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horse fly


horse fly
Photo Information
Copyright: jaap polak (carper) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-06
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 350D, Sigma 70-300mm Macro Super II 1:4-5.6
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-08-09 13:29
Viewed: 6431
Points: 64
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Among the world's largest flies are the horse-flies (family Tabanidae). Although not all the species in this family bite, these large, hairy flies are most often known as pests because of the painful bites many species can inflict on animals and humans. They occur worldwide, being absent only at extreme northern and southern latitudes. Flies of this type are among those known sometimes as "gadflies".
A type of insect, horse-flies are classified in the fly order Diptera. There are approximately 3,000 species of horse-flies known worldwide, 350 of which are found in North America. At least three subfamilies are recognised:

The two best-known types are the common horse-flies, genus Tabanus, and the deer-flies, genus Chrysops, also known as banded horse-flies because of their coloring. Both these genera give their names to subfamilies.

Adult horse-flies feed on nectar and other plant juices, but only the females also feed on blood. Males lack the necessary mouth apparatus to do so. Most horse-flies feed on mammal blood, but some species are known to feed on birds, amphibians or reptiles.

The females' primary sense for locating prey is sight, and they have large, compound eyes that serve this purpose well. The flies usually lay waiting in shady areas for prey to happen by. They are attracted to large, dark objects, and to certain animal odors and carbon dioxide. They are also attracted by motion, their eyes being well adapted to its detection.

The eyes of horse-flies are generally brightly colored, and this coloration is the primary means entomologists use to sex them.

A horse-fly's bite can be very painful. Unlike insects that pierce the skin, horse-flies have mouthparts that work like miniature knives, which they use to slash open the skin with a scissor-like motion. This causes the blood to seep out as the horse-fly licks it up. While some horse-flies are known to have venom, none is known to be dangerous to humans. When attacking humans, the flies generally prefer the head and upper body regions, going unnoticed until a bite is inflicted.

Horse-flies are most active in hot weather, mostly in summer and autumn during the daylight hours. Most species also prefer a wet climate, which makes it easier for them to breed.

Some horse-fly species are known to transmit disease and/or parasites. A common problem in some animals, though, when large flies are abundant, is blood loss. Some animals have been known to lose up to 300 ml of blood in a single day, which can severely weaken or even kill them.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse-fly"

Well I needs some extra time for my experiment, because I have not every day to photograph. i am a working man. This was the last result with the crewing canon 500d close up. I hope youn like the result.
gr. jaap
wallhalla15, ellis49, marhowie, cosmln, jeanpaul, jhm, liquidsunshine, red45, pablominto, jmp, Dando, TAZ, ddg, scottevers7, hansh, SkyF, extramundi, metcher, sAner, CTP, dew77, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Jaap,
I see, horseflies are very popular these days :-) Yours is wonderful, the eyes are amazing, I've never seen so yellow eyes with spots. Excellent sharpness, very well done, bye bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hoi Jaap,
Een erg mooie foto van een dier dat ik eerlijk gezegd niet erg prettig vind. Ik ben er deze zomer nog door gebeten. Je foto daar in tegen maakt het ook wel weer bijzonder. De details zijn namelijk erg mooi, en het oog heeft ook wel weer iets apparts. Perfect experiment, als je het nog een experiment mag noemen, want je hebt de 500d volledig onder controle.
Groeten,
Niek

Hallo Jaap, ga vooral door met dat 'experiment' van je, want ik vind deze macro foto's van je zeer goed.
Groeten Jan-arie

Hi Jaap,
a vey good experiment again.
The eye is lovely in colours and textures.
Good POV, nice colours and good details.
Very well done, my friend.

  • Great 
  • takos1 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 261 W: 25 N: 208] (2607)
  • [2006-08-09 16:03]

Ciao Jaap,
bellissima foto macro!
Stupendi i dettagli e belli i colori, bravo!

Franco

Hello Jaap,
Just a coincidence, but I went out this morning and shot similiar today (small). Very sharp and detailed, with an interesting POV broken-off from the front this way..
Great color, light, and a well framed closeup as well.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • cosmln Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 201 W: 12 N: 493] (1952)
  • [2006-08-09 18:52]

hi Jaap,

very nice image and composition.
very sharp and i think a very good manage of that yellow.
and yes i remember how painfull can a bite be.

TFS,
cosmln

Bonjour Jaap
C'est Une merveilleuse photo en macro que ce Joli insecte, Très belle composition, les couleurs et le cadrage et les détails sont tous très bons.
Bravo et merci...JP

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 893 W: 0 N: 507] (1853)
  • [2006-08-10 2:11]

Dag Jaap,

Deze heb u mooi te pakken, zo met de kleine voelsprieten naar voeren, door het warme weer waren ze talrijk aanwezig rond de koeien en lang de beken, dat 500d systeem schijnt zeer goed te werken, prachtige foto opnieuw Jaap.
Ja het is zeer moeilijk als men moet werken en fotograferen, maar verlang niet naar uw pensioen Jaap, want dan wordt men stilletjes oud man!

