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Unknown Visitor


Unknown Visitor
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3289 W: 167 N: 9867] (32026)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-04
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma EX 105mm F2.8 DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/160 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): In Tandem With My Muses: Photography [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-23 4:41
Viewed: 1805
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
UNKNOWN VISITOR

Friends, I really need some specialist help here.

I shot this unknown fly (?) nearly three weeks ago in our little garden. All the time, I was under the impression that it was Eristalinus sepulchralis, (Now I have found out that I was wrong there too; that insect actually is a female Eristalinus aeneus, I’m 100% sure about it) which I had shot earlier and had posted twice on TN (See here).


It was while doing PP work on this image that I realized it was a totally different insect altogether bearing not the slightest resemblance to Eristalinus. I went on to investigate in great detail, focusing mainly on Diptera family. Till date, I have gone through hundreds of pictures on the net and have not come across even a single case where I could feel certain there was some resemblance with any known species.
That is why the need for help from some specialists.

When you look at this insect, you find that it is pale in colour with a prominent, roughly geometrical black mark on its thorax – a triangle within a rectangle. There are horizontal black bars on its abdomen. The compound eyes are large and well spaced out and do not resemble the usual fly-like eyes of Diptera in general. What is most interesting aspect of this insect is that it has a set of fairly long antennae, which, again, a normal hoverfly does not have.

It was an extremely fidgety and restless creature. It hovered but did not settle on anything at all unless I nailed it finally one hot day when it settled on the ground for a short rest. Out of about 4 shots, only one was good enough for identification purposes and I have posted it today.

If you have any idea about its ID, please oblige by enlightening me through your comment or critique.
I had no choice about BG, so please forgive me if you find it unappealing.

Thanks for looking and regards to all.
haraprasan, valy67, ridvan, uleko, delic, eqshannon, fartash, dew77, jaycee, marhowie, jmp, saeedabbasi, scottevers7 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: Thanksramthakur 1 06-23 14:17
To cicindela: Hiramthakur 1 06-23 14:15
To smitha: Thanksramthakur 1 06-23 13:39
To marhowie: Thanksramthakur 1 06-23 13:16
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Critiques [Translate]

hello mr thakur,
sorry, i don not have any idea about this insect, i liked this macro, nice pov giving good idea about the insect, well composed shot, sharp image with good details,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hello Ram!
This is really an interesting creatue, but I am sure that this is not a fly (Diptera) but a member of Hymenoptera order (please note that antennae are rather to long as for flies, also abdomen is very characteristic for Hymenoptera). Moreover, the colouration looks for me like in a fresh specimen. Also the place where is it (a ground) suggests that it can be some wasp/bee species living as a larva in the ground as a parasitic organism. Unfortunatelly as for now I can not say nothing more (but I'll try! ;>).
TFS and be a good detective! ;>
Radomir

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3750 W: 187 N: 11171] (34499)
  • [2007-06-23 4:58]
  • [+]

Hello Ram,
A fine shot of an interesting insect that I have never seen before, but we can make a start towards an ID.
Firstly the way the wings are folded along the body suggest a species of wasp. Secondly a closer look suggests a that the browner shading of the wings over the body indicates two pairs of wings, characteristic of bees or wasps. This, together with no 'balancers' or vestigial wings rules out the possibility of a flyor hoverfly. The antennae are also wasp-like.
This is a fine sharp and well composed macro of wha I suggest is some species of solitary, rather than social, wasp. Possibly another Bee-wolf?
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

Hello Ram !
This is an unusual insect, I have never seen a black-and-white one before. Anyways, he is very beautiul. I love the patterns on his thorax and body. Excellent details, natural colors, beautiful composition and excellent POV, giving us a beautiful view on the whole body. Very well done !
Valerie.

selam : well captured and presented pose with splendid colours. nice BG and POV TFS
best wishes
ridvan

bonjour ram
c'est la premiere fois que je vois cette insecte qui ressemble a une abeille mais sans en avoir les couleurs,bonne netteté mais helas je ne saurais pas vous aidez pour l'identification.
laurent.

