Somehow I don't think the larva are going to be real happy. Sigma 105 macro on 36mm tubes, 430 EX-II with DIY concave diffuser:
Robber Fly Depositing Eggs on Steel Cable
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- rjlittlefield
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That's a spectacular picture! How did you come to see this and be in position to shoot it??
I'm thinking they'll probably be OK. Mommy just took a high-tech spin on normal behavior. According to http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/ben ... _flies.htm:Somehow I don't think the larva are going to be real happy.
--RikFemale Asilidae deposit whitish-colored eggs on low-lying plants and grasses, or in crevices within soil, bark, or wood. Egg-laying habits depend on the species and their specific habitat; most species lay their eggs in masses, which are then covered with a chalky protective coating.
Thank you Rik. Out for the morning shooting macro and it started getting a wee bit hot so I took a shade break. I noticed Dragonflies perched on the steel cabling of a cattle fence. I thought it might make an interesting macro setting so fired off a shot but the dragon was quick to flight. Not to be deterred, I walked the fence line and noticed all sorts of critters on the cables. Usually I have a hard time sneaking up on robbers but this one was preoccupied and paid me little mind. I crouched and approached very slowly. I fired off a few shots at ~12" to get a feel if it was going to fly off or stick to the task at hand. I kept inching forward shooting shots at different working distances until I got to MFD. Robber was oblivious to the overhead diffuser and my firing off shots. I shot a few frames for stacking but haven't thrown them into Zerene yet. I hope to get to that in the next day or two.
I truly enjoy macro opportunities like this. Not only are you getting a chance to capture a good photograph but you also get to witness extraordinary events through the viewfinder.
Thanks for the link. Reading about the larval feeding habits I don't think they will find much on the cable. Guessing they will have to drop to the ground to find food, water, and shelter.
I truly enjoy macro opportunities like this. Not only are you getting a chance to capture a good photograph but you also get to witness extraordinary events through the viewfinder.
Thanks for the link. Reading about the larval feeding habits I don't think they will find much on the cable. Guessing they will have to drop to the ground to find food, water, and shelter.
- rjlittlefield
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Thanks Ken, I appreciate the input. That don't seem to come all that often for me either. I have to say, when I first started shooting macro I'd get so excited I was sure to foul up the shot one way or another. At least now, with some practice under my belt, I have a chance of capturing a decent image.Ken Ramos wrote:That is an awesome shot! Chances like that don't come around to often, at least for me they don't.