Just Been Out For A Walk - Some critters...

[mace242]

There were some orchids in the fields near me and I wanted some pictures. Sorry to say that the recent rain seems to have put them fay beyond their best. So I figured I'd mave a go at some macro piccies of insects. Here are a couple. First time I've ised photobucket to - so expect me to get this wrong...

1. A bumbley bee... He seemed to be a bit poorly and was having trouble flying. Sat still for ages for me...

2. Some kind of fly. Any ideas what? I'm thinking it's some sort of bee fly.

Now let's see if those are the right links to use.....

 

[mace242]

They worked - but woah are they big pictures - I'll post smaller ones next time...

 

[JonnyP]

Thanks for sharing...2nd shot looks like a hoverfly...Photo bucket is great, isnt it..

 

[mace242]

not use photo bucket before but seems pretty good. Certainly simple. The second would be a hoverfly - but it was huge - easily as long as a bumble bee.

 

[British Red]

Cracking pictures - especially the second one - not a bee fly though - they have a very very long proboscis (theres a photo of mine around somewhere of one) - they are much smaller than you describe too - about a small honey bee size.

Stunning shot though

Red

 

[mace242]

praise from the master. I'm all chuffed.

The really amazing thing is that the camera - wait for it - cost me less than £50 from Asda. Figured that I'd see what use I get from a camera in my bushcraft persuits before I went to something more expensive. I'm very pleased with it for the price.

 

[British Red]

The master indeed

A lot of the time patience and observation is far more important than the camera. On insect shots, flora and stationary fauna, you don't need a lot. A good optical zoom is nice for further away wildlife and birds, and a fast focussing SLR is particularly handy for moving creatures. But, as you have shown - you can do a lot these days now that good digitals are affordable.

Oh, if you want to see the master - check out Wayland website!

If it helps this is a bee fly. See how long the proboscis is?

Red

 

[Nagual]

I think by looking at these and reading the above posts, that fly bee and hoverfly are not the same thing at all. We have loads of hoverflys about here, and I'd say they look more like wasps in colour then bees. Certainly the last pic posted there by Red looks nothing like what I call a hoverfly.

Ahh the pleasure of common names for things... lol

 

[mace242]

I've been searching and I think the second one is one of these:

http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/8/22416.html

Anybody think I'm right?

 

[SOAR]

It looks like one. Do they sting?.

 

[mace242]

Doesn't look like they sting.

More info: http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/NarcissusBulbFly

 

[SOAR]

Pretty mad how they live in in the bulbs. I think its because they look like they could sting. I'll be on the look out for evidence of these now when I plant my summer bedding.

 

[fredcraft]

Beautiful flies !

Another nice sight we had (and luckily is lasting since a couple days) is a Luna Moth female that seems to sleep on my parent's house outter wall ! It seems that collectors really like this one. The picture is now my computer background, too bad I cannot share.

Here is a picture of the said moth.

Cheers,

 

[SOAR]

Thats one beautiful looking moth, Its so futuristic looking, looks so gracefull