Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

[alfbranch]

Originally Posted by Harold Gough

Alf,

An excellent set.

I'm fairly sure the bug is a mirid.

Harold

I was thinking mirid but this was the only angle I got so was unsure.


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[Mrs T]

I have spotted another shiny bug but I have no idea what it is. I'd appreciate an expert eye again!

[Harold Gough]

Originally Posted by Mrs T

I have spotted another shiny bug but I have no idea what it is. I'd appreciate an expert eye again!

A female Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis. The male has a huge, spherical bulge in its rear thighs.

Harold

[Mrs T]

Originally Posted by Harold Gough

A female Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis. The male has a huge, spherical bulge in its rear thighs.

Harold

Thank you Harold.

[mack100]

Please can someone identify this for me, my knowledge of these creatures is lamentably lacking!

[art frames]

Originally Posted by mack100

Please can someone identify this for me, my knowledge of these creatures is lamentably lacking!

It is a female Emperor Dragonfly laying eggs, or ovipositing.

[mack100]

Thanks Peter

[Harold Gough]

Originally Posted by mack100

Please can someone identify this for me, my knowledge of these creatures is lamentably lacking!

Not the best angle but the overall green probably makes it a female Emperor.

Nice shot.

Harold

[mack100]

Thanks Harold, I did take other shots but wasn't happy with my focussing technique, I may revisit them.

Laurence

This one is a different angle, maybe a bit better. I was all set up for shooting birds so I had the 1.4x tc on the 300 and I found framing the insect tricky. I was also concerned about falling into the pond!

[art frames]

I am back from my first visit to Hungary and will share some of the delightful butterflies I was able to see and spend some time with. Over 8 days we were in two wonderful and quite different areas. These were the Aggtelek National Park (a Unesco heritage site with extraordinary caves - which we didn't visit) and Bükk National Park, a forested mountainous area at the southern edge of the Carpathians. The rich, natural environment is protected and respected and usage is well managed. I confess the landscape and farming I saw whilst getting there was much more like other countries than I was expecting. But the country, people, food and facilities were all wonderful and highly recommended.

I saw a few more special butterflies to add to my personal lifetime sightings and with your indulgence I will share some lovely and some quite rare sights.

The longest memories will probably be from seeing fritillaries puddling in huge numbers. These High Brown and Silver Washed are photo examples but I will eventually post some video as that is far more evocative of the place. The trip had a lot of puddle and dung watching.


A few Silver Washed Fritillaries by Peter Willmott, on Flickr


High Brown Fritillary - dung party by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

On day one we saw 46 different species with over 80 seen over the week. I was quite surprised at not seeing some quite common species 'to me' like gatekeepers and ringlets. And you do need to check the skippers and heaths quite closely...as there are many very similar and far more than in the UK.

But some butterflies do stand out a little more from the surroundings.


Scarce Copper - Lycaena virgaureae by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Although It was not always easy to know which Copper you were currently seeing. Large were quite similar but as you'd expect Scarce were commoner.

Large Copper - Lycaena dispar by Peter Willmott, on Flickr


Large Copper - Lycaena dispar)(fem) by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Purple-shot I had seen before. But Purple-edged were new to me and a delightful subject to photograph.


Purple-shot Copper - Lycaena alciphron by Peter Willmott, on Flickr


Purple-edged Copper - Lycaena hippothoe by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

A butterfly which we hoped to see, and from all accounts expected to only glimpse in flight, we actually saw three specimens of - woodland Brown. This one particularly acted out of character and became very placid and stayed with us and was encouraged to pose on several flowers over about half an hour.

Woodland Brown - Lopinga achine by Peter Willmott, on Flickr


Woodland Brown - Lopinga achine by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

this has been a good year in the UK for Purple Emperor. I had a number of encounters with the Lesser Purple Emperor both dark and the lighter 'Clytie' form. No idea why it is called 'lesser' as it isn't...!


Lesser Purple Emperor - Apatura ilia by Peter Willmott, on Flickr


Lesser Purple Emperor - Apatura ilia (ssp Clytie) by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Alongside the Emperors were Gliders. This the Hungarian Glider

Hungarian Glider - Neptis rivularis by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

and this the Common Glider.


Common Glider - Neptis sappho by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

All of the Tortoiseshells. This was a lovely and fresh Scarce 'Yellow legged' Tort.

Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell - Nymphalis xanthomelas by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

showing a bit of leg...


Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell - Nymphalis xanthomelas by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

This was a very energetic Large on a very hot day.

Large Tortoiseshell - Nymphalis polychloros by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

And to conclude this first inundation one of my favourite 'photos' a Pearly Heath.. I just love the details in this image


Pearly Heath - Coenonympha arcania by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

This Ascalaphid shot was explored on flickr and has now been seen by 4593 people with 150+ making it a personal favourite... :shock: Social media is so bizarre. So many insect lovers!

Sulphur Ascalaphid (Owlfly) - Libelloides coccajus by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

I made an album of my trip Hungarian Butterflies if you wish to see a few more. But I will be adding some more here anyway .

[Harold Gough]

Originally Posted by art frames

I am back from my first visit to Hungary and will share some of the delightful butterflies I was able to see and spend some time with.

Peter.

Here I am, on a chilly, dull day, trying to get painting and decorating done and you show me where it would much rather be.

A lovely selection, many of which were unknown to me.

The biggest delight is the male Libelluloides coccajus.

Harold

[art frames]

Originally Posted by Harold Gough

Peter.

Here I am, on a chilly, dull day, trying to get painting and decorating done and you show me where it would much rather be.

A lovely selection, many of which were unknown to me.

The biggest delight is the male Libelluloides coccajus.

Harold

You must be trying so hard sitting in front of a computer ...don't paint the screen...

[Harold Gough]

Originally Posted by art frames

You must be trying so hard sitting in front of a computer ...don't paint the screen...

I've just changed out of my painting clothes, with 4 hours to go before applying another coat. A washing machine (6 weeks old!) repair man is due sometime today and removing old polystyrene paper backing for the ceiling has to be put on hold. I'm really looking forward to that!

Harold

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by mack100

I was also concerned about falling into the pond!

You should be prepared to suffer for your art!

;^)

Jim

[Harold Gough]

Me and My Shadow

This is where harsh lighting tells the story. This immature female Speckled Bush Cricket seems at first startled by its shadow, then confronts it and eventually sees it of.

Olympus EM-1, Olympus 4/3 50mm f2 macro, f11 at 1/160 to 1/300, hand-held.

Harold