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CMR Beetle


CMR Beetle
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2285 W: 5 N: 5300] (18714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-10
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H9, Digital ISO 400
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Animals from my garden [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-23 0:30
Viewed: 9385
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 132
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
CMR Bean Beetle or Blister Beetle / Mylabris oculata

It seems to be only the second posting of this specific species of Blister Beetle on the Trek Nature site. Actually this is a very common insect so I find the rarity on the site rather interesting.

One of the men travelling to and from work in the same lift club as Loot is called Gavin. In the mornings, while waiting for the lift to arrive, Gavin waits at our main gate and sometimes he can be very talkative and full of jokes. Most of the times the conversation will involve Loot's or my postings, photography or just nature in general. One morning he asked me if I have seen the colourful beetles, which he had noticed in a Hibiscus bush at our neighbours across the street. At first I thought he was pulling my leg, but arriving there with camera in hand, I realised it was no joke.

I have not seen these kinds of beetles for ages, and was quite excited. The weather was great, the light was right, and I had the perfect models to pick and choose from in different poses. What else could I have asked for? It was my lucky day!

While doing some research for my note, I came across the following interesting information: CMR beetle stands for CAPE MOUNTED RIFLES. The name is because the Cape Mounted Rifles wore uniforms with black and yellow bands. In this case I think the common name is really delightful and most descriptive, although I think the farmers will disagree with me. It is actually a serious pest for crops and garden flowers. They eat the flowers and also destroy the crops for example beans and peas and many more.

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
Phylum: Arthropoda (insects, arachnids, and crustaceans)
Class Insecta (insects)
Order: Coleoptera (beetles)
Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea (fungus, bark, darkling, & blister beetles)
Family: Meloidae (blister beetles)
Genus: Mylabris
Species: oculata

Identification
Large (body length 27mm). Head and pronotum black. Antennae orange, except for the 2 basal segments, which are black. Elytra black with 2 basal yellow spots and 2 broad transverse yellow bands, the posterior one sometimes red.

Biology
Adults feed on flowers, often damaging ornamental garden plants and cotton, beans, peaches, citrus and other crops. Larvae, however, regulate the number of grasshoppers (including plague locusts) by parasitizing their egg pods.

Habitat
Diverse. Often seen swarming on flowers, particularly on Acacia.

Related species
Colour variants include one with red bands on elytra and all-black antenna.

Taken from the book: Field Guide to Insects of South Africa - Picker, Griffiths, & Weaving. Published by Struik Publishers.

Interesting information

The largest blister beetle, with either orange or yellow antennae can often be seen on brightly coloured flowers. It feeds on the petals and seems to have no care in the world as it flies lethargically from one plant to another – this is because it has a secret weapon against would-be predators: Cantharadin. This poison oozes from the knee joints of the beetle if it has been captured. The yellow liquid is distasteful and will cause a bird or mammal to release it and from then on the predator will avoid any such brightly coloured beetles. The aposematic (warning colouration markings that make a dangerous, poisonous, or foul-tasting animal particularly conspicuous) colouration of bright yellow contrasting with jet-black signifies that this species is best left alone.

Blister beetles can give severe burns and blisters when handled. They are known as "blister beetles" because they secrete cantharidin, a poisonous chemical causing blistering of the skin and painful swelling. Cantharidin is used medically to remove warts, and is collected for this purpose from species of the genera Mylabris and Lytta, especially Lytta vesicatoria, better known as Spanish fly.

Professor Clarke Scholtz at the University of Pretoria was asked, "Is it true that their poison can kill a human being?"

The answer was, "Yes; they are poisonous enough to kill people – especially a big beetle. They are claimed to have aphrodisiac properties. The poison is very toxic and actually causes collapsed tissue. It would also depend on the weight of the person, as with any other toxin. The poison of a CMR beetle, that is dried and powdered, is sufficient to kill a 70kg human". Source
Dis. Ac., mariki, Proframe, boreocypriensis, haraprasan, JoseMiguel, flashpoint, jcoowanitwong, ramthakur, eqshannon, matatur, Alex99, Juyona, maurydv, rcrick, manyee, uleko, marcellr, rousettus, waylim, jusninasirun, ellis49, albert, SelenE, gracious, sandpiper2, NinaM, Adanac, loot, marhowie, Aaltjie, CatStevens, spalaxtr, oscarromulus, degani, henrique, Luis52, Rehanna, Silvio2006, gannu, Argus, smitha, anel, Finland_in_Eton, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To anel: Hallo AnneMiss_Piggy 2 04-21 02:50
To gracious: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:54
To NinaM: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:54
To albert: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:52
To gannu: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:51
To sandpiper2: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:50
To goldyrs: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:50
To chiliu: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:50
To pablominto: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:49
To Adanac: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:49
To angybone: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:48
To warnzy: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:48
To SkyF: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:47
To SelenE: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-27 23:45
To mariki: To Annamariki 1 03-26 05:19
To ellis49: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 04:04
To manyee: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:35
To Janice: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:32
To uleko: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:30
To marcellr: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:30
To rousettus: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:29
To Proframe: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:29
To waylim: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:28
To matatur: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:27
To Juyona: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:23
To Silvio2006: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:23
To boreocypriensis: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:22
To jcoowanitwong: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:22
To Alex99: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:18
To JoseMiguel: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:16
To jusninasirun: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:15
To PeterZ: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:14
To rcrick: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:13
To ramthakur: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:10
To joey: Thank YouMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:09
To eqshannon: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:08
To maurydv: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:07
To arfer: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:07
To Gert-Paassen: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:05
To haraprasan: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 03-25 02:03
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Anna,
neighbour of the day.

