Takumar 50mm f/1.4 at f16 with zenit extension tubes

Eristalis (Eoseristalis) pertinax auf wilder Möhre (Daucus carota)

Taken in Autreppes, France.

I had just literally sat down next to a picnic table when I spotted this butterfly land on a nearby bush. I was lucky enough to get 2 shots before it flew off.

Dragonflies are everywhere in my yard this time of year

Inachis io

Some photo's don't need an explanation.

Pu'er, Yunnan, China

Harlequin ladybird in the "studio". Focus stacked using zerene

A tad late for Valentines but I was going through the archives and I couldn't resist.

Sony Alpha A7II with FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

Flower beetle Oedemera nobilis female on potentilla. Focus stacked using zerene

on a gum leaf; not positive but I think it's Metriorrhynchus rhipidius (Lycidae)

Alameda, CA

MACRO

Eurycnema Goliath

I am not sure what speicies so any suggestions would be helpful

Taken at potteric carr doncaster

Ivy bee Colletes hederae feeding on ivy flowers

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Dragonfly Broad bodied chaser female on a cane in front of my large hebe bush. Natural light

Hoverfly on crocus. Natural light. Focus stacked using zerene

SAMSUNG CSC

Banded Argiope subduing a Fiery Skipper

The Autumn fly Musca autumnalis

Had a little visitor to my garden

Hoverfly - Rhingia campestris - Highdown gdns. Natural light.

I only very rarely see these in my own garden but they were all over the place at Highdown

I used flash for this one.. Guess it turned out well :)

Two different males on the fence this morning

I found this large ant at the front door this morning. He didn't like me getting in his face!

SAUSSUREA, il giardino più alto d’Europa, a 2.180 m a Courmayeur, sulle pendici del Monte Bianco. Qui è possibile ammirare specie alpine locali e estere godendo di un scenario mozzafiato. Il Giardino deve il nome alla Saussurea alpina , pianta rara dei pascoli pietrosi dedicata a Horace Bénédict de Saussure, promotore della prima salita al Monte Bianco, nel 1786.

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SAUSSUREA, the highest garden in Europe, an altitude of 2.175 m, in Courmayeur and on the slopes of the Mont Blanc. The Garden takes its name from a very rare plant which grows in the rocky pastures: the Saussurea alpina , dedicated to Horace Bénédict de Saussure, promoter of the first ascent in 1786 to the Mont Blanc.

Pyrrhocoris apterus

Hoverfly Eupeodes luniger feeding on hebe. Focus stacked using zerene

Grande Isle

Later on on the same morning I was shooting frozen soap bubbles, I put some drops of sugar mixture on a camellia bush (as usual) to see if there were any bugs about. Around 12 noon some flies appeared and I measured the temperatures using an infra red thermo- sensor and a shade thermometer.

Shot focus stacked using zerene. Same fly I measured the temperature of.

Shade ground temperature -3.7'C

Shade air temperature + 3.2.C

Camellia leaf in sun + 12.C

Bluebottle fly on leaf in sun + 16.5.C

So the bluebottle flies were surprisingly warm

Hawker dragonfly hung up high in a bush. Natural light. I had to get a small stepladder out to take the shots.

Azure damselfly close up