Blashford Mega Mix

I spent a couple of the early May bank holiday afternoons wandering around Blashford Lakes, and found a wide range of insect species, including the first shots of some damselflies in 2015. All of the images in this selection are taken on the Canon MPE-65mm lens, with the exception of one shot of a damselfly – taken on the Canon 100mm Macro Lens.

Some of the flies were completely new species for me to photograph, including this small Stilt Legged fly.  I read about these flies and apparently they use there legs as a sort of extra semaphore like attractant to the opposite sex.

Stilt Legged Fly (2) - Family Micropezidae
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Stilt Legged Fly (2) – Family Micropezidae
Stilt Legged Fly (1)
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Stilt Legged Fly (1)

I then came across a couple of Doc Leaf beetles mating.

Mating Doc Leaf Beetles @ about 2x Mag
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Mating Doc Leaf Beetles @ about 2x Mag

This is a common scene for these bettles at this time of year – and there reflective shells make a good test of flash diffusion setup – and am pleased that my current setup appears to be working well in controlling the highlights on their reflective shells, whislt retaining good detail.

I also found another female Doc Leaf beetle – who was being literally fought over for attention.

Male Doc Leaf Beetles fighting over a female
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Male Doc Leaf Beetles fighting over a female
Male Doc Leaf Beetles fighting over a female (2)
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Male Doc Leaf Beetles fighting over a female (2)

Next up another new species for me – Stone Flies.  The first is a mature one – the other probably a newly emerged one of the same.

Stonefly
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Stonefly
Newly Emerged Stonefly
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Newly Emerged Stonefly

The final new fly species for me to take an image of was this Engsin Fly or Black Scavenger Fly – Sepsis cynipsea.

Engsin Fly - Sepsis cynipsea
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Engsin Fly – Sepsis cynipsea

This next fly is a fairly common sight – I just like the hairs on it.

Hairy Fly!
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Hairy Fly!

The next fly is a bigger one – a Hover Fly.

Hoverfly
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Hoverfly

The final series of fly images are of a Thick-headed fly – which I believe is type Myopa fly . These type of flies parasite bees by laying eggs in a victim – which is then eaten and eventually killed by the larvae.

Thick-headed Fly - Myopa buccata
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Thick-headed Fly – Myopa
Thick-headed Fly - Myopa @ about3x Magnification
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Thick-headed Fly – Myopa @ about3x Magnification
Thick-headed Fly - Myopa @ about3x Magnification
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Thick-headed Fly – Myopa @ about3x Magnification

Other than flies, I also found a couple of nut weevils to take some macro photographs of.

Nut Weevil on Nettle Portrait
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Nut Weevil on Nettle Portrait
Nut Weevil on nettle with damaged wing
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Nut Weevil on nettle with damaged wing

Finally the damselflies.  First up one of the ones I normally see on its own before the other species emerge – a Large Red.

Large Red Damselfly
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Large Red Damselfly

Then a female common blue – this taken on the Canon 100mm Lens.

Common Blue Damselfly
Canon EOS 650D (100mm, f/6.3, 1/640 sec, ISO400)
Common Blue Damselfly

And lastly a head shot of one taken on the MPE.

Predator!
Canon EOS 650D (65mm, f/8, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Predator!

Map of Location

Ellingham Drove, Ellingham, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 3, UK

Chris

I've been taking macro photography from 2004. I use both Canon film and digital cameras.

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