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Woolly monster


Woolly monster
Photo Information
Copyright: Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 386 W: 63 N: 1137] (3485)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-21
Categories: Insects
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Minolta AF 100 Macro
Exposure: f/16, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-05 1:45
Viewed: 320
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
TN excursion to Bürchen VS:

We found those 4mm big woolly things on the Green alder. It's the Woolly alder aphid (Stenorrhyncha; Aphididae; Prociphilus tessellatus; Erlen-Wollaus). To the right you can spot parts of a body under the protective wax secretions. Only the abdomens protrude from the wool. The origin of the species is North America.

ID: Aphids are difficult to determine because there are about 920 species recognized for Germany alone. The food plant species is often a help. As literature I used E. Stresemann et al. 2005. Exkursionsfauna von Deutschland Bd. 2. Elsevier.

Aphids need protection from predators and parasites (that is their viewpoint anyway); growing rapidly in numbers is also a way to compensate for losses. Wax layers are efficient for defense but costly to the individual aphid.

Technical stuff: The difficulty was the reflections on the waxy protrusions. Lighting from up front or from behind produced too much of these. With trial and error I came up with this one.
elizabeth, Alex99, sandpiper2, red45, marhowie, Heaven, anel has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Wooly Bully and companymeyerd 2 07-06 09:52
To red45: Killing aphidsmeyerd 1 07-05 13:09
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Critiques [Translate]

Very interesting, never seen anything like that before; good notes and great detail in the macro.
TFS
Elizabeth

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3029 W: 148 N: 4520] (14595)
  • [2008-07-05 3:59]

Hi Dietrich.
It is really interesting and deductive work. Amazing introduction into microcosm. Technically shot is executed brilliantly. Lighting and exposure are blameless, details and sharpness of the main subject are terrific. Well done and TFS.
Alexei.

Hi Dietrich

Wow, that is an amazing insect. Almost unbelievable evolutionay adaptation. I imagine few birds would be interested in such an object. TFS.
Great composition
Good sharpness
Good DOF
Good POV

Chris

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2828 W: 75 N: 8007] (26809)
  • [2008-07-05 12:43]
  • [+]

Hi Dietrich!

Good image and very interesting note, but sorry, I hate subject :-) For me it is sick, that there is creature with give birth next generation which is pregnant before it is born. Like from some kind of sf-horror movie :-) And second thing - killing aphids on your white shirt isn't good idea :-)

Hi Dietrich,
Fine details and well seen from the dark BG.
I find it a most interesting extreme closeup, great supporting info for this one..Reminds me of this song by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, call me strange ;}

WOOLY BULLY

Uno, dos, one, two, tres, quatro
Matty told Hatty about a thing she saw.
Had two big horns and a wooly jaw.
Wooly bully, wooly bully.
Wooly bully, wooly bully, wooly bully.
Hatty told Matty, "Let's don't take no chance.
Let's not be L-seven, come and learn to dance."
Wooly bully, wooly bully
Wooly bully, wooly bully, wooly bully.
Matty told Hatty, "That's the thing to do.
Get you someone really to pull the wool with you."
Wooly bully, wooly bully.
Wooly bully, wooly bully, wooly bully. :)

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 456 W: 84 N: 863] (3223)
  • [2008-07-06 23:49]

Hallo Dieter!

Wer weder Biologe noch Zoologe ist, muss sich zuerst mit deinem Text vertraut machen, um hier Lebewesen zu entdecken. Ein überraschendes Bild mit ebenso überraschendem Inhalt: der wissenschaftliche Aspekt ist hier ebenso vertreten wie der künstlerische. Bemerkenswert ist, wie du solche Sachen siehst...

Grüessli

Markus

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1166 W: 0 N: 1950] (8279)
  • [2008-07-07 1:01]

Lieber Dieter,
das ist wohl ein eimaliges Posting! Und sehr gut fotografiert, diese kleinen Wollenklüngel. Es wirkt durch die beschwingten Formen gar künstlerisch. Hab herzlichen Dank
Anne

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