One more spittlebug

paul · Post by **paul** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:08 pm

This fellow did a biiig stretch, raising its abdomen high. It must be quite a fresh specimen, seeing its thorax is still totally translucent. You can see its 'drinking straw' (the brownish straight line).

The leaf is ngaio (myoporum laetum), a NZ native shrub/tree; the larger dots in the slightly leathery leaves are said to be oil glands. This is the only host in my neighbourhood for the spittlebugs.

Dynax 7D @ ISO 200
100-300mm + reversed 50mm + extension
F32
flash
cropped vertical from horizontal, less a smidgeon of foreground

salden · Post by **salden** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:10 am

He is so cute. What a find. I really like your images of these little guys.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:48 am

You know I often have heard of folks with their nose in the air but this takes the cake.

Wonderful image Paul

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 4:29 am

You cannot get much closer that that Paul, fantastic shots IMO.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:58 pm

Paul, congradulations on making the front cover of photomacrography.net. You photo of the spittlebugs really deserves that space...great photos

paul · Post by **paul** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:56 am

Thanks for the kind comments, I am pleased that you share the enjoyment I got from watching these, and what a buzz to see them on the front page.

I keep my fingers crossed to get a picture of the winged insect crawling out of the bubbles, would be a nice cycle. But with the cold weather we are experiencing at present, I have my doubts that spring will arrive, and these guys might never make it...

For a complete cycle, I would have to see one hatching from an egg (first catch your egg...), but I guess I would have to borrow Ken's Meiji.

Best wishes.