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Hunting scene


Hunting scene
Photo Information
Copyright: Philippe Moniotte (pgmoni) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 340 W: 96 N: 559] (2331)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-04
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D 80, Nikkor 105mm f2.8D micro
Exposure: f/22.6, 1/1500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-01-05 1:50
Viewed: 594
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mellinus arvensis is an elegant solitary wasp belonging to the family Crabronidae (Digger wasps);
It feeds its larvae with various diptera (flies roughly the size of the House Fly.
This little collage shows a (rather violent) scene of fly capture by a female Mellinus.

1 upper-left. the first step is quicker than the eye can record : The fly is taking off, but too late ...
2 upper-right. Mellinus is stinging the fly which is immobilized between its legs.
3 lower-left.The fly is dying, and Mellinus is just making sure everything is OK - you never know !
4 lower-right Ready for the final take-off to the burrow in the sand .

The collage is really two separate scenes of capture put together in one sequence : 1-2 and 3-4 .
cicindela, marcellr has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Philippe!
What a great documentary collage! I really know Crabro species, but never saw such action (even if I had possibility to observe similar "actions" in other members of digger wasps). By the way, I believe that the correct and actual name of this family is Sphaecidae not Crabronidae.
Some of these pictures are a little out of focus, but it is still a very interesting presentation!
Best greetings from Poland,
Radomir

PS. Just for fun and to compare (?), please feel free to watch my photos of insects from this faily here and here ;>

Cio Philippe,
quattro foto che rappresentano quattro documenti importanti sulla biologia di questa magnifica specie.
Credo che la macrofotografia, oltre a mostrae la bellezza degli esseri viventi che ci circondano, è l'unico mezzo per documentare la loro biologia, spesso a noi sconosciuta.
In questo senso apprezzo molto le tue immagini, tutte non facili da realizzare.
Grazie,
Marcello

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1765 W: 29 N: 5150] (16868)
  • [2008-01-06 4:39]

Hi Philippe,
Just marking this wonderful post for now and will be back with a proper critique later.
Regards.
Sumon

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