I spent a little time today watching the aerobatic skill of the Hoverfly. Such remarkable aeronautic skill they have. i don't know if its a mating thing, or territorial behaviour, They can hover perfectly motionless in the air in groups spaced apart maybe 3 or 4 or more, and suddenly one of them will sweep off at extraordinary speed toward another who speeds away just as fast, and then they swoop and swirl in a momentary pairing of close proximity formation flying. The rate at which they move from motionless hovering to chasing, is high, i tried to work it out based on distance per second,and its between 8 and 10 mph... For such a tiny insect its very fast. That second over they can return to almost the same spot they were. They did not sense me as a predator, and though i tried to capture them hovering, i hadn't the time to set up the camera to get better shots, but i share this one of the hoverfly on a leaf.
I have been experimenting with focus stacking of hand-held images. it is rather tricky, but I am quite pleased with this fly, Helina reversio, on a Chrysanthemum petal. The insect is about 6mm long.
Sorry I am having trouble brain fade posting pictures ans sorting the size today. Sorry if it is too big or makes your eyes bleed from being out of focus.
I disturbed this the other day while gardening , grabbed a camera from indoors and had to stand on a step ladder leaning over precariously.
Took me a while to find it searching the internet, I do not remember ever seeing this moth before. Beautiful... Ruddy Box Moth....That is not the Latin name by the way.
That is beautiful Ruby. For a moment I thought you were just frustrated, and he's really just a box moth @Alan Clark2 in Liverpool, you have such great photographic knowledge and skill. We're missing that a fair bit on the Camera thread, now that DavidK and others have left, or don't post much. It would be great if you could do a few little tutorials or something to help folk get the most out of their cameras. I think your photos are stunning. I was out on a hill yesterday and caught a nice hairy caterpillar who was happily entwined round a stalk of grass. Oak eggar moth? Perhaps one of the 'insect expert' boys can confirm or corect me on that? Same with this little chap, who was very obliging and perched on some bracken while I fannied about with the camera. I've looked at various pix, and it seems to be a speckled wood? They aren't very common up here apparently
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Some stunning pictures here, @incony@Alan Clark2 in Liverpool, @Ruby and @Fairygirl, I would love to meet any of these interesting insects and take a lesson in photography from any of you. The speckled wood has always been a regular in our garden (at least 40 years) - loving sunshine as they do. However we don't have a huge variety of insects this year but have just boosted our honey bee numbers up significantly with the addition of a bee hive.
Lovely to have a hive, GD I've probably seen those butterflies before but not close enough, but the info says they aren't common here. He/she was in the little bit of deciduous woodland on the lower slopes of Sgorr na Ciche - commonly known as the Pap of Glencoe, for obvious reasons
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Just as having a hive is lovely so are wonderful views @Fairygirl . No pictures but we now have bees in our bee hotel for the first time. I think they are leaf cutter bees, does anyone here have any knowledge of them?
So this afternoon I was doing my amateur naturalist thing in a meadow close to where I live when my eyes caught sight of this shimmering beauty speedily crawling up a thin stem of grass. It flew off so I followed it careful not to let it out of my sight when eventually it landed on these white flowers. Managed to get a few clear snaps on the phone before it flew off again. Very skittish creature! Would love to know which species of beetle it is and whether it is a rare find in the south of England.
Posts
Sorry if it is too big or makes your eyes bleed from being out of focus.
I disturbed this the other day while gardening , grabbed a camera from indoors and had to stand on a step ladder leaning over precariously.
Took me a while to find it searching the internet, I do not remember ever seeing this moth before.
Beautiful...
Ruddy Box Moth....That is not the Latin name by the way.
Nicely done too @Alan Clark2 in Liverpool it is quite a nice looking fly , and I am not keen on them
@Alan Clark2 in Liverpool, you have such great photographic knowledge and skill. We're missing that a fair bit on the Camera thread, now that DavidK and others have left, or don't post much. It would be great if you could do a few little tutorials or something to help folk get the most out of their cameras. I think your photos are stunning.
I was out on a hill yesterday and caught a nice hairy caterpillar who was happily entwined round a stalk of grass. Oak eggar moth? Perhaps one of the 'insect expert' boys can confirm or corect me on that?
Same with this little chap, who was very obliging and perched on some bracken while I fannied about with the camera. I've looked at various pix, and it seems to be a speckled wood? They aren't very common up here apparently
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've probably seen those butterflies before but not close enough, but the info says they aren't common here. He/she was in the little bit of deciduous woodland on the lower slopes of Sgorr na Ciche - commonly known as the Pap of Glencoe, for obvious reasons
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...