Last few from the weekend: Bee, Butterfly, Moth and Flies

[BugMan]

More shots from the weekend. MP-E used on the bee and fly.

Enjoy and thanks for viewing!

http://bugphotography.com/gallery/d/1166-2/eastern-tiger-swallowtail-butterfly_017
[view larger version] (http://bugphotography.com/gallery/insect-macro-photos/butterflies-skippers-moths-lepidoptera/eastern-tiger-swallowtail-butterflies-papilio-glaucus/eastern-tiger-swallowtail-butterfly_017.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1)

http://bugphotography.com/gallery/d/1169-2/eastern-tiger-swallowtail-butterfly_011
[view larger version] (http://bugphotography.com/gallery/insect-macro-photos/butterflies-skippers-moths-lepidoptera/eastern-tiger-swallowtail-butterflies-papilio-glaucus/eastern-tiger-swallowtail-butterfly_011.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1)

Hummingbird Moth (Slender Clearwing) - first shot I didn't nail, but i like the motion blur and curled probiscus. Hopefully i'll get a better one in the future.

http://bugphotography.com/gallery/d/1186-2/hummingbird-moth-slender-clearwing-hemaris-gracilis_001
[view larger version] (http://bugphotography.com/gallery/insect-macro-photos/butterflies-skippers-moths-lepidoptera/hummingbird-moth-slender-clearwing-hemaris-gracilis_001.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1)

This is a crop from the original just to orient the subject towards the center of the image more

http://bugphotography.com/gallery/d/1189-2/hummingbird-moth-slender-clearwing-hemaris-gracilis_002
[view larger version] (http://bugphotography.com/gallery/insect-macro-photos/butterflies-skippers-moths-lepidoptera/hummingbird-moth-slender-clearwing-hemaris-gracilis_002.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1)

A parasitic bee (Sphecodes species)- very timid, very fast movers and that's it's probiscus extended as it nectars.

http://bugphotography.com/gallery/d/1148-2/sphecodes
[view larger version] (http://bugphotography.com/gallery/insect-macro-photos/ants-bees-wasps-sawflies-hymenoptera/sweat-bees-halictidae/sphecodes.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1)

Tachinid fly

http://bugphotography.com/gallery/d/1181-2/tachinidae-fly
[view larger version] (http://bugphotography.com/gallery/insect-macro-photos/flies-diptera/assorted-flies/tachinidae-fly.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1)

and it's probiscus at about 3-4x

http://bugphotography.com/gallery/d/1184-2/tachinidae-fly_001
[view larger version] (http://bugphotography.com/gallery/insect-macro-photos/flies-diptera/assorted-flies/tachinidae-fly_001.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1)

Bee fly

http://bugphotography.com/gallery/d/1178-2/bee-fly-bombyliidae
[view larger version] (http://bugphotography.com/gallery/insect-macro-photos/flies-diptera/assorted-flies/bee-fly-bombyliidae.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1)

[Blue S2]

Those MP-E pics are something else!

[dazzlebea]

Wow, where to start? Love the 2 shots of the butterfly, you got a nice one on some nice flowers. I like the hummer moth shots because you can see the probiscus uncurling (second one is really good!). Bee shot is great, I love the yellow pollen on the mouth and probiscus (?). Great detail in the fly shots and a bit too much noise in the last one.

[dpastern]

Love these shots bugman, very well done!!! Man that lens is razor sharp!!!

Dave

[LordV]

Lovely series.
Paricularly like the swallowtail butterfly and the bee.
Brian V.

[racketman]

excellent - not least the fly's legs! I hope i'm not going to have to buy that lens after all!

[Lester Wareham]

Wow, the MP-E really allows terrific detail, excelent shots.

[Athena]

Fantabulous work here. Like Bea says, where to start...
Okay, my favorites are the 1st butterfly and the hummingbird moth (woe - crazy bokeh on that one - nice). Oh, and I also like the parasitic bee. Hmmm...that's almost all of them. Oh well - they're all great. :)

[a.huhton]

Great shots, another one with good in flight shots now I am getting envious.

[Omri Alon]

Great shots :D I love the first one :D The fly looks weird :lol:

[BugMan]

thank you all very much!

anyone can get in-flight shots, just a matter of practice. I posted some tips in my post "Bumblebees in flight"

[Leorooster]

Great series. That MP-E65 is an amazing lens!