POST YOUR BEE SHOTS (any non-butterfly all pollinators are welcome - wasps, etc.)

johnfosteruk wrote in post #19072959
Thanks, it's my fave from that set too - I wanted to capture this exact shot showing the face & those big strong mandibles, with the antennae in focus too. There were multiple females going backwards and forwards but I struggled all afternoon to get the shot as it was really difficult to position myself, the camera and the diffuser, whilst holding steady and not disturbing the leaves so I kept scaring them off. I got there in the end tho, perseverance paid off!

Amen in spades !

Funny how that works sometimes. I also have struggled for a long time and many photos, trying to capture what my mind knows is there.
Afterwards, looking back at the photos. Strangely often it’s the first or last photo that nailed that vision. Lol

..and sometimes it’s better luck next time!

Best

A male Red Mason Bee resting on a Sourgrass flower.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (around 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering with -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI, Sharpen AI, and Clarity in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2j8t​695

Last week I was photographing a hornworm caterpillar on our Ash tree when I noticed this group of eggs. Like normally, I decided to keep tabs on them and document what kind, etc. well, I did, but got a surprise when this Chalcid wasp emerged! Eventually each egg hatched with one.
Here’s some photos taken over the course of several days. (And 3 camera )

Photos taken with Olympus were with a raynox DCR-250 close-up lens

Couple more of eggs and wasp
Bottom one is wasp exiting egg sack.

Interesting thing to me was the hatched wasp would run around and tend the eggs and then press its head and antennas up against the eggs.

Last couple more

johnfosteruk wrote in post #19072931
And here are some close ups of leaf cutting action. More female Blue Mason Bees.

johnfosteruk wrote in post #19072955
Our hobby is brilliant isn't it. Such a privilege to see the stuff (nearly) nobody else sees.

It sure is.
Thanks for sharing. Brilliant series (2)
Beautiful photos.

johnfosteruk wrote in post #19072931
And here are some close ups of leaf cutting action. More female Blue Mason Bees.

IMAGE LINK: https://www.flickr.com …987/in/datepost​ed-public/
Male Blue Mason Bee by john Foster on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://www.flickr.com …997/in/datepost​ed-public/
Male Blue Mason Bee by john Foster on Flickr


I had to be a real contortionist to get this image. It was worth it though.

IMAGE LINK: https://www.flickr.com …957/in/datepost​ed-public/
Male Blue Mason Bee by john Foster on Flickr

Love that last frame!

Are you sure it's not some species of leaf cutter bee? Mason bees cap their nests with mud and that's why they are called masons. Only a leaf cutter would use leaves to separate nest cells.

Thanks John

Dalantech wrote in post #19074579
Mason bees cap their nests with mud and that's why they are called masons.

Not Exclusively, caerulescens use leaf mastic and occasionally chewed up petals. They're not the only ones to do it either, leaiana for example also use leaf mastic.

Thanks Richard.

Not many of these guys around now.....I think it's because of our drought

i went through the same process when I discovered an unknown egg group and found them to be Shield bugs. Always great to be learning from nature, eh?

Naturalist wrote in post #19074895
i went through the same process when I discovered an unknown egg group and found them to be Shield bugs. Always great to be learning from nature, eh?

Isn’t that the truth! I have to say, that there isn’t a bad day when I can spend some time poking my nose in wild things business.
Lots more to learn.

Shufu wrote in post #19074840
Not many of these guys around now.....I think it's because of our drought

Hosted photo: posted by Shufu in
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forum: Macro

Wonderful photo!

We’ve been having a drought here as well. Bees have been so bad that we’ve had to take down the hummingbird feeders and the Orioles jelly juice feeder. I tried to put out the juice feeder again yesterday and once they found it, it took less than a hour to empty a 16oz feeder!

Before sundown I went for a walk in my yard to see if I could find something to point the camera at and I spotted this European Wool Carder Bee snoozing in one of my Sunflowers.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 3x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI, Sharpen AI, and Clarity in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2j9H​Jec