October 22, 2010

Even with rain, cold winds and the previously mentioned lack of insects, we managed to sneak out this morning and capture some rather nice images of late season residents. The Butterfly Pavilion was absolutely packed with kids today, including several school groups as well as the usual Friday crowds. Lots of fun, but also lots of activity in the gardens!

I managed to get a quick shot off of this common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) inside the Wings of the Tropics exhibit before we opted to head outside and try our luck in the field. These guys are extremely fond of the rotting bananas left out for the owl butterflies.

Of course, being this near to Big Dry Creek, we can always find mosquitos ranging around the outdoor gardens!

Art managed to locate a very nice example of an orbweaver spider, although I fear that her web was not in the best shape. After we managed to get off a couple of shots, she returned to the task of repair.

I have to say that this might be one of my favorite unlikeable insects, simply because of the association with my other favorite activity. A nice shot of a european hornet (Vespa crabro).

Working hard to get that last minute pollen, this honeybee is covered from head to toe (antennae to thorax?), but still managed to allow a couple of moments for photos. Quite nice really.

October 15, 2010

It is becoming painfully apparent that we are quickly approaching the end of fall and the inevitable creep of winter. There is a chill in the air, the leaves are rapidly collecting on the lawn...and the insects have almost completely disappeared. The small wetlands across from the Westminster Butterfly Pavilion, which used to be alive with the hum of dragonflies, yellowjackets, damselflies and myriad other residents, is a veritable ghost town. Oddly enough, we are finding the same four or five insects during these late season visits. Its as if each species has left one representative to keep the photographers happy while the rest head off on whatever winter adventures each prefers.

After looking for some time, we did manage to locate one lone crab spider valiantly clinging to a cattail leaf as the increasing winds of the morning whipped the vegetation around.

A very patient and cooperative blue damselfly. As with the dragonflies, the more I read about this very neat insects, the less I actually know. I was somewhat surprised at how many possible species there were in Colorado, and (at least to my untrained eyes) how often the differing species had similar markings.

Our old friend, the caterpillar of Henry's marsh moth (Simyra henrici), which we found practically on the very same plant as last time. Apparently, once these guys find a good thing they do not stray far.

I decided that a fun way to spend the morning would be to crouch quietly along the edge of the wetland waiting for the one remaining meadowhawk to make his way across the pond (hoping, of course, to get a shot on the wing). After about 40 shots...I managed to get this rather acceptable shot!

October 8, 2010

You can really tell that autumn has arrived in the garden! We're seeing all of the late season insects (generally you can read this as a ton of grasshoppers!), and what non-grasshopper insects we do see are generally few and far between. However, determination and a dogged persistence still manages to yield some nice results!

This honeybee was having a very rough time for some reason when I came across her in the grass. She was struggling to gain air and finally gave up and simply rested on a handy blade of grass and actually stayed pretty still for this nice portrait before finally recovering her senses and taking flight.

A few moments of digging in one of the mulch beds revealed this lovely blonde spider of unknown species. The coloration (and location) had me leaning towards guessing that she might be an agrarian sac spider (C. inclusum).

This little example of a paperwasp (Polistes aurifer) was busy checking out drippings from an apple tree that is just above an electrical panel within the garden. We managed to get several quite close shots while the wasp enjoyed the sweet diversion.

One of the most prevalent little critters for the late season macro photographer are these (relatively) large silky ants (Formica subsericea). Hopefully, I am not confusing these with carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus). To me their butts look pretty smooth and without the fuzzy hair of carpenters.

A very nice shot of a classic seven-spotted lady beetle (C. septempuntata).

This wonderfly colored and spotted beetle immediately caught my eye while I was searching through the foilage for possible photo subjects. My best guess on this one is (and feel free to help me correct this) spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpuntata howardi), which is a mouthful!

I am wondering if this fellow might not be a differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis). I can tell you that he was very interested in munching on the flowers and not terribly concerned with the proximity of my camera lens (much to my delight).

If you remember my earlier post of the rather aggressive and posturing sweat bee, I almost hate to admit that this might be the same poor young lady based upon her rather less than friendly greeting upon my approach. Can you say "restraining order?" As far as specifics, my guess on this (based upon the yellow and black coloration in the back) would be agapostemon sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens).

