DSC05221

These wasps are big, more than 2 inches in length. They lay their eggs on tarantulas who eat their way in, eventually killing the spider. These bad boys were in my backyard on milkweed.

Unknown insect found along a path near a small pond in northeastern Oklahoma. Approximately one inch long.

a beautiful male Scymnus interruptus ladybird found in the front garden roaming through foliage of Libertia - thanks to Richard Comont for confirmation of id.

It must be less than half an inch in size.

Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire

The bees are in love with my Hot Papaya Coneflower (yes, it is a real thing-- a gorgeous variation of the coneflower). Who could blame them. They are so extraordinary. Don't you want to be in love with something extraordinary??

Trichoptera sp. Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, USA. No idea what happened to its wings.

Taken with Pringle flash extender and an ordinary 35-70 lens with reversed 50mm mounted. See www.flickr.com/photos/sk_husky/5527325196/ for Pringle flash extender inspiration.

Sac spider

This guy is hiding some of its facial features that are diagnostic for the specie if clearly visible. He has a white face, and the eyes are light turquoise. These markings are used to distinguish it from a resident lookalike cousin: Western Pondhawk. The huge turquoise eyes are clearly visible in this view, however. Looks like this guy has had some brushes with spider webs... such can capture even the larger odonates.

IMG_3788; Blue Dasher

First Syritta pipiens hoverfly I've seen this year

IMG_4189 @ Mata Grande

This enormous fly was found lurking amongst the grass at a local nature reserve. It looks initially like a large hoverfly, but the beak visible in this photo, and the triangular shaped markings on its back prove its a Dark Giant Horsefly (Tabanus sudeticus). You wouldn't want a nip from one of these moustached beasties!

Suprised me, another insect found in same ash tree, this one a native Redheaded Ash Borer

Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand

Tigy, Loiret, France

This is my first shot of a dragonfly.He was very good and sat still for a couple of minutes. This was taken with the18-55mm kit lens, I don't have a macro lens.

Day 8~~Had to work for this one! It was worth it!

Family: Crambidae

Taken at mercury vapour light in Thurlby, Lincolnshire, UK, on 5 July 2014.

Olympus digital camera

Five for Friday.....

#4 - I knew when we decided to take a trip & hike the parks in the southwest that I would have to deal with lizards, tarantula's, and possibly rattlesnakes. Saw plenty of lizards; fortunately no snakes; and was fortunate enough to see this guy from a safe distance at one of the stops in Zion National Park. Although it is my understanding that tarantula's are harmless, they are a bit large, furry, creepy, and crawly for my taste :-)

© Darlene Bushue - All of my images are protected by copyright and may not be used on any site, blog, or forum without my permission.

Mating bluebottle flies

Butterfly Rainforest at UF Gainesville. Florida Museum of Natural History

Springkle

Denny Wood

Natural light shot. Focus stacked from 2 pics

© photosbycat

Oi! I was first. Two Andrena haemorrhoa mating whilst clinging to a tree. A second male has grasped the back of the female in an attempt to join in.

Edited one

an Eristalis pertinax warming itself in the early morning sunshine outside the front door.

Top view of this hopper