The maximum temperature here today 25⁰C, minimum 11⁰C. Lots more rain over the past week - 636mm to date this year; 120 more than last year at the same time. Wind 10km/h North Westerly winds with gusts up to 23 km/h. More rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday!!
Lots of very tiny bugs follow. Nigel has bought me a MEIKE MK-N-AF1-A Macro Electronic Mount Auto Focus Macro tube extension. So I have been playing with it!!! Photos are not perfect, I need lots of practice.
I think this is (Sphaerophoria scripta), the long hoverfly.
Again I am not sure, but I think this is a member of the Wolf Spiders Family Lycosidae plus egg.
This little fellow with the huge captured meal was all of 2mm in size. So small I would not have seen it if it had not been for the prey. (Nigma puella)...
As above.
This one refused to let me take a shot head-on, every time I moved it turned away from me!
Cricket-bat Orbweaver (Mangora acalypha)....
As above.
Harvestman. It is one of the Opilones, a group of arachnids closely related to spiders. Unlike the spiders, it has no silk glands so is not able to spin a web...
As above, I guess its mother loves it!...
As above.
Green aphids or better known as Greenfly.
This slightly larger edition I suspect might be a cypress aphid.
Fire bug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) better know as the Gendarme beetle.
Marmalade Hoverfly - (Episyrphus balteatus).
Oedemera noblis male, the female does not have the muscular legs...
As above giving some idea of how small it is and the carpet beetle to its right.
Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci). The two photos above were taken with the TAMRON Megazoom - 18-400 mm as are the two below,
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)...
As above.
Take care everybody, keep well and stay safe.
My local list of wildflowers. (91 Species 20/06/2021).
See also my
Incredible photos! The details make the spiders and insects looks monstrous!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie, I am not a spider fan, but these very little ones that I have seldom ever noticed before are quite interesting. I will neve get to enjoy the big ones that come into the house! Keep safe and have a good weekend. Diane
DeleteGood morning Diane: I am quite sure that it required a good deal of effort simply to memorize the name of the thingamajig Nigel bought for you, let alone get some practice using it. The results, I must say, are quite exceptional! The series on the spiders is quite wonderful, with a fine range of different families. It's too bad so many people have arachnophobia and miss out on these truly fascinating organisms. Now go back to your macro tube extension and bring us more! Gros bisous et bon weekend - or, as we insist on saying in Canada - bon fin de semaine. Gotta have language purity you know.
ReplyDeleteHaha I cannot remember the name of the tubes at all but if I had simply said tubes someone would have asked for more detail so..... I am though struggling with light, the camera has to be so close to the subject that it blocks out the light. A ring flash would be good but..... I was told to try a torch but that was useless. I just have to have very bright days.
DeleteBon weekend I know, I have never heard bon fin de semaine before. But you have a good weekend also.
Stay safe and best wishes to you both, Diane
We also have "Arrêt" on the stop signs.
DeleteHi, Diane. I see from your reply to David that you have come across the age-old problem with really close-up macro photography and that is the lens blocking out the ambient light. Yes, ring flash would, I guess probably be a solution but then there's all the fuss in setting up yet another bit of kit. Primarily for this reason, I've not wandered down that route. I hope that you manage to fully get to grips with those tubes - you're doing pretty well so far! However, I'm surprised that you weren't content with the wonderful results you are getting with the Tamron 18-400 on its own!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you both - - - Richard
Hi Richard, I am more than happy with the Tamron, but I was getting frustrated that I could not get the very small spiders/bugs clear enough to identify them. The tubes are not expensive, and I have been using them on the D3200 while the Tamron is on the D3500. Apart from the fact that I always have the wrong camera at the right time in my hand it has been fairly simple (other than the light). So far, I have a pretty steady hand as it would be impossible to use a tripod in the places I see these little fellows. Of course, many of them do not like me getting quite so close and move at the last second!! I am having fun with it which is the main thing. So far I have only used it in the garden, so I do not carry it with me, not that we go anywhere very much these days!
DeleteKeep safe and best wishes to you both. Diane
I could have used that lens when we had our orchard to better know the pests that were causing harm to our apples.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun extension to use but I am having a problem with light when so close to the subject. Hope you are well, Diane
DeleteAwesome close up pics of the spiders....but they send a creepy chill through me. I so dislike spiders.
ReplyDeleteI also hate spiders but they make fabulous macro subjects and so long as they are in the garden and not in the house..... Keep safe Diane
DeleteOh wow! You are going to have so much fun with this Diane. Like Richard above I have always enjoyed your superb macro images, but that bit extra with the really tiny insects will be so satisfying for you. It really is surprising how the tiniest spiders take on the bigger insects for dinner 😊
ReplyDeleteGrace I am really enjoying using the extension, but we are having so much rain at present I am not finding subjects very easily!! They also have to be in a place with plenty of light or it is impossible. Take care and sorry I am not keeping up with blogging very well!! Diane
DeleteYour photos of these amazing creatures are fabulous Diane! Always enjoy my visits to see these interesting insects so sharply detailed. All the best and enjoy the rest of your week :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise. I do enjoy my photography but finding the time to download, go through photos, and than blog is just not fitting into the agenda so I am far behind! Keep well Diane
DeletePriorities take precedence but it's a real treat when you share, makes it extra special for the waiting :)
DeleteAs always, your photos are gorgeous! I've missed being around and visiting! I hope you and Nigel are doing well. :)
ReplyDeletexoxo
Hi Sally, good to hear from you and I hope things are a bit easier for you now. Take care Diane xx
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your visit and the comment much appreciated. keep well Diane
DeleteWow you sure are getting the hang of the extension tube. Great shots.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying using them, but we are having foul weather and finding subjects with enough light is difficult. Summer must arrive properly soon I hope!!! Keep well, t'other Diane
DeleteHi Diane - these are wonderful ... and I'm looking forward to more. Excellent to see and to have your descriptions ... what a little treat of a present - enjoy! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary, now if only the rain would stop and we could have a few sunny days I might find some more good subjects. At the moment it is wet and chilly for us, and the insects are not any happier than we are!!
DeleteKeep safe and I hope all is well, Diane
Wonderful series of macro shots. Interesting bugs.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy, the rain is keeping many bugs away I wish it would dry out a bit, but then next I will have to water!!!! Keep well Diane
DeletePicking the Fire bug as my favorite.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I also like the Firebugs and we have a lot! Keep safe Diane
DeleteThe first photo looks like the scene from a fairy movie. It's so charming.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit, hope all is well, Diane
Delete