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  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2007-06-23 5:45]

Hi Ram,
a brilliant shot of this wasp.
I don't know what it is but I'm sure an expert such as Cedryk would.
Well done,
Joe

Hello Ram
Sorry but can't help you out with identifying this species of wasp, but I'm quite sure it's a young/fresh one.
What I do know is that this is a wonderful shot of a wonderful insect.
Lovely details and clarity.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a great weekend, Harry

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2961 W: 162 N: 826] (2453)
  • [2007-06-23 6:32]

Hello Ram,
Very fine capture of this strange insect in black and white. Great sharpness showing interesting details and well composed. Hope you'll succeed in finding the ID.
TFS and kind regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 449 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-06-23 7:24]

Hello Ram,
You have seem to have stumped the TN community with this one. Even Radomir is unsure of the ID :). All I can say is that it does not look like a fly. Photo itself is an excellent macro work with fine detail. Regards,
Hakan

Hi Ram,
Those antennae are like wasp in my area. The color is out of ordinary wasp. Nice capture of this strange insect. Very well done.
JC

I am certainly no expert but it looks enough like some sort of wasp for me to stay away, however I do like it's presentation because it is different than most I have seen in pattern and color which you display nicely.

Thank You Ram
Bob

Hi Ram, splendid macro of beutiful fly with wonderful details, sorry I don't know the id, excellent sharpness, very well done, have a nice week end, ciao Silvio

Hello Ram
Very intersting spiece to shoot,
Perfect details,compo and lighting,
Fantastic colors and DOF,Superb shot.

Good Luck
Fartash

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2007-06-23 11:05]

Hello Ram,
Beautiful capture of this wasp?.Details,framing and exposure are excellent.Have a great weekend!
TFS..:-)

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-06-23 11:25]

Hi Ram,

A very interesting looking insect with his geometric patterns. You captured him well with good colors and details. A setting cannot be more natural than this ;-)

Jane

Hello Ram, will come back later when time permits..
But hey, I looked in any case :)
Howard

Hello Sir,
This is the first time i have seen our friends in tN unable to come forward with an id. Very interesting species you have got here. Nice capture with good focus, sharpness and details. I sincerely hope somebody will be able to identify it.
All the best,
Smitha.

dear Ram ,
nice image with excellent details.
sharpness and light are great too.
Thanks and regards
Saeed

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2007-06-23 14:02]

Hi Ram,
Really beautiful insect captured from the best pov, with excellent details and a nice light.
TFS and best regards, José M.

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5207] (17607)
  • [2007-06-23 16:11]

Hello Ram,
Outstanding camera work in this brilliant macro shot of this unknown wasp. Maybe this is an undiscovered species and we can name it the Ram Wasp. Great work Ram.
Rick

Hi Ram,
So far it looks like you have everyine stumped. Including me. Some great looking patterns on this creature. Colors and detail look very good. Hope you figure it out. Nice shot!
Scott

Hi Ram,
Very nice insect photo.Good colours,POV and details.TFS.
Regards.

hAyAti

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3260] (14687)
  • [2007-06-24 4:00]

Ram sir, sorrry i am not also not aware on the fly. But very different fly from the normal one TFs Ganesh

Hi Mr. Ram,
Strange looking fly. Lovely patterns on the body. Very nicely captured. Great details. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Sincerely
HP
Did you capture it from some different angle? Because it couldn't be Eristalinus aeneus because it is having a pair of long antennae and Eristalinus aeneus lacks those. Today I tried a lot to ID it but failed shall try tomorrow.

Hello Ram,
Good details are captured!
One cannnot blame the image if the insect isn't identified...
Well done on the macro job, fine details and the colours are nicely reproduced!
Greetings,
Pablo -

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