October 1, 2010

Still recovering from a bit of minor surgery, but thought I would test the comfort waters (so to speak) and see how much bending I can endure (turns out, not too much really). For this first, post-surgery, trip out, we chose a local little wetland that sits rather conveniently behind a car dealership and just across the street from a coffee shop.

On the way there, I noticed a rather large red ant hill and decided to investigate. Lots of activity around the perimeter with large numbers of patrols busy rushing back and forth on various errands. However, I did come across this poor lone worker who was frantically searching for just the right place to set down his rock. I decided that this chap had a bit of creative streak in him as he was having a devil of a time finding an appropriate placement that would make a statement.

Ostensibly, the basic reason for our visit to the wetlands was the promise of large numbers of dragonflies who practically threw themselves at the lens (and based upon Art's incredible previous photos, this claim was not that far off). However, cool temps and a slight breeze kept the numbers at bay. Luckily, there was no lack of residents to photograph...as with this fine example of a Henry's Marsh Moth caterpillar (Simyra insularis).

While not overwhelmed with dragonflies, we were treated to this rather cooperative representative of a female meadowhawk, who posed while both of us took several shots.

A very nice shot of our friendly Marsh Moth caterpillar with all of the classic yearbook elements...soft background focus, sun highlites, nice smile...

Just across the street from the wetland area, I came across this little fellow. I think that this is a Greenhouse Stone Cricket (Diestrammena asynamora) based upon the coloration and absolutely incredible markings on the legs and back.

I noticed that the pine trees in the area had quite a few of these orange and black pupa clinging to the needles. Based on the color, and the very unusual white spurs along the front, I am guessing that this is the pupa of the Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis).

One of my favorite archnids, as you might know from reading previous posts, are jumping spiders. This excellent example of a male Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus) made a brief, but greatly appreciated, appearance while we were busy photographing our dragonfly friend.

September 05, 2010

After a rather busy summer period of fostering dogs, changing work schedules, the tiniest of heart issues and other pressing schedule changers, I've finally gotten a slightly slower schedule that allows a return to the garden with camera in hand. New camera, in fact! All of these images were taken with my brand new Canon 5D Mark II, a wonderful and amazing 21 megapixel DSLR. Combined with my much loved 65MP-E lens, the combination is producing some very nice images.

Cooler weather greets us in the mornings, heralding the approach of fall. Our insects friends are in full swing, busy with late season activity, but slower in the mornings as they wait on leaf and vine for the warming rays of the sun. For the insect photographer, these are the salad days...a plethora of choices, each more cooperative then the rest.

June 26, 2010

Wind. It is the bane of every macro photographer, at least the ones that I know. Even a little breeze can cause a sway in the object of your imaging desire that takes it well beyond the depth of field skills of even the steadiest. There's only so much you can bob and sway in rhythm to an undulating plant and its diminutive insect passenger.

Of course, like every cyclist knows, as soon as we show up with camera gear in tow the calmest day quickly dissolves into a pleasant breeze (and at times, a nice healthy gale). My macro pal, Art, has learned that he can often fight the ever present puckian zephyr by focusing closer to the ground. Walkers and bikers are often surprised to find Art, camera and gear at the ready, patiently lying in wait for that perfect shot.

Me? I look for the sturdiest plant and hope I can find a cooperative bug sturdy enough to weather the wind!

I often find yarrow to be a pretty stable plant in windy conditions, and was lucky enough to come across this great little hover fly (one of the bee mimic flies). You can often tell these, if you get close enough (which you should!), as their heads definitely have a flies features.
I am not sure what kind of critter this little green guy might be. I am thinking that this is a young form of some sort of true bug. To my uneducated eyes, it appears that his wings are not fully formed, which might give him a bit of an aphid sort of look.
I really like this image of an ant that I found patrolling along some stems. The gray band on his back side makes me suspect that this might be a carpenter ant.
Never ask a macro photographer to work in your yard. I often have my equipment set up and at the ready as I pull weeds...you never know what you might flush out of the undergrowth! Especially in my yard, where the undergrowth is taking over the overgrowth! I found this neat little inchworm hiding amongst some bindweed.
Quite a few sections of my yard house a surprising number of smaller wolf spiders. I really like these guys (I think this one might be a female) as they have large, prominent fangs. Horror movie stuff!

A nifty close up of a local harvestman. I would love to know how to tell the males apart from the female. In this image, you can just see the pair of primitive eyes, which apparently can detect a moving object several feet away (which explains how they deftly avoid mugging for the camera and quickly dart away).