjects.

Originally posted by swanlefitte

I actually have more dragonflys this year. ...

Glad to hear that!

**TER-OR** · 06-13-2019, 05:59 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by WPRESTO

Some hawk weed in bloom and some insects taking notice.

A Ceratina bee, little carpenter bees. Typically nest in twigs, many pruned twigs and canes will have nests.

---------- Post added 06-13-19 at 08:01 AM ----------

Ebony Jewelwing. I think she's newly hatched, the eyes are different color than typical. She was in my garage and I just saw her as I was closing the door! I shooed her out, and she hid in a shrub long enough for me to take some nice shots. Usually they're not so easy so again, I think she was newly hatched.

swanlefitte · 06-14-2019, 05:10 PM

You need to open this up big to see the bugs. I spot 5. the yellow spike at noon has on at the top and a "big" one in the middle. The one at 4 o'clock has 2 and 7 o'clock has at least 1 at the tip. Not sure if the are even insects. I had no idea they were there.

Arjay Bee · 06-14-2019, 11:02 PM - **1 Like**

K3 & Tamron 90 2.8 @ F8 and ISO800. it was sitting on the clothes line and darting off and grabbing something - looks like one of its own nymphs...

bluestringer · 06-18-2019, 06:59 AM - **1 Like**

Ladybug nymph with a hitchhiker.......................

**tmlawes** · 06-18-2019, 08:58 AM - **2 Likes**

One messy eater!

**tmlawes** · 06-18-2019, 07:51 PM - **1 Like**

Hoverfly

dick897 · 06-19-2019, 12:25 AM - **2 Likes**

Giant garden fly, K1

swanlefitte · 06-19-2019, 01:02 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by dick897

Giant garden fly, K1

Great capture looks like a few hipsters around here.

06-18-2019, 06:59 AM - 1 Like	#5441
bluestringer Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Cotton fields of South Georgia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,748	Ladybug nymph with a hitchhiker....................... Last edited by bluestringer; 08-20-2019 at 04:57 AM.

06-18-2019, 08:58 AM - 2 Likes	#5442
tmlawes Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 770	One messy eater! Attached Images

06-18-2019, 07:51 PM - 1 Like	#5443
tmlawes Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 770	Hoverfly Attached Images

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06-08-2019, 02:56 PM - 1 Like	#5431
tmlawes Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 770	I think this might be some kind of robber fly. Attached Images

06-11-2019, 11:14 AM	#5433
Doundounba Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montréal QC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,351	I don't know about you folks, but I've so far been seeing incredibly few dragonflies & damselflies in my outings compared to previous years. I'm hoping it's just because of the very cold spring we've had, and they're just late to the party, so to speak... This is my first Odonata shot of this season.

06-11-2019, 11:27 AM	#5434
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,108	Originally posted by Doundounba I don't know about you folks, but I've so far been seeing incredibly few dragonflies & damselflies in my outings compared to previous years. I'm hoping it's just because of the very cold spring we've had, and they're just late to the party, so to speak... This is my first Odonata shot of this season. Some quantitative data collected in Europe, and observational reports from elsewhere, suggest that the world-wide number of insects has declined as much as 40% over the past three of four decades. A personal observation: when we first moved here in the early 1970's, the boys (there were a bunch in this neighborhood), as boys will, loved catching fireflies (lightning bugs) on a summer evening. But, those delightful insects have all but vanished. Where there used by scores and scores in the back yard, now I'm lucky to see two or three, and commonly there isn't a single one blinking in the darkness. To quote Pogo (again): "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

06-11-2019, 01:28 PM	#5435
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	I actually have more dragonflys this year. Have a blue, 3-5 green, 2 small yellows, and 2 big golden ones in my tiny backyard. Forget the names. The damsels are virtually mite free this year. I haven't seen any saddlebags yet though. Here in New Orleans we didn't even have a frost this year.

06-13-2019, 05:46 AM	#5437
Doundounba Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montréal QC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,351	Originally posted by WPRESTO ... A personal observation: when we first moved here in the early 1970's, the boys (there were a bunch in this neighborhood), as boys will, loved catching fireflies (lightning bugs) on a summer evening. But, those delightful insects have all but vanished. Where there used by scores and scores in the back yard, now I'm lucky to see two or three, and commonly there isn't a single one blinking in the darkness. Yes, the science of global insect populations is dire. My father also used to talk - decades ago! - about what is now described as the "windshield phenomenom", about how when he had been a young adult driving his VW Beetle during mayfly season, he actually had to stop to physically clean the windshield because he couldn't see a thing anymore. But that was no longer necessary in the nineties (though the windshield still got dirty). Now the windshields barely even register any hits at all... But I was just expressing a personal observation about what I hope is a seasonal variance. Although I can't imagine what it may have been like 40 years ago, even last year I saw (relatively) many Odonata at the Botanical Garden in late May and early June, but this year very few. Scarily few. I can't imagine being a predator who depends partially or largely on eating Odonata at this time of the year... I really hope I'll see more dragonflies/damselflies when I next go out shooting. They are my favorite subjects. Originally posted by swanlefitte I actually have more dragonflys this year. ... Glad to hear that!

06-13-2019, 05:59 AM - 3 Likes	#5438
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Originally posted by WPRESTO Some hawk weed in bloom and some insects taking notice. A Ceratina bee, little carpenter bees. Typically nest in twigs, many pruned twigs and canes will have nests. ---------- Post added 06-13-19 at 08:01 AM ---------- Ebony Jewelwing. I think she's newly hatched, the eyes are different color than typical. She was in my garage and I just saw her as I was closing the door! I shooed her out, and she hid in a shrub long enough for me to take some nice shots. Usually they're not so easy so again, I think she was newly hatched.

06-14-2019, 05:10 PM	#5439
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	You need to open this up big to see the bugs. I spot 5. the yellow spike at noon has on at the top and a "big" one in the middle. The one at 4 o'clock has 2 and 7 o'clock has at least 1 at the tip. Not sure if the are even insects. I had no idea they were there.

06-14-2019, 11:02 PM - 1 Like	#5440
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,715	K3 & Tamron 90 2.8 @ F8 and ISO800. it was sitting on the clothes line and darting off and grabbing something - looks like one of its own nymphs...

06-19-2019, 12:25 AM - 2 Likes	#5444
dick897 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 339	Giant garden fly, K1

06-19-2019, 01:02 PM - 1 Like	#5445
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Originally posted by dick897 Giant garden fly, K1 Great capture looks like a few hipsters around here.