ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Sunday 25 June 2017

HAPPY SNAPPER.



I had a good couple of walks this morning. I didn't find anything rare but I did snap a little above my pay grade. I'll start with two flies on a blade of grass.
These are male and female Golden Dung Flies; Scathophaga stercoraria. I'll leave you to sort out the sexes. If you look at them enlarged you will see the pseudopupil. A fly's eye is made up of several receptors called ommatidia The dark bit is the part seeing you as it's absorbing light. You can also see the haltere under the wing; it looks like a stick with a blob on the end. This counterbalances the fly in flight. It has one the other side to stop it flying in circles.
This is a Crane Fly; Nephrotoma quadrifaria. It is an attractive wee beast but a pound to a penny it's larva eat barley roots. Naughty larva.


I am very pleased with this. I had a wander down to the burn looking for caddis fly larva but found this newly hatched beauty climbing up a stick.  It is a Mayfly, possibly Serratella ignita. Mayflies are interesting as they have two adult incarnations one as a Dun and then as a Spinner. I think this is a Dun. Life is never a smooth ride, whilst taking this I crouched a little too far and my welly filled with burn water.
 I am getting rather a backlog of insects so may have another post when I've identified them.
Have fun.

16 comments:

  1. The crane fly wings are magnificent.

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    1. Marie, they are but the iridescent ones belong to the Mayfly.

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    1. Cloudia, thank you must have been something I ate.

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  3. I'm full of admiration for your patience not to mention your skill.

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    1. Graham, I'm a slow learner. I've had this lens five years.

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  4. What all the above said! So good to have you back - and in good form.

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    1. Pauline Thanks. We are all fine, older and weaker but still fine.

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  5. impressive images ! love the delicate wings

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    1. Marty the wings tend to look better on the second incarnation. I'm happy with these.

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  6. Wow!! Your photography is mind-blowing.

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    1. Lynda all achieved sober......for once.

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  7. Incredible detail on the first photo - now achieved professional standards.

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    1. John, thanks. I do have a better set up but although it illuminates the background it requires an assistant to manipulate the second strobe rig.

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  8. That first image, Adrian, is astounding in its sharpness and detail! Absolutely fascinating. I also love the colours you've captured in the wings of the Mayfly in the first in that sequence. Amazing work!

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