Groeten,
John

Good morning Jaap,
Short on time today. Just time to see that this is a great shot.
Thanks for posting, enjoy the rest of the week.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2006-08-10 2:22]

Hello Jaap!
Excellent macro from you, again :-) This time I like yellow colour and big and slightly weird eyes of fly. Well composed and colorfull.

Hello Jaap,
Nice point of view, and some great details... I can see the pollen on the legs!
Macro work very well done, fine natural colour and a background to enhance the subject!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 751 W: 31 N: 20] (5100)
  • [2006-08-10 3:50]

Hi Jaap,
good details, colours and DOF. Very nice macro, excellent shot. I like it. Interesting note.
Rgs, Aleksander

Hello Jaap,
you show us a very interesting fly. I don´t like the female. ;-) - Your macro is excellent. Great POV, DOF and sharpness too. Great colours, lighting and bg too. This is an excellent composition. Thank you for posting.
Gr.
Heinz

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-08-10 8:32]

Hi Jaap, excellent macro shot. Brilliant details, colours and POV. A very well composed shot, well done and TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2006-08-10 9:11]

Hi Jaap,
Very good pov at the same level of the fly, excellen color, sharpness and blurred background. I must say that they are one the worst insect to tolerate!
TFS, José M.

Great macro Jaap! Good DOF and POV with nice colors and details. Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-08-10 22:47]

Hi Jaap

Excellent DOF and POV.The details of the fur and eye are very good.Nicely composed.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-08-11 0:39]

Hello Jaap, you manage very well your "experimental lens" and the results are great. Here the composition, colors, exposure, DOF and sharpness are excellent ! Congratulations my friend and thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 867 W: 24 N: 1008] (5507)
  • [2006-08-11 4:15]

Hi Jaap, very nice shot , great details and perfect sharpness too. For me , I think that this shot is a bit overexposed. Any way good work, Didier.

Hi Jaap,
WOW! excellent macro on this Horse Fly. The color saturation is superb. Nice sharp detail. A nice OOF backround. These flies bite harder than a alligator!!!!
Scott

  • Great 
  • hansh Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 277 W: 1 N: 741] (2762)
  • [2006-08-11 8:25]

Dag Jaap.
Prachtige foto met fascinerende ogen. Mooi scherp, prima werk.
Gr. Hans

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 955 W: 0 N: 89] (7805)
  • [2006-08-12 6:41]

Hi Jaap
Nice close-up shot. Good sharpnes, details, colours, light and POV.
Well done mf

osse

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2234 W: 188 N: 1912] (8073)
  • [2006-08-12 8:24]

Hello Jaap,
great shot, the focus is right on. I like the composition a lot, with the fly set nicely free from the blurry BG. DOF is very nice and the colors are great.
TFS...Sky

Hi Jaap!
Most interesting, after so much time around I dont remember having heard of the "horse flies".
It is a strange looking fly, I think has quite a weird look.
The shot is very nice with an interesting POV and great colours and details.
In spanish we say: "You will never go to sleep without learnig something new..." and you helped me this time.
Best regards, my friend.

Hi, Jaap.
Excellent composition and colors. Nice BG and very sharp.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2006-08-18 6:56]

Prefect scherptediepteveld Jaap. Goede kleuren en prachtige compositie. Met het rotweer vand de afgelopen weken, valt het macrofotograferen erg tegen he? Hopelijk wordt het weer iets droger, maar de voorspelling zijn pet! :( Goed werk en TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

great shot with a unique POV and great DOF and sharpness. The colours are excellent BTW.

TFS
Emma

  • Great 
  • CTP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 644 W: 6 N: 946] (2726)
  • [2006-08-25 16:34]

Hi Jaap,
Great Horse fly capture with pretty flowers.
I like your pov,dof,colors,focus,note and frame.TFS
Chris

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2006-08-28 3:05]

Hello Jaap,
Wonderful macro.Detals on eyes,smple BG,colors and framing are excellent.
TFS...:-)

bonjour jaap
magnifique ce gros plan,les yeus sont superbes.
la netteté les details les couleurs le point de vue et le BG tout est tres biens.
laurent

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2009-04-07 1:08]

Dear Jaap.
Thanks a lot for visit my gallery and nice comments. I am very pleased. Also my best wishes to you and Teunie.

Sometime I have missed this amazing close-up. Pictured fly is wonderful. I have never met it before. POV is brilliant as well as the details of the fly and flowers. They are incredible. I also like wide DOF and combination of sharpness and blurriness. BG is blurred nicely and very impressive. My warm greetings and TFS.
Yours Alexei.

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