Some cute bugs from the garden :)

All taken with the Pentax D-FA100mm

A Bee



A spider



A moth



Not sure what this chap is called



A wasps nest

Clarky,

Lookin' good!

How does the Pentax compare to your Tamron?

I don't know what #4 is called either, but we have exactly the same guy in Canada - they're very common in Quebec.

Strange for me to see wasps build exposed cells before the outside shell. Maybe because I'm so used to paper wasps, mud daubers and ground wasps. Neat!

Really enjoy your shots.

Cheers

Excellent shots Clarky - I think #3 (moth) is my favourite but they're all very good. The bees are becoming more frequent in my garden now but I've not yet got a good shot of one, they just move too fast for my glacial reflexes...

Yes, the moth one is really nice, good lighting on that - makes it stand out from the average macro shot.

Dan

I'm not sure what number 4 is called in English, in Dutch it is a wants, I think in English it is a true bug, the family is Heteroptera. There are loads of different varieties, which one this is I don't know. We have similar ones here but I've never seen one exactly like the one in the photo.

Good to see you have some not so scary beasties in Oz too

I think it's a 'Squash Bug', not an adult, but a last 'instar' (final stage before adulthood). http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_bugs/LargeSquashBug.htm

Could be wrong, but something like that (might even be a leaf footed bug).

Dan

P.S. I like the names Oz animals have. Spangled Drongo, Kurrawong, Clown Bugs, Wilted-tip-mimicking Bug, Fruit-spotting Bug.

By the way, Clarky, although this is a Western Australia site, you might be interested in this page: http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/icdb/imagelist.IDC

Click on a link, see an example of the insect. Helps if you know what to look for in the first place, but have a flick through now and again and it will probably start to make sense when you're next in the garden.

Dan

I see what you mean.

Unfortunately we can't see from the top whether this one lives up to its name:

http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/images/C_longipennis.jpg

G

They don't look quite so good dead, dried up, and with a stake through 'em.

Mac
The Pentax is equally as good as the Tamron optically and is less than half the weight also
And i have decided not to sell the Tamron as its a bit of a rareity and i like the look and feel of it too much.

The wasps here don't build outer shells on thier nests Probably due to the milder climate i suspect.
Do you have a pic of a Canadian wasp nest. :

Dan.
Thanks for the link i have bookmarked it. I can't get the Brisbane link to load up though :
I was called a spangled drongo in a pub once or was that a flamin drongo : i can't remember

Hefty.
The moth is my fav also Lots of them about at the moment.
And you are right about the bees, they never sit still for too long.

George.
How did you find that George :