Photos: Earth >> Europe >> Poland >> West >> Lodzkie >> Lodz

Register

  << Previous Next >>

Desert Dreams


Desert Dreams
Photo Information
Copyright: Grzegorz Wieczorek (red45) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-27
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 400D, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-27 10:04
Viewed: 8172
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
One of my dreams is to see desert. Real desert like Sahara, Arabian Desert or Kalahari. It could be great to spend there few days and nights and feel it. To see animals living in heat and millions of stars at night sky. Maybe some day... Meanwhile I discovered desert in Botanic Garden. It isn't very big - just few sandy alleys, but it is big enough for many tiny dwellers. Today I spended four hours in full sun and over 35C degrees to study life of Botanic Garden's Desert :-)

Looks like desert is great place for opportunists. There isn't much resources like water or food so only smartest creatures can survive. Many insects try to lay eggs on eggs of another insect. Larva of parasite eats eggs or larva of host insect. Do you know what is most fearful insect on Botanic Garden's Desert? Tiger Beetle? Dragonfly? Robber fly? No. Tiny fly, which is about 2-3 milimeters long. I don't know why exactly, but every insect escape in panic when spots this fly. I also saw situations when this fly followed [or chased :-)] other insects. I think it must be well known parasite in insects world. And probably this fly waits for opportunity to lay eggs in other insects nest. Coockoo wasps and few other species use similiar strategy. Desert is full of parasite species and also of predators. Tiger beetles are probably most skilled of them. They're running fast, can fly and have got great eyes. Their jaws can turn every insect into meal in few seconds. Desert is suitable place for these beetles - they start hunting when temperature of sand will reach 28C degrees. Robber flies and dragonflies are rather guests then regular dwellers, but also like to hunt here. Sand is full of holes made by digging wasps, beetles and bees. There are many species of these insects. Also spiders, especially wolf spiders like to hunt around.

It was fascinating to observe how insects live, kills each other, build nests and try to survive on this local desert. Try it if you have got sunny, sandy place somewhere nearby your house!

On my pictures you can see:

*Anoplius viaticus - wasp which hunts for wolf spiders, paralyse them and lays eggs on them
*Chrysis ignita - Rubytail wasp - another parasite which lays eggs in nests of other insects
*Orthetrum coerulescens - Keeled skimmer - big and beautifull dragonfly
*Cicindela hybrida - Tiger beetle - very skilled hunter, perfect killing machine
*Pyrrhocoris apterus - Fire bug - bad luck - it probably walked too far into desert, will be eaten soon, I think :-)
*Unknown specie of robber fly
*Three species of grasshoopers - they're really well camouflaged
*One specie of Opiliones
*One big wasp with beautifull eyes and black and white stripes which name I forgot :-)
*And last but not least - tiny fly which scares every insect on my photos.

Rest is unknown to me - Please help with ID or correct my.
nglen, siggi, eqshannon, uleko, Silvio2006, peter_stoeckl, aes_thor, Juyona, cloud, haraprasan, sandpiper2, liziafa has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cicindela: IDred45 5 07-29 08:45
To elizemeijer: Very Dirty!red45 1 07-28 01:49
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-07-27 10:11]

Hi Greg. A desert in Poland with the sun and heat as well , you dont need to go for 1000 of miles its on your door step.
You have found 16 insects is this small area. you have taken the with good macro work and detail. I like no 13 best its the bright colours that do it for me. You have interesting notes to go with this set of pictures. well done time well spent. TFS.
Nick..

Some people read Playboy and some the Tabloids but you present a montage of insects which could excite any bug-ologist...and to have all of their names in proper order etc...it is a nice achievement and always good to know some folks out there are doing well for the nature kingdom in this way of recording..
Bob

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2008-07-27 11:28]

Hello Greg,
It sounds like you had a fantastic adventure in the Botanic Garden - you're lucky to have one near you! This is a superb collage of all kinds of sandlovers and all are nice and sharp captures and in good light. Very interesting and lovely to look at! Good note too!
TFS and cheers, Ulla

Hi Grzegorz,
a neat collection of lesser known creatures that grabs my attention for quite a while. A lot of information packed into the notes. Where's that dangerous tiny fly that is feared so much - is it upper row to the right?
Creative, poetic conceptual work, well entertaining and well informing. With thanks, and all my best wishes for your dreams of going to the desert to become true.
Peter

Cześć,

kolejny bardzo ciekawy pomysł z wykorzystaniem kolażu, dobra jakość zdjęć, ciekawa notka.

Pozdrawiam
Adrian

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2008-07-27 13:43]

Hello friend
Splendid collage and sensational compo.
each image a magnificent document...
greetings Grzegorz

I like it, well done, very good collage!

  • Great 
  • Art_R Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 244 W: 20 N: 839] (3892)
  • [2008-07-27 19:34]

Hi Greg , a nice collage here , a lot of great macro work thanks for sharing it.
regards
Art

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2008-07-28 0:38]

Hallo Grzegorz,
Wspaniala kolekcja.Tutaj gdzie teraz mieszkam musze dlugo takie skarby szukac,ale jak widac po mojej kolekcji kto szuka ten znajdzie.
Pozdrawiam
Siggi

Hallo :)

No dirty photos ?? ;)

or did you get dirty taking these?

LOVE them, love the macro shots, and i like the backgrounds all having the same colour.

Hi Greg,
A nice collage of these insects in sand. Very well noted with sharp details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Greg

Great stuff, I can tell you that deserts can be beautiful and tough. But yes, I think everyone should try and experience life in the desert at least once in their life.
This is a great montage, a great days work. Well put together, love the tiger beetle. TFS.
BTW its onlt 7 deg here in Sydney. enjoy the heat.

Chris

Witaj,
Wooow!!! Kolejna superaśna kolekcja :)
Bardzo bardzo fajna kolekcja :)
Super pomysł i BDB wykonanie.
Gratuluje i pozdrawiam Małgosia

Hi Grzegorz, superb collage, great capures from desert life, thanks for this splendid series of beautiful and sharp macro, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2008-07-29 1:26]

Hello Greg, lovely collage work of all these insects in the frame. Excellent presentation and thanks for sharing this beauty. Ganesh

Witaj Grzegorzu!!!
Bardzo fajny piaskowy collage :) I juz spiesze z dodaniem czegos od siebie ad. nazewnictwo ;)
Nieznany lowik to Philoricus albiceps a zupelnie pominiete zdjecie w opisie ;> z chrzaszczem to przedstawiciel biegaczowatych z rodzaju skoropedek (Carabidae: Amara). Z kolei blonkowka z dolnego paska (drugie zdjecie od lewej) to wardzanka (Bembix rostrata). Co sie tyczy prostoskrzydlych to zerkne jeszcze w pare ksiazek - moze sie cos uda "dooznaczac" ;)
Pozdrawiam i zycze dalszych owocnych lowow!!!
Radek

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF