I have never seem eyes like this!!

[Photogirl2007]

These eyes are amazing and belong to Eristalinus taeniops of the syrphidae (hoverfly family) and mimics the common honey bee.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa149/AshleyL_021/100_7142A.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa149/AshleyL_021/100_7146A.jpg

[Jay Lowery]

very nice, ive found one of these the eyes are so cool.

[LordV]

Lovely capture- they do have amazing eyes - never seen honey bees with eyes like that :)
Brian V.

[Photogirl2007]

Thanks Jay and Brian. I wondered at the reason for this and do they see everything in stripes?:D

[troypiggo]

He's been staring at zebras too long! :D

Nice captures.

[LindaB]

Superb shots Joan, they really are. Agree, its really strange seeing striped eyes like that - didnt someone, or was it you, post a photo of one with stripey eyes not that long ago, but I dont think the shot was as close, if I remember correctly.

Linda

[GaryT]

Beautiful capture of the eyes Joan. Never seen anything like that before. They don't look like any honey bee that I've seen here in the US, more like a hover fly. Thanks for sharing.

[Photogirl2007]

Troy
He's been staring at zebras too long!
:lol: You are probably tight Troy. Thanks.

Linda
didnt someone, or was it you, post a photo of one with stripey eyes not that long ago
Thanks Linda. It was not me but these flies are quite common so I am sure there have been others who have posted pics of them.

Gary
They don't look like any honey bee that I've seen here in the US, more like a hover fly.
Thankds Gary. You are correct in saying they are hoverflies. They just mimic bees.

[Far2Close]

great pictures!, great subject!

Wow that disguise is just awesome, wonder if he could fly into a bee's nest and make away with some honey :)

[TheFishGuy]

That is awesome.
Chris

[Photogirl2007]

far2close
wonder if he could fly into a bee's nest and make away with some honey
:lol: I would if I was him, but in reality, the bees will sense and smell he is an intruder. Thanks for the nice comment.

Chris
That is awesome.
Thanks for the lovely comment Chris. These pics did come out rather well and show they eyes very well.

[johnkermit1]

Joan, these are some of my fav. of yours overall!
some of your best Macro work ive seen!
i have never seen anything like it, and the pics are super crisp. great job!
its X-ray vision, every one knows that...lol

[Photogirl2007]

John
its X-ray vision, every one knows that...lol
:lol: I knew that, I was just not sure everyone else did!! :lol:

John, this a wonderful comment and I appreciate it very much. Thank you.

[bandit 1]

Hiya Joan,

Great shots, what a little gem !!

Cheers for now
Mark

[Attic]

Crazy eyes, got love em. Nicely shot too Joan ;)

[Photogirl2007]

Mark
Great shots, what a little gem !!
Hi Mark, thanks for your nice comment.

Alby
Crazy eyes, got love em. Nicely shot too Joan
Thanks for the nice comment Alby. Crazy eyes is right!! :)

[illusionest]

it has striped contact lens on! :p

nice shots!

[Greg_C]

Lovely shots Joan, does it see the world in stripes

[Photogirl2007]

Illusionest
it has striped contact lens on! :p
Thanks for commenting. I like this remark!!:lol: Almost like some out of space alien!!

Greg
Lovely shots Joan, does it see the world in stripes
I was wondering the same. :lol: Thanks Greg.

[alliec]

Lovley shots Joan, wonderful detail you have caught in the eyes.

[Photogirl2007]

Thanks Alistair. This was a very interesting subject to photograph.

[spidermanrbryce2006]

interesting eyes alright great shots tho!

[jaharris1001]

hey,,,, excellent shots there Joan :D were these taken with that 300mm lens you told me about ? Very nice color and sharpness,, well done kido ;)

[Photogirl2007]

Bryce
interesting eyes alright great shots tho!
Thanks Bryce.:)

Jim
were these taken with that 300mm lens you told me about
Thanks Jim. The ones taken with the 300mm were the butterflies
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=430216
Take a look and let me know what you think of the clarity.:)

[jaharris1001]

wow Joan,,, I missed that post !! Very nice !! Love the color and clarity,, really very nice !!
What lens did you use on the "eyes" ?
cant believe I missed your butterflies :rolleyes: :D

[Photogirl2007]

The eyes were taken with my little P&S which I keep with me at all times. That is really a good little camera!!
If someone had told me those butterflies were taken with a 300mm on full length, and hand held, I would not have believed it. But now I know what to do with it and will practice some more although I hope to get my macro lens withing the next week or so.

[johnkermit1]

well then Joan, i must ask, what is your P&S, and did you have any macro attachment lenses for it? just curious, for these are awesome shots! :-)

[S7000]

Great capture! Wish the hoverflies here had crazy eyes...

[Photogirl2007]

No John, no attachments, but this little camera takes the greatest pics up to about 1 inch from the subject.

[johnkermit1]

very cool! i think they are the greatest!

[Photogirl2007]

Sorry, but for some reason the icons do not work on this computer!!Phil"Great capture! Wish the hoverflies here had crazy eyes..."Thanks Phil. I am sure you do but like me, have just not noticed them yet.John"very cool! i think they are the greatest!"Thanks John!!

[johnkermit1]

no problemo! i enjoy any and all macros!
yours a extra cool, because you are where i am not, and see things i cannot. just like Troy and DaveP in Australia, and Lord V and Macro Junkie in UK
and all others, not mentioned, much respect.
thats what is so cool, the diversity of all the different photographers, and the lands which they are from

thanks !

[Photogirl2007]

I also try to post something different all the time, my next post is going to be roses so it might be disappointing to some. LOL!! You are right in saying there are a lot of different bugs here. I never realised it until I started doing macro how interesting they can be. A very good friend introduced me to macro and I am very pleased he did as it filled in the gap for me not being able to do wildlife photography anymore, or at least, on a very limited scale.

I am having a great problem identifying butterflies and moths and someone has just told me to post them on a special site for this. Apparently, many moths and butterflies have not been named yet, and it would be super cool to find a new one and have it named after me. LOL!!

[johnkermit1]

Joanious Awesomiferous. lol

[Photogirl2007]

LOL!! If not, why not!! LOL!!

[Cactuspic]

Great shot Joan. Love it.

Irwin

[Photogirl2007]

Thanks Irwin!!

[jaharris1001]

although I hope to get my macro lens withing the next week or so.

oh ya ?? :D are you gettin the Canon 100mm ? I think you had mentioned that one before ;) :D

[Photogirl2007]

Yes Jim I am, but I want to check out the Sigma 105mm too as I have had great reports on it too, and will then decide which one I want to buy. Strangley enough, the Sigma lens is more expensive than the Canon one for some reason. :D

[jaharris1001]

I have the Sigma,, gotta tell ya, if its more than the Canon there, I'd buy the Canon. I bought the Sigma here because it was considerably cheaper, but I think I would like the Canon better. Let us know if and when you get it.

[rrdjserv@earthlink.net]

Amazing captures! --Rick

[Photogirl2007]

Thanks Rick. It was a great find. The morning was cool too so he just stayed there and allowed me to take these great pics.