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Death of a Bloodsucker


Death of a Bloodsucker
Photo Information
Copyright: Ivan Kruys (Argus) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-02
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 400D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-08-15 2:01
Viewed: 548
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
While on a field outing during an entomological congress in Uppsala I came across this robber fly with its prey. There were about 50 amateur and professional entomologists from the Nordic and Baltic countries and some from Russia and Iran.

This Robber Fly (Dismachus trigonus) is a species that is quite common, especially in sandy areas. It is about 1.5 cm long.

There are about 5000 known species of Robber Fly in the world and about 40 species are found in Sweden. They are characterised by their long hairy bodies and they often have a vantage point from which they can see possible prey.
They have a sharp hard proboscis which they use to suck out the juices of their insect prey. They lay their eggs on the ground and the larvae live underground and prey on other subterranean insects.

The prey is a common Horse-fly (Haematopota pluvialis): the scientific name means ‘blood-drinker in the rain’. The Swedish name is Regnbroms, Rain Horsefly, as they tend to be especially numerous in rainy or humid weather. It is a small, relatively common species of horse-fly. Whilst alive the eyes often have beautiful iridescent colours that soon fade after death.

Female Horse-flies suck blood from mammals, mostly cattle, horses and often humans, while males live on flower pollen. The larvae, like those of robber flies, are predators living on other insects on the ground, often near water.

They fly very silently so that their approach cannot be detected and this species tends to remain while sucking blood so that it can easily be crushed. The other Swedish name is ‘Blinning’, which means that they behave as if they are blind.

This shot was taken at about 1.8 meters with the camera hand-held on a cloudy day. The slope of the wood is as it is in reality; it is part of a fence. The image was cropped by about 50% and after size reduction, selectively sharpened.
ralfsworld, Proframe, jmirah, PaulH, tomcezar, MMM, Royaldevon, Juyona, nglen, Janice, nainnain, falke, valy67, marhowie, gannu, Silke, haraprasan, jmp, Pentaxfriend, JORAPAVI has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Ivan, what a splendid macro, all is perfect, a great cheer,
friendly,
Pat

Hej Ivan
Nice catch for both of you :) Details and colours are really good. Well composed and framed with interesting notes.
TFS
Ralf

Om Åhus hade legat lite närmare till Kalmar då skulle jag tagit en sväng till dig nu på fredag... Kanske om några månader :)

Hello Ivan,
Love to see this shot of a Robber eating a "Blinde Vlieg" wich literally means "Blind Fly" like we call them in the Netherlands.
Reason I love this image is the fact that when I'm out to photograph near bushes or high grassess, I'm always the one they want.
Over the years I must have lost one liter ore even more blood just by these blood suckers :)
Wonderful details and clarity while sharpness and lighting are excellent.
Beautiful capture.
Thanks for sharing and the great note.
Best wishes,
Harry

Hi Yvan,superb macro with verry good detail and coulours,cheer.TFS
Friendly,Mich

Bonitas tonalidades y excelente encuadre. El enfoque clavado.
Saludos Ivan.

Hi Ivan,
Outstanding POV capturing the fly with it's prey. Excellent focus and color. A really amazing capture. Very well done.

TFS
Jim

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 3000] (10824)
  • [2007-08-15 3:35]

Hi Ivan
superb detail and a great POV to get the most out of this subject, the range of greys mixed with the bronze like colour is very pleasing on the eye.
Very well done
Paul

Hi Ivan,

Very interesting notes and very good photo. I know these insects, very common in Romania.
Very good macro. Bravo.
Best regards, Cezar T.

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 755 W: 0 N: 1515] (6928)
  • [2007-08-15 5:40]

Hi Ivan
Excellent macro.Very sharp with beautiful colors and details.POV and BG are excellent.
TFS Michel

hello ivan,
nice macro shot, very sharp image with great details, nice pov, liked the composition too,good notes
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1791 W: 8 N: 4653] (15039)
  • [2007-08-15 8:28]

Hi Ivan,

Wonderful action shot of this fly with its prey. Great notes too! You caught them absolutely perfectly with excellent details. We cannot miss what is going on. Wonderful colors and composition.

Jane

Hello Ivan,

Very interesting notes!
Wonderful macro! There is so much sharp detail!
But ... a bit gruesome at teatime!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

hi ivan,
absolut great timing !
amazing sharpness and very interesting details.
perfect exposure a fantastic clear and well framed shot.
great macro work.
TFS - carole

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2043 W: 6 N: 2025] (13279)
  • [2007-08-15 11:56]

Hola Ivan,
una macro de terror,
nitidez y excelente pov,
detalles y bellos tonos...
saludos

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3453 W: 144 N: 5902] (17490)
  • [2007-08-16 1:31]

Hi Ivan, these robbers certainly sound quite vicious blood-suckers. Very good close-up shot of them. Well done
Janice

  • Great 
  • falke Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 17 N: 443] (1590)
  • [2007-08-16 1:48]

Incredible good shot and very interesting notes! I learned a lot by reading those.... ;o)

Best regards/Bengt

Hello Ivan !
Wow, what an excellent macro shot ! Each little hair is sharp, and there are so many details on both insects. Composition, POV, colors and exposure are wonderful too. Really an outstanding picture, but I'm glad these insects are so small, because they wouldbe real monsters if they were bigger ! :-) Very wel done !
valerie.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1697 W: 242 N: 5609] (19923)
  • [2007-08-16 5:46]

Hi Ivan,
an excellent shot.
Sharp with brilliant detail.
The horse-fly's eye is beautiful.
Well done,
Joe

Excellent composition and POV of the action Ivan..Perfect exposure, DOF & sharp details. No flash I see ;)
Very well done.
Howard

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 929 W: 4 N: 2322] (10812)
  • [2007-08-16 7:05]

Ivan, amazing shot of this bloodsucker. Excellent focus and lovely POV. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1729] (5398)
  • [2007-08-16 7:19]

Superb details in this macro and the notes are truly outstanding.
I have to admit I am happy to see the nasty little horsefly dying here, having been bitten by them far too often (on humid days of course, though I never knew the connection)
TFS
silke

Hi Ivan,
An excellent piece of macro photography. Excellent composition with very good details and POV. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1995 W: 5 N: 5588] (21102)
  • [2007-08-16 12:12]

Hi Ivan. You picture show such fine detail in the two insects. with sharp focusing.A nice POV/DOF. very well done TFS. interesting notes to read thanks.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2338] (8400)
  • [2007-08-16 13:16]

Hi Ivan,
Perfect details, pov and dov, composition and note.
TFS, José M.

Hi Ivan,

Excellent shot
Perfect sharpness with fine details
excellent DOF and POV

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2007-08-17 11:01]

Hi Ivan,
A very ghastly moment captured with immaculate sharpness and neat focus. Nature can sometimes be very cruel and this scene illustrates that well. The BG and lighting are superb. Excellent POV to portray this action scene and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hola Ivan,
Fantástica toma, gran captura con toda su nitidez y detalle, TFS. saludos
José Ramón

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