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Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2906 W: 107 N: 7108] (23125)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-13
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma EX 105mm F2.8 DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-12 1:08
Viewed: 366
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In mid April this year, I was busy shooting a Slender Skimmer in the garden at about 8.30 in the morning.
This dragonfly has a favourite nook in the garden and it can be found, seen and shot there only.
Suddenly my eyes registered some movement to my right. I left the Skimmer alone and tried to find out what had actually moved in that area. Suddenly my eyes fell on a black winged insect sticking to the young leaf of the sapling of a tropical tree bearing fragrant white flowers.
In a reflex action, I turned my camera on it and without bothering to choose new camera settings, I clicked. That was the only moment I got because the next instant, the insect was gone.
I have tried to figure out what this winged insect could be, but I have found nothing so far to match with it. As you can see, it looks like a wasp with blue wings.

PS: Marie and Murali suggest this insect is a Black Wasp. Taking cue from their suggestion, I did a bit of reserach myself and found that it could be a Black Wasp though it does not have a slender waist.
Anyway, here is a note on the Black Wasp:

Great Black Wasp - Sphex pensylvanicus
Order Hymenoptera / Suborder Apocrita / Superfamily Sphecoidea / Family Sphecidae -- cicadakillers, mud daubers, sand wasps, sphecid wasps

This predatory wasp generally preys on katydids (family Tettigoniidae) in genera Microcentrum and Scudderia. A female wasp will dig a burrow and provision it with 1-3 insects, laying a single egg upon each one. When the eggs hatch, the resulting larvae feed on the still-living but paralyzed host.

Source:http://www.cirrusimage.com/hymenoptera_Sphex_pensylvanicus.htm

Here is the Exif data:

Nikon D200
2008/04/13 07:25:46.7
RAW (12-bit)
Image Size: Large (3872 x 2592)
Color
Lens: 105mm F/2.8 D
Focal Length: 105mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/500 sec - F/5
Exposure Comp.: -0.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Normal
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Color Mode: Mode I (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: Auto
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Auto
Sharpening: Auto
Long Exposure NR: Off
High ISO NR: Off

TFL
haraprasan, goldyrs, anel, maurydv, gannu, albert has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Ram,

Very nice picture of this kind of wasp (sorry, no time today to look for the ID). This insect is sitting on a beautiful leave. Good POV, DOF and focus. Superb colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

PS: just had a look, perhaps a Sphecidae, it looks like Sphex pensylvanicus, but your wasp seems not to have a slender waist.

Hi Mr. Ram,
Yes Marie is right. It is some sort of wasp. But sorry I am unable to find a suitable ID for this. But a very good capture with excellent composition and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Sincerely
HP

Ram Sir,
This is an excellent capture.Very sharp, and detailed.
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 0 N: 1654] (7208)
  • [2008-05-12 7:56]

Hello Ram,
I'm impressed with the composition of your picture and the great harmony of color-tones.Hope that you will find out what kind of wasp it is.The plant looks alo quite interesting, somehow like two big ears.
Best regards
Anne

Ramthakur, It is a Black Wasp. The picture is excellent. Nice background and inclusion of the leaf shoots makes it interesting.
- Murali

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-05-12 11:10]

Hi Ram,
Wonderful macro shot of this tiny wasp with very impressive sharpness and colours. The young leaves look majestic and provide a superb visual effect. Great lighting and a precise DOF which isolates the subjects from the BG so nicely. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Bellissima composizione macro, eccellenti POV e DOF, ottima nitidezza e bellissima "texture" delle foglie, molto belli i colori e BG. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-05-12 14:45]

Hi Ram,
this is definately some kind of Wasp though I can't be more specific than that!
I really like this shot!
The plant this little insect is perched on compliments it very well.
Lovely light and colours.
Superb composition.
Well done Ram!

Joe

  •      
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 4 N: 1811] (8608)
  • [2008-05-13 2:30]

Hello Sir, The black (seem tobe) and green is really eye catching. Lovely clarity and good composition. Sharp picture and good view. ganesh smiley tmrw

Hi Ram,
Very good macro photo
Well done
Albert

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