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The stalker


The stalker
Photo Information
Copyright: Willie Miles (willie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-11-26
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony PDX10
Exposure: f/4, 1/60 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Beetles and Bugs of the world [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-12-19 9:51
Viewed: 1355
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Assassin Bug ( Roofwantse ) Order Hemiptera (suborder:Heteroptera; family: Reduviidae

Size : 7 – 30mm

Number of Species: 328

Identification:
Oval to oblong in shape. Color, brownish or black. Many species with bright warning colors. The stout curved proboscis has a sharp point and is usually folded back below the head. The forelegs may be adapted for catching prey.

Where found:
Usually found crawling on the ground or on flowers and other kinds of vegetation. Some habitually remain on the ground, sheltering below stones and logs during the day.

Habits:
Assassin bugs ambush their prey, stalking to within striking distance. They are sometimes attracted to light at night when they may inflict painful bites in self-defense if handled.

Food:
Other insects.

Life History:
Eggs are laid in clusters on leaf foliage or some other substrate. Nymphs resemble the adults.



I found this specimen in a park close to our house. He gave me a few chances to get photos before he flew off to other pastures.
The specimen was about 16mm long.

Shooting Details
Camera - Sony DSr-PDX10P
No Flash
Tripod No
F/Length 10mm
F Number F/4
Exposure Time 1/60sec

Cropped and resized for site.

mumek, gerhardt, Luc, red45, Janice, extramundi, RAP, mogens-j, Callie, Lourens has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mogens-j: workshopwillie 1 12-21 12:19
To gerhardt: Identification criteriawillie 3 12-20 05:40
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2004-12-19 10:37]

Willie, another great shot here. The bug is strange to me.

Great composition, and I also like the BG. What was the background?

Lívio

Good macro Willie.
Colours and compositiona are good.
It's a little noise but still very good shot.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • mumek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 106 W: 0 N: 178] (847)
  • [2004-12-19 12:09]

Always something new and interesting from you Willie!Nice colors, good depth of the field.
Interesting note.Thanks for posting

Exact note about "model" and shot. Good DOF and perspective. Another interesting well done photo.

Hi Willie, what an interesting species. I am not 100% convinced that it is a assassin bug, though. Judging by the the head and madibles I would also consider ground beetles (Family: Carabidae) Interesting colours. Did you know that the orange black is second to only the yellow black used by bees and wasps as a warning colour in insects. I like the orange black ones and this one is new to me.

If you are 100% sure on it being a assassin please let me know.

Technically a bit soft, but a great composition and find, though. Well done.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2004-12-19 14:23]

Salut Willie.
Très bonne composition.
Un bon angle de prise de vue.
Légèrement floue.
Une excellente profondeur de champ.
Un bon trvail: image et note.
Merci

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2703 W: 74 N: 8857] (30219)
  • [2004-12-20 4:08]

I like composition, colours and subject. Rather too noisy in, my opinion, you should try Neat Image, Willie!

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ****
Color: ****
DOF: ****
POV: ****
Note: ****

It looks almost like a painting, it's so soft.
I like the artistic way.
TFS

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3318 W: 149 N: 6113] (18646)
  • [2004-12-20 14:09]

Another unusual bug, Willie. Not my favourite insect, but good composition and colours. TFS, Janice

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-12-21 6:44]

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ***
Color: ****
DOF: ****
POV: ****
Note: ****

Otra gran macro Willie con excelente presentacion.

Another great macro Willie with excellent presentation.

You always take the most rare insects to our screen, I appreciate it. Thanks Willie.
I like very much the bluring effect sometimes your camera shows. It is funny. TFS.

Very nice capture Willie. Great colours and composition. I agree in the noise and dared to make a WS to remove it - hope it is OK.

Very good note too.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-12-21 16:23]

This is a very good close-up and I like the composition. The colors are excellent too.

Very well done and thanks for posting

Hi Willie
Nice one here. They all look quite mean!
I like his two-piece, nice colour combo.
Mooi man!

Very good shot, Willie. I am allways facinated by these macro shots. Nice work.

  • Great 
  • miqra Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 140 W: 3 N: 23] (151)
  • [2005-01-01 9:59]

Composition: 10+
Sharpness: 10+
Color: 10+
DOF: 10+
POV: 10+
Note: 10+

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