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Antennas up, tuning in


Antennas up, tuning in
Photo Information
Copyright: Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 519 W: 68 N: 1695] (5364)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-09-22
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H10, Zeiss Tessar 40 mm, 55 mm Hoya UV Filter
Exposure: f/4, 1/250 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2009-09-23 8:49
Viewed: 259
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Back from the excursion with Anne (anel) and Markus (Heaven):

I had only the "Plastiktruckli" (=compact camera, according to Markus) with me and that is what I shot: a female Sawyer beetle (Coleoptera; Cerambycidae; Monochamus sartor (F.); Schneiderbock), possibly a "First" on TN. I suspect that Anne got better pictures of this animal, so watch for her latest add-ons on TN!

ID: There is no problem to ID the lamiinae group and the genus (perpendicular head front, pointed palps, eye wound around the antennal base). Males have much longer antennae than the females. I used E. Stresemann 2005 Exkursionsfauna von Deutschland, Elsevier and www.zin.ru for this. But there are unresolved issues to distinguish Monochamus sartor and M. sutor. The other two species found in Switzerland, M. galloprovincialis (Olivier) and M. saltuarius (Gebler) can be excluded. I used the body size (estimated as 28 mm) and the observation in September as distinguishing elements. Helpful tomentation is missing in this specimen. You may want to check out another shot of the same individual.

Biology: The animal is found in much of Switzerland, Middle and Northern Europe in Spruce (Epicea) forests. The female selects weakened or freshly dead trees and bites a whole in the bark into which it then lays an egg. The larva that can grow up to 40 mm in length lives underneath the bark but attacks both bark and wood, leaving long channels, oval in diameter. Completion of development takes one or two years.

Technique: I used a magnifying lens, the camera was hand held, with the anti shake device, 1/250 sec, f/4, 100 ISO and the inbuilt flash. Sunlight proved unsuitable because of the contrasts and the reflections (we transferred the bugger by hand for tests). IN PS the habitual cropping, sharpening, lightening, background blurring, resizing was needed.
marianas, roges, anel, Alex99, jpdenk, boreocypriensis, anemone, Argus, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To peter_stoeckl: Grüsse nachtragenmeyerd 1 10-02 11:07
To anel: Schneiderbock bgrüsenmeyerd 2 09-24 07:35
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Critiques [Translate]

Dietrich
Wonderful capture, great sharp details, natural colors, lovely bug.
Mariana

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 407 W: 0 N: 1011] (5460)
  • [2009-09-23 11:05]

Very good macro, great details!

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 811 W: 108 N: 1736] (6058)
  • [2009-09-23 11:57]

Hallo Dieter!

Hoppla, da muss ich meine Meinung über das "Plastiktruckli" wohl ändern... Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass damit ein solches Bild möglich ist. Gratuliere dir dazu! Zudem hast du das Insekt bereits bestimmt, und wenn es tatsächlich ein "First" auf TN ist, dann hat sich der Ausflug doppelt gelohnt!

Ich benutze die Gelegenheit, dir für den schönen Tag zu danken.

Grüessli

Markus

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 0 N: 523] (3096)
  • [2009-09-23 12:13]

Hi Dietrich,

A very interesting picture. An insect very well played. And I like the title photo, my congratulations.
Have a pleasant evening,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • pirate Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 472 W: 99 N: 624] (3215)
  • [2009-09-23 15:11]

hi Dietrich
another evidence that good pictures are not taken by plastiktruckli or very expensive pro cameras but by photographers which have the eye
tfs
tom

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1723 W: 0 N: 3915] (15730)
  • [2009-09-24 5:24]
  • [+]

Hallo Dieter,
Komme natürlich den Schneiderbock begrüssen, der dich in dieser Gegend persönlich treffen wollte ..super, dass Du seinen Namen gefunden hast! Eine Erinnerung an einen so schönen Tag!
Un grand sourire
Anne

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2009-09-24 8:32]

Hi Dietrich.
Excellent use of compact camera and wonderful. Perfectly composed shot of an impressive insect. Great DOF. Brilliant details of all parts of the beetle and piece of old wood. Clarity of the shot is exceptional. My kind regards and best regards.
Alexei.
P,S. I am still out of TN because of a lot work. I am afraid coming year can be so busy.

  • Great 
  • jpdenk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 480 W: 5 N: 783] (2061)
  • [2009-09-24 13:11]

Hi Dietrich,

Nicely done, regardless of camera. The results are what matters, and a very interesting technique utilizing a magnifying glass.

John

Hi Dietrich,

An awesome macro capture of this long-horned beauty on a wood in an aesthetic pose with great clarity and nice natural colours in a delightful composition.
TFS and have a nice WE MF!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Dietrich..
A super capture of this beutiful insect having long antennas.. very well done..
TFS
Best regards
Özgür

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2009-09-29 9:47]

Hello Dietrich,
I was hoping to see M. sartor this year in Sweden but missed it, so it's nice to see this fine macro taken from a POV that shows its features with excellent sharpness against a pleasing neutral BG. Congrats on what seems to be a TN first too!
We shall shall see what next year has in store!
Thanks and best regards,
Ivan

Lieber Dieter,
lebendig komponiertes Portrait dieses Schneiderbocks aus ideal gewähltem Blickwinkel. Die für den Käfer gerade ausreichend gewählte Tiefenschärfe hält den Hintergrund gut auf Distanz.
Da hat das "Plastiktruckli" mal wieder gute Dienste geleistet. Finde ich immer wieder erheiternd, wie Kollegen aus der stolzen Spiegelreflex-Gilde sich milde abfällig über die Kompakten äussern. Den Spass sollten wir ihnen aber unbedingt vergönnen, denn es ist nun einmal kein Honiglecken, sich mit mühlsteinschwerem Gerät um den Hals und Kisten mit Rohren um die Hüften durchs Gelände zu quälen - und letztlich auch nix Besseres zustande zu bringen. :)
Herzliche Grüße in die Schweiz - ganz besonders auch an Deine Exkursionsgefährten Anne und Markus!
Peter

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