Monday is the start of the working week almost everywhere but here we have the added excitement of it being bin day. The bins have to be wheeled a couple of hundred metres down the hill as the bin people don't come up the last bit of the road.
First thing this morning I wandered out to do half their job for them and look what I found peeping at me.
Sitting on the tins and plastics bin was this lovely lady. She is a hoverfly one of the Syrphini or wasp imitators. If you look carefully you will observe a tiny dark spot in the middle of her eye. This is not muck but her pseudopupil and it tells you which of her ommatidia or eye lenses are watching you. Just behind the middle leg you may notice a cream coloured round disc. This is one of a pair of halteres. They allow the little beast to compensate for only having two wings., a counterbalance system.......Very posh.
Here she is in side elevation. I'm going to guess that she is a Syrphus ribesii, I'll amend the ID to Marmalade Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus; thank you Trevor. She's a beauty and all the better for not being plastered in pollen. I did try for a front view but the little sod flew off.
Have a great week.
First thing this morning I wandered out to do half their job for them and look what I found peeping at me.
Have a great week.
hi Adrian! I have entlarged these images and I'm always amazed to see
ReplyDeletethis little beautiful world ! happy week to you too
Marty, I too find them absolutely stunning. I'm glad you popped by as I had over sharpened the second image. These will print at about 1.25m on the longest side.
DeleteNice shots Adrian, I like that cheeky first one....{;o)
ReplyDeleteCheck out Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Thanks Trevor. The size alone made me think of the Marmalade Hover fly....That and the fact I only find common things. This is about 7-8 millimetres long.
DeleteExcellent photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks John. Somewhere I have some squares of coloured plastic but using them as a backdrop is more trouble than it's worth unless one has an assistant. I suppose all proper photographers do have help.
DeleteGreat to be able to see the amazing detail. So intricate.
ReplyDeletePauline, they are wonderful little things.
DeleteInsects look so much more interesting when you photograph them. I have been consciously looking on plant leaves to spot them since you talked about finding insects without crawling about in the grass.
ReplyDeleteRachel, if it were hard work you wouldn't get me doing it. Pop A chair near some vegetation and sit down with a magnifying glass and enjoy the little devils. Some are low down but you can catch them by sweeping a plastic box through the undergrowth.
Delete