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Female Scorpionfly


Female Scorpionfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Robert Brown (Robbrown) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1184 W: 88 N: 2160] (6106)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-19
Categories: Insects
Camera: SONY DSC F-707, Carl Zeiss 9.7-48.5, Digital ISO 100, Cokin 58mm close-up +4
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-05-20 14:19
Viewed: 3564
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a second image from yesterday evenings visit to a small pond on the side of the A606 at Stanton-on-the-Wolds. yesterdays was the Large Red Damselfly which was my reason for stopping to look. this beastie was one of several bonus images from a large number of insects that were hunting up and down the back of the hedge to one side of the pond.
The Scorpionfly (Panorpa communis) a strange looking fly that gets its name because the male has a tail extension that hooks up over its back like a real scorpion but with-out the sting in it, and is used to hold the female during mating.
they eat mainly already dead other insects, though they will also feast on chrysalises when they find them, though fruit will also do.
they Male temps the female to mate by offering her some of his saliva, while she is tasting this he will mate with her. The eggs are laid in the soil and the larvae also feeds on dead insects it find on the ground. They over-winter as the larvae and pupate in a small chamber in the ground emerging at the beginning of summer, so this is a very early one.
No doubt this insect will make more appearances here on TN as it looks so strange that it always attracts attention, but I thought to share this early one with you before others got there 1st.
PDP, eev, Fisher, naki, JeanMichel, Janice, LordPotty, mukesh, ellis49, TAZ, Comandante, christophe, gerhardt, twin has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-05-20 14:22]

Hello Rob, nice shot. Good composition and details. I saw a crab spider capture a scorpion fly in the week but it was not possible to get a picture. Nice work, thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • eev Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 64 W: 33 N: 66] (756)
  • [2005-05-20 14:38]

Very sharp Robert. The colors are also just right. I've never seen one of those and your note was very helpful thanks.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-05-20 14:40]

Excelent shot, Rob.
Well done on the composition and details. Well presented.

Mike

  • Great 
  • naki Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 382 W: 27 N: 5] (40)
  • [2005-05-20 15:09]

Hi Robert , this is one of the insects which i wanted to shoot. Your capture is a very good one. A bit noisy though not a big problem. Nice dof.
Thanks for sharing.

Hi Bob. I like very much this one, as this is a new one for me. The photo is perfect on every aspect, with a special mention for the large DOF. Natural colors, sharp details. Very good macro. PS: Your close-up lens seems very efficient for these shots.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-05-20 16:38]

Hi Rob, this beastie is unknown to me, but you've caught it with good clarity and details. Not very attractive, is it? But very well shown. TFS.

Very good macro, Robert.
Last year we had a lot of them, I hope it will be the same this year. Well composed, nuce colours and good details.
Good note too.
Very well done.

Lovely shot Robert. Never seen one of these before. Definitely not here in NZ.
This is a great macro.
Well done.

Very sharp - very close - and a very unusual fly.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-05-21 4:23]

Belle et intéressante composition macro-photographique bien réalisée pour cet étrange insecte. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Interesting & very well done !

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-05-21 4:42]

Hi Rob,

This is very close! What a strange looking insect. Never see it before. It's great! Details are very good ad colors are marvelous. I really like your composition. TFS!

Keep 'em coming!

Regards,
Pieter

Wonderful macro Robert!
Lighting,details and DOF are perfect.very well done!
Thanks for sharing.

Truely a bizarre looking insect Rob. Lots of great detail in this shot, I'm impressed with the segmented abdomen and weird-looking mouth parts. Excellent image Rob, TFS.

Never see, very great shot and notes
In a friendly way Christophe

  • Great 
  • twin Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 244 W: 17 N: 494] (3259)
  • [2005-05-21 20:38]

really so interesting for me to see a scorpionfly which I never did before... very well focused.. happy to see the details clearly... thanks a lot for sharing Rob..

Even though we have them here, I have never actually seen one in real life. So you can imagine how high thi scritter is on my wishlist. :) Really an impresisve shot Robert. The details and exposure is very well done. Great shot and so nice to see them here again.

Actually this photo doesn't make me smile, but gives me "the creeps". That is one scary looking flying insect! Great clear shot of this ugly critter!

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