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common red soldier beetle


common red soldier beetle
Photo Information
Copyright: Paula van Balen (pvb) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 385 W: 16 N: 531] (1981)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-08-02
Categories: Insects
Camera: Pentax K100D, Pentax 28-80mm f3.5-5.6, Raynox DCR-250
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/180 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2010-08-02 12:00
Viewed: 3669
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The common red soldier beetle, Rhagonycha fulva, is a species of soldier beetle (Cantharidae).
The common red soldier beetle will grow up to a centimetre. Nearly all their body is coloured red yellowish. Only the last bit of the elytra is black. The body is flat and elongated. The chitin armour is very soft, resulting in the German name of this species as Weichkäfer (meaning "soft beetle"). The black thread-like antennae are also relatively long. The equally long legs have an orange colour, which become notably darker only at the end.
This beetle is very common in Europe and Anatolia. Introduced to North America, it is well-established in British Columbia and Quebec and recently recorded in Ontario[1]. One will find it very often in bushes or on grass and fields.
These beetles are active during the daylight hours, when they will hunt mostly for small insects on top of flowers.
Fairly often one will find many of them on Apiaceae or Asteraceae like thistles.
After copulation the females will lay her eggs. The larvae are soil-dwellers which hunt for snails and insects. After a year and several moults the larvae will pupate and then emerge as fully grown beetles.
Der Rote- oder Rotgelbe Weichkäfer (Rhagonycha fulva) ist ein Käfer aus der Familie der Weichkäfer (Cantharidae).

Rote Weichkäfer werden 7 bis 10 Millimeter lang. Sie sind fast am ganzen Körper rotgelb gefärbt, nur die hinteren Enden der Deckflügel sind dunkel, bei manchen Tieren auch nach vorne auslaufend gefärbt. Ihre Fühler sind lang und fadenförmig. Die ersten beiden Glieder sind rötlich, die restlichen sind braun. Die Beine sind orange, nur die beilförmigen und breiten Tarsen sind dunkel.
Die Tiere sind in Europa, außer im hohen Norden, bis nach Sibirien bis in niedrige Berglagen weit verbreitet und sehr häufig. Sie leben auf Feldern, Wiesen und in Gärten, insbesondere auf Doldenblütlern. Sie fliegen ab Mai und vor allem Juli bis August.
Wikipedia.

Trying out the Raynox DCR-250 for the first time.
siggi, Argus, Dis. Ac., Pentaxfriend, Alex99, Miss_Piggy, eqshannon, anel has marked this note useful
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To Miss_Piggy: raynoxpvb 1 08-05 12:08
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2010-08-02 12:29]

Hello Paula,
Excellent macro of this Solider beetle. Great sharpness and fine colours. I like the POV and the green background. Composition is very good.
Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2010-08-02 12:43]

Hello Paula,
A very fine close macro of a Soldier Beetle. The focusing, DOF and colours are superb with fine use of ambient lighting and very nice contrast against a clean natural BG in a pleasing composition.
Thanks and best regards,
Ivan

Hallo Paula,

nou dat uitproberen is goed gelukt.
Goede scherpte en mooie achtergrond.
Mooie natuurlijke kleuren ook.

Gert

  • Great 
  • OzBY Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 183 W: 2 N: 351] (1355)
  • [2010-08-02 13:30]

Hi Paula
Great picture of this beetle
Great sharpness and background
Oz

Ha Paula,

maar goed dat ik het voor doe voor je anders ligt die raynox nog een jaar in de kast en het resultaat mag er zijn.
schitterende compo met natuurlijke kleuren
Perfecte DOF, Prima scherpte en achtergrond

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2010-08-03 3:44]

Hi Paula.
Superb close-up. I welcome wide DOF and excellent details of all insect with attractive long antennas. Details of the bud is also perfect and colours of the shot as well as charming blurriness of the BG are simply awesome. POV and composition of the image are very impressive too. Well done. Thanks a lot and best wishes.
Alexei.

Hallo Paula
How beautiful is the sight of this sunny and most colourful picture. The natural colours and details captured and displayed is very eye-catching and striking. It is an image filled with warmth and no pretence. This is indeed a beautiful beetle with which you have photographed well, and which is a delight to look at. Your subjects, both the beetle and the flower are well focused and the details are equally highlighted by the blurred background. Thanks for sharing. Best regards.
Anna
Ps. I am also wanting to buy a Raynox DCR-250 lens but I cannot fine one in South Africa.

Very hard to do a vertical shot in such a way. You have managed the colours, angles and interest in a professional style.A pleasing image/1
Bob

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2010-08-14 7:31]

Hello Paula,
A fine composition showing this tiny Beetle hunting on top of a bud. Great details, good light and natural colours. The green background makes it stand out very nicely.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2010-08-15 4:37]

Hello Paula,
Very fine and well composed picture of a Soldier beetle. The pose of the insect is very interesting holding on the little bud. I also like your tight vertical framing.
Kind regards
Anne

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