The Exception, Pt. 6 - _TNY_5713S2

Cuckoo wasps, also known as emerald wasps are brilliantly beautiful little explosions of colour - which of course make them excellent subjects to photograph. What isn't as excellent is that they are not much about staying still, but instead seem to be nearly constantly on the move.

 

This one however was the exception to the rule. I spotted it on the outside of my mother-in-law's greenhouse and marvelled at it staying still long enough for me to get several promising shots. And after that I decided to try and get it onto my fingertip - which also worked! Once there I could turn it around and find a couple of more angles.

 

But it still didn't leave so I popped up my mobile and took a couple of shots with that camera just because. And then I walked to the other side of the garden with it on my hand and showed it to my wife describing why it was cool pretty much the same way as I have done above here.

 

The species is one of the very similar ones in what is known as the Chrysis ignita complex. The ever helpful expert Alexander Berg slightly leans towards Chrysis solida so that's what I am thinking as well.

 

This shot is a two-exposure focus stack for a little extra depth of field. I did however not use my usual stacking software, Zerene Stacker, as the wasp had moved ever so slightly between the shots so I had to do it manually in Photoshop instead.

 

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53333004242/

 

Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53342446534/

 

Part 3 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53355249063/

 

Part 4: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53457421756/

 

Part 5: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53504570049/

 

For one of the cell phone shots, please have a look here: flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53334342525/

Done