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Hoverfly on a Devil's-bit scabious


Hoverfly on a Devil's-bit scabious
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Ellstrom (ellis49) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3387 W: 343 N: 9480] (30807)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-11
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Alfa dSLR A100, Minolta AF 70-210/F4.0 "Beercan", Digital ISO 200
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-07-11 8:29
Viewed: 761
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today’s post is a beautiful hoverfly on a Devil's-bit scabious (Ängvädd)
I think the hoverfly is a Syrphus ribesii but I’m not sure. I think he looks nice when he is licking pollen with the long tongue.
I took this with my 18 yo Beercane and a monopod as support., I think it’s a decent lens.

One of a group of small yellow and black hoverflies with yellow legs, this species is a good friend to gardeners, the larvae being active predators of aphids.
It is widespread in the British Isles and is found throughout the summer months. It is more common in some years than others, presumably reflecting the success of larval feeding on aphids and how well they survived the winter as pupae.
Food
Larvae eat aphids. Adults are found on flat-topped, open flowers

Info about the Devil's-bit scabious
Devil's-bit scabious is an attractive perennial of damp grassland, marshes and woodland rides. It has rounded, pincushion-like and violet-blue flowerheads that appear from July to October. They provide an important nectar source for late flying butterflies, bees and hoverflies. Long, oval upright leaves form in a clump at the base of the plant. Devil's bit scabious prefers moist soil but will tolerate drier conditions. It can be grown in a summer meadow, beside a pond, along a woodland edge or in a flower border in a sunny or lightly shaded position.
Devil's-bit scabious is a good general source of nectar. In the wild it is the food plant of the larvae of at least two uncommon moths and the marsh fritillary butterfly. You have to examine the roots to understand the name: they appear to have been bitten off, although why the devil should be blamed for this is not clear

Minolta 70-210/4.0 called ”Beercan” , ISO 200, Jpg-format, AV-mode. Monopod.
Levels, Contrast, Crop, resized to 800 pixels, Smart Sharpen PP in PS CS3
Pentaxfriend, gracious, jaycee, dew77, Argus, marhowie, nglen, loot, pilonm, Kaszek has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ralfsworld: Tack Ralfellis49 1 07-13 09:50
To loot: Syrphus vitripennis ;-)ellis49 4 07-12 09:33
To Argus: Väntar otåligt !ellis49 1 07-11 09:45
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Gert,

A lens that can make pictures like this is more than decent
This is an EXCELLENT shot
SUPERB sharpness, details and colours
Perfect POV, DOF and BG

TFS Thijs

Hello Gart,
Absolutely beautiful with perfect sharpness, awesome colour and much details
the subject against the dard bg just outstanding
well done and thanks for sharing
Tony

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-07-11 9:12]

Hi Gert,

It certainly is a beautiful hoverfly and a beautiful flower and picture. The sharpness is amazing! Gorgeous colors, fine details, lovely background and just perfect.

Jane

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2007-07-11 9:35]

Hello Gert,
Beautiful close up.POV,BG,DOF,details and framing are exclelent.Have a great day!
TFS..:-)

bonjour gert
image parfaite,mais a cela rien d'etonnant de votre part.bravo encore une fois.
laurent

Beautiful Gert, love the long tongue action I see. Excellent image on All Counts...This 18 year old "beercan" works very well :)
Howard

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2007-07-11 13:39]

Hi Gert

Excellent composition with really brilliant focus and colour.

James

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2909 W: 34 N: 8636] (32186)
  • [2007-07-11 13:48]

Hi Gert. What a nice shot of the Scabious. we have some near us on the downs. the deatil in the Bee and fower is excellent. with good colours. a nice POV and DOf. very well done TFs.good notes too.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2993 W: 162 N: 961] (2823)
  • [2007-07-12 0:48]

Hej Gert,
Wonderful capture of this Hoverfly very sharply in focus on the beautiful Scabious, a favourite flower amongst many insects. Excellent sharpness and lovely natural colours. Fine green background too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3819 W: 190 N: 11368] (35041)
  • [2007-07-12 1:12]
  • [+]

Hej Gert!
Both the Scabious flower and the Hoverfly are super sharp and together make a superb image set in a fine compositiona aginst a pleasing neutral BG.
This could well be S. ribesi but it is often confused with Syrphus vitripennis. I look forward to the new Hoverfly book.
TFS,
Hälsningar,
Ivan

Ser ut som om solen kom ut för att du kunde ta denna vackra bild! Jag kommer tillbaka!

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5451 W: 594 N: 3650] (10031)
  • [2007-07-12 9:43]
  • [3] [+]

Hi Gert

This is hectic stuff…

Question: What do you get when you throw; a Devil's-bit with nibbled roots, a pollen-licking-yellow-legged hoverfly with a super-duper long tongue that could be a Syrphus ribesii or maybe even a Syrphus vitripennis, a Sony Alfa, an 18 year old beercan, and a monopod all together into the "Ellstrom-mixer-mincer-shredder-liquidiser"?

Answer: You get a WOW quality, super sharp, stunningly coloured, painstakingly thorough, meticulously well done, and particularly detailed posting on nature's flagship and first rate site called TrekNature.

Great work MF with another amazing "macro" shot from Gastrikland.
Regards
Loot

PS1. In your notes you say "You have to examine the roots to understand the name: they appear to have been bitten off, although why the devil should be blamed for this is not clear". Just a thought on this. "Hades" the dwelling place of "the evil one", is supposed to be underground and maybe he has developed a special liking for the taste of Devil's-bit Scabious - Succisa pratensis roots. Therefore the appearance that the roots have been bitten off (chuckle).

PS2. Syrphus vitripennis: Who is the crazy or twisted biologist that gave this poor little hoverfly its species name?
Vitri = glass. The rest of the name doesn’t need any explanation (chuckle). Luckily we only saw its long tongue though, but since some of its other vitals apparently are made of glass we probably wouldn't have seen it even if it was stuck in our eye.

Hello Gert,

WOW!!! What an amazing nice picture of this hoverfly over this very nice plant! It a great combo giving (with this great nice and uniform bg) a splendid picture! Excellent POV and exposition... And great composition too!

Great job, Gert!

TFS,

Michel

Hi,
This is very well composed picture. I love the colors and the position of the insect in the frame! The BG is amazing and great colors too.
TFS
Goutham R

Hej Gert
Excellent macro shot with great quality!
TFS
Ralf

...Jag kom tillbaka från Greklands 38 grader och hittade regn och 15 grader här i Sverige. Hoppas allt väl med dig? Jag åker till Turkiet och solen nu på söndag :)
Ha en trevig sommar och hälsa dina polare
Hälsningar
Ralf

  • Great 
  • Kaszek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 246 W: 58 N: 390] (1451)
  • [2007-07-13 10:17]

Hello Gert,
Amazing macro shot!
Fantastic composition, razorsharp, perfect DOF.
TFS
Lukasz

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