different stages of Heptagenia flava
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different stages of Heptagenia flava
One of the finest mayflies (single shots - no stacking). All pictures are made from living insects.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. Thanks for watching and for any comment.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. Thanks for watching and for any comment.
- Attachments
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- Heptagenia flava Larva
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- Heptagenia flava Subimago
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- Heptagenia flava Imago with Exuvia
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- Heptagenia flava Imago
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- Heptagenis flava Imago Detail
Last edited by Peter Maihoefer on Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
very nice
Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
Lovely series, especially the larva.
Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
Very nice.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing
- MarkSturtevant
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Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
Gorgeous pictures! A lot of thought clearly went into these. There is an especially interesting detail here. Mayflies are strange insects in that when the aquatic nymph molts to its winged adult form, that adult can fly (barely), but then it quickly molts again. No other adult insect does this to my knowledge. I think you show that in the picture where the now fully mature adult is next to its cast skin - the skin being from the earlier winged form.
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters
Dept. of Still Waters
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Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
Thank you for the comments, especially Mark for his additional information on mayflies. The skin behind the imago is from the subimago.
The transformation into Imago happened when I was changing my camera lens. It happened so quickly that I didn't even notice it at first during the further photographic work. That's why I unfortunately don't have any pictures of this molt.
Yes, mayflies are the only winged insects that have an intermediate stage. This intermediate stage is called subimago. Although the transformation of the aquatic larva into a flying mayfly has been completed, the mayfly molts again. This is unique. The mayflies (Ephemeroptera; from Greek ephemeros - one-day, pteron - wing) are the most original of the flying insects (Pterygota).
Historically, the first relatives of today's mayflies lived 250 million years ago. They appeared before the dinosaurs and still exist today.
The transformation into Imago happened when I was changing my camera lens. It happened so quickly that I didn't even notice it at first during the further photographic work. That's why I unfortunately don't have any pictures of this molt.
Yes, mayflies are the only winged insects that have an intermediate stage. This intermediate stage is called subimago. Although the transformation of the aquatic larva into a flying mayfly has been completed, the mayfly molts again. This is unique. The mayflies (Ephemeroptera; from Greek ephemeros - one-day, pteron - wing) are the most original of the flying insects (Pterygota).
Historically, the first relatives of today's mayflies lived 250 million years ago. They appeared before the dinosaurs and still exist today.
Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
Hats off to you for capturing images of living insects. None I've tried to photograph have been so cooperative. Any secrets you'd be willing to share?
- rjlittlefield
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Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
Your images are beautiful!
--Rik
I had an experience that started just the same way! But then I got lucky enough to capture most of the process. An animation and various still photos are at viewtopic.php?f=27&t=43661 .Peter Maihoefer wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 2:37 amThe transformation into Imago happened when I was changing my camera lens. It happened so quickly that I didn't even notice it at first during the further photographic work.
--Rik
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Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
Secrets, hm.......No, just a sum of little details from 40 years of experience in dealing with aquatic insects.
I collect the larvae that are ready to hatch and put them in my aquarium covered with a net. A small motor generates current and an air pump supplies the insects with oxygen. This are all cheap material from the pet store.
short digression: Some mayflies need the current to hatch and one in my area (Epeorus sylvicola) can only live in the current. E. sylvicola can´t move the gills to wave away the less oxygenated water that forms around the gills due to diffusive respiration. This is also not necessary for E.sylvicola in its natural habitat, because this species is always found in the strongest current. The rigid gills are part of the larva to allow better adhesion to the substrate.
After the hatch, the subimagos are collected in small boxes. One mayfly in one box. Placing the boxes outside at night makes it easier for the mayflies to transform into an imago.
I only start the photo session on a stress-free day when there are no other dates and when enough specimens have hatched. If the box is opened and there is no artificial light in the room, the mayfly fly to the window. It is even better if there is a curtain in front of the window. The mayflies can hold on well here.
Without touching the mayfly with my hand, I now try to position a mayfly correctly. For this I use the tip of a soft feather and a net. With the soft tip of the feather (all other grains are removed) I encourage the mayfly to run onto the net and then back from the net onto the stalk.
This rarely succeeds the first time, but usually after 30 minutes at the latest, a mayfly is properly seated. The game often starts over again. The important thing is to keep calm. As a rule, the larger the species, the easier it is. The little ones can be really annoying.
All in all, I can take more and better pictures than in nature. It is also easier to determine if you know from which larva the imago hatched.
That's my way, how I photograph the mayflies.
Crazy? Yes, I know.
Peter
Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
Not crazy at all. The rewards justify the time and effort you put into your work. Great images!
Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
beautiful pictures and very interesting narrative - thank you!
andy
andy
Re: different stages of Heptagenia flava
Hallo Peter
As usual from you very nice pictures
The making of is interesting.
Thanks a lot
Kurt
As usual from you very nice pictures
The making of is interesting.
Thanks a lot
Kurt