Tiny bugs
I was inspired to take macro photos of tiny insect nymphs yesterday. It's been quite a while since I've done this, and I'd forgotten how much fun it is!
I started with this katydid (I think?) nymph. For a sense of scale, it's on a bloom of Verbena bonariensis. This is a baby insect!
Here's the bloom for perspective:
Long legs...
...even longer antennae:
I love the coloring of this little guy!
Easy to pick out and photograph.
Unlike the next subject, another katydid:
This species is very shy, putting the stem between itself and the camera whenever possible.
Again, so small!
That's the flowering structure of scouring rush, Equisetum hyemale for scale,
Not so small, so happy on an allium bloom...
...a honey bee.
One of my favorite things is a pollen covered bee!
I'll end with a single spider image:
The morning light was better, but I didn't have the camera at the time. This is one of my favorite small garden spiders which I believe is an Orchard Orbweaver, Leucauge venusta.
How closely do you look at your garden?
,
Great photos as always! Cool creatures and your photography skills do them justice :)
This post really bugs me, but only a tiny bit. seriously, these are great images of your diminutive garden fauna. Because we spend so much time in our outdoor spaces, gardeners get to enjoy the minutiae of their gardens more than the non-gardening crowd (I've heard tell there is such a thing.) You have a knack for capturing them beautifully.
Great pictures.
This morning my blog reading as been bugs and flowers. Check out the blog, Saratoga Woods and Waterways. It has details of flowers and bugs that are also fascinating.
Mark/Gaz: thank you! it's a challenge getting the little subjects to pose just right, but it's worth it. :)
Peter: Nice! Hope you enjoyed them as much as I do your puns. :)
Maywyn: I'll take a look -- thanks for the tip!
I had to smile when I saw your nymph photos. I photographed the weirdest looking insects the other day and they turned out to be nymphs, too. Florida leaf footed bug or something.
Gerhard: nymphs (immature bugs) often have really strange, unique, interesting forms that many times look nothing like the adults. I love discovering new insects in my garden!
Marvelous photos, Alan! I have such a hard time photographing insects - the darn things so rarely sit still! Anyway, I'll keep trying - your post inspired me!
The third photo from the top, the nymph looks like it turned it's head to look straight at you, as if saying: Who, me? My camera isn't sophisticated enough for such wonderful close-ups.