Insects and Bugs

By Paul Cecil | Published May 5, 2008

Well you can tell when summer is around the corner: the insects and bugs start to appear in force, and I spend much of my time crawling around on the ground with a macro lens. I've started an album over on my main web site, creatively entitled Insects and Bugs. Here's a small sample:

Harlequin Ladybird
The harlequin is an invader species, larger and more voracious than our native ladybirds.

Large Red Damselfly

Nursery web spider

Speckled Wood butterfly

Azure damselfly

Camera note: all shots (except the butterfly) taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro + Kenko Teleplus 1.4x Pro 300 DG teleconverter. The speckled wood butterfly was taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS + an extension tube.

This entry was posted in Insects, ladybird, Spiders and tagged , .

14 Comments

  1. Vulpes vulpes May 5, 2008 at 12:05 am #

    Stunning shots – love the Ladybird!

  2. chthoniid May 5, 2008 at 1:05 am #

    Very nice work- I'm a little envious you've got better chances of macro shots as my opportunities are diminishing.

    How does the tele-converter work out in terms of IQ?

  3. Words May 5, 2008 at 8:05 am #

    Vulpes, thanks!

  4. Words May 5, 2008 at 8:05 am #

    Brendan, the tele-converter seems to work really well with the macro lens. I've been dubious about it with my 100-400. It can really help and I've got some good shots that way (like this pheasant), but the hit rate has been too low for comfort so unless it's a very bright I don't even try. WIth the macro lens I usually add flash anyway so there's no problem getting sufficient light on the subject. This toad was taken with macro+TC combination and is as good as anything I've taken.

  5. SittingFox May 5, 2008 at 11:05 am #

    The spider is my favourite. Great job all round! 🙂

  6. quaconyenyen May 5, 2008 at 8:05 pm #

    So nice! :love: :up:
    I love the photo of ladybug: contrast color of flowers-background (yellow) sets off the ladybug (red-black).

  7. chthoniid May 7, 2008 at 1:05 am #

    The Harlequin Ladybird is a very nice shot- how good of it to pose for you. It's a shame to learn that it is an invasive.

    We have a native ladybug(bird) that is actually black with orange spots- alas I didn't have the macro lens when I spotted it.

    I'm looking forward to seeing what else Spring/Summer brings out in your albums.

  8. Words May 7, 2008 at 7:05 am #

    Thanks Quaconyenyen!

  9. Words May 7, 2008 at 7:05 am #

    Thanks Adele. I liked the way the spider is resting with one leg is hooked over the leaf for balance.

  10. Words May 7, 2008 at 7:05 am #

    Brendan, we have quite a wide variety of natives. The harlequins are much larger and current status is one of monitoring their extent. I tend to see a small number in the garden, but they are still much less common where I am than our traditional ladybirds.

  11. zetorres May 7, 2008 at 10:05 pm #

    Fantastic photos! :up:

  12. Words May 7, 2008 at 11:05 pm #

    Thanks ZT!

  13. Words May 13, 2008 at 7:05 am #

    Thanks Mark!

  14. Flying Red Fox Blog May 13, 2008 at 7:05 am #

    Very nice shots there D