• Members 549 posts
    March 2, 2025, 7:25 p.m.

    ¡Hola!
    Waiting eagerly for spring to arrive... so that these little bugs continue running away from me and my camera 😄

    IMG_8696.jpeg

    IMG_8696.jpeg

    JPG, 456.9 KB, uploaded by doctor on March 2, 2025.

  • Members 251 posts
    March 3, 2025, 4:19 p.m.

    Great capture! Nice and sharp throughout.
    Bob

  • Members 1329 posts
    March 4, 2025, 11:35 p.m.

    Normally I could never get anywhere near close enough for that focal length! But I have seen it mentioned that when it's cold insects are a lot less reactive so there is a chance.
    But you don't want them to run away???

  • Members 549 posts
    March 5, 2025, 1:21 a.m.

    ¡Hola Bryan!
    With that focal length, which is what my camera gives the highest magnification, you have to shoot very close: you almost have to use ninja tactics 😄
    And yes, it's true, first thing in the morning, when it's cool, the bugs are much less active and it's easier to work with them. But since I don't like to get up early, I have to run after them 😀

  • Members 1329 posts
    March 5, 2025, 2:23 a.m.

    My answer is a long long lens. Then I don't have to get up early nor run after them... 😉

  • Members 549 posts
    March 6, 2025, 12:14 p.m.

    Another advantage of your long lens is that you can keep a safe distance, which is sometimes very useful...

    IMG_0178.jpeg

    IMG_0178.jpeg

    JPG, 2.1 MB, uploaded by doctor on March 6, 2025.

  • Members 1329 posts
    March 6, 2025, 1:20 p.m.

    I am guessing that is a wasp.

    We have two common wasps here. The mud wasp and paper wasp. The mud wasp seems harmless. They don't have a communal nest and fly around finding a place to make a single mud cocoon for their egg. Sometimes they might fly inside the house and I shoo them out with my arms and never has one attacked me. Not so the paper wasps. They build a large nest around a queen and protect it. I was on a ride on mower one day and disturbed them. I backed back and they didn't chase me. Next lap around I thought it was ok and just drove past. Three of them stung me on the back of the head / neck. Ouch. Those guys pack a punch. I have been stung plenty of times by some of the ants we have here and it doesn't tickle - it has a sharp sensation that lasts for a while and then becomes a strong itch. But the paper wasp sting sting feels something more like a large hot needle. Doesn't last so long but is powerful. Many bites would not be a good thing. We do have European wasps here which are said to be more aggressive but I have rarely seen them. As an introduced pest there is an active extermination plan.

  • Members 549 posts
    March 6, 2025, 2:52 p.m.

    Yes, it is a common wasp around here, a "Vespula vulgaris". In theory, they can be a bit more troublesome than paper wasps, and I usually try to keep my distance. This one was "charging its batteries", still inactive on a cool morning.
    The one we started having problems with is the Asian wasp, the "Vespa velutina". It’s an invasive species, really big and potentially dangerous. The biggest problem is its impact on the bee population, which it attacks by destroying entire hives.
    I found this one, disoriented, in the middle of the city:

    IMG_0179.jpeg

    IMG_0179.jpeg

    JPG, 1.8 MB, uploaded by doctor on March 6, 2025.