Good diagonally shot withh a beautiful insect.
Sharpness and colors are very well with much of details.
Also a good and long note.

regards Gert

Hello Anna,

Just marking,
Mariki

Hi Anna,

Might be a common beetle in South Africa, but I've never seen this species lovely before.
Wonderful how the beetle does stand out against the purple color of the flower.
Very good DOF and composition with the diagonall line of the flower.
Excellent note. TFS!!!

Kindest regards and I do wish you and yours a very Happy Easter weekend.

Harry

Hi Anna, my today neighbour, splendid composition with beutiful bug and lovely flower, fantastic details, wonderful colors and excellent sharpness, very well done, Happy Easter, ciao Silvio

Hello Anna,
Excellent close-up shot of this beutifully coloured Blister Beetle sitting on a beutiful flower. Your note is excellent too. TFS. Really all Mylabris species have a strong poisons which are very affected on skin causing mournfully cauteries. TFS. Have a nice Easter time!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Anna,
A nice capture of this beautiful blister beetle over the hibiscus flower. Sharp details and a fine composition. Yes they are very poisonous. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Anna,
Outstanding image!
I like a lot the gorgeous colour's contrast got here, the insect couldn't have been any better located for the picture, and you took good advantage of it to build this great composition.
Congratulations and thanks for share.
My best regards,
JM

Hi Anna,
This blister beetle is busying eating the hibiscus petal. On the spot focus with very nice natural color. Great POV and composition. Also interesting note.
JC

Very sharp capture of a Blister Beetle on a pretty flower, Anna.
I like the diagonal placement of the subject within the frame.
The BG does a great job in enhancing the appeal of this beautiful shot.
Thanks and regards.
Ram

VERY interesting notes! And accompanied by a super sized and very colourful image. Deeply saturated and quite identifiable. Your images are always much appreciated and a good cause for learning something new!
bob

A fine specimen presented within a beautiful composition Anna, the exposure is perfect, the focus spot on, the general color contrast very pleasing to the eye and the accompanying information nourishing. TFS indeed my friend.
Cheers,
Mehmet

Hello Anna,
Another fantastic photo in superb contrasting colours: the beetle against the flower and the flower against the dark BG. Great sharpness and details. The diagonal composition is very beautiful.
Happy Easter,
Peter

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2008-03-23 9:36]
  • [+]

Very nice shot of this Blister Beetle, Anna!
It chose a perfect place to sit... a beautiful flower :-)
Sharp with incredible detail.
Nice colours as well.
Probably one of your best so far!
Very well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2008-03-23 10:16]
  • [+]

Hi Anna.
What a brilliant composition of the amazing picture of so rare and wonderful scene. Despite to contrast subject you managed to exposure the image excellently and reproduced tiny details of so small insect and microscopic details of the flower. Simply great lights, colours of the insect, plant, flower and BG are stunning too. Bravo. Perfect work. My greetings and TFS.
Alexei.

Bellissima macro, composizione aggressiva in sintonia con l'insetto, eccellenti dettagli e molto belli i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hi Anna,
I love the diagonal composition on this, beautiful colours, pin sharp and a good separation between foreground and background, nice work, all the best Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2008-03-23 20:41]
  • [+]

Hello Anna,
I see you have found another beautiful model for your pictures!
The black and white carapace offer a dramatic contrast to the pink hibiscus.
A great POV showing off the markings on the back of the beetle.
Very sharp details throughout.
I enjoyed your story too. : )
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-23 21:22]
  • [+]

Hello Anna

A very good capture of this beetle.
The focus is sharp with very good detail.
Lovely colours and good use of the natural lighting.
Your POV is well done.
TFS

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2008-03-23 23:21]
  • [+]

Hi Anna, this looks like a zebra on a pink flower!!! Yes, I recognised it as a hibiscus flower. We have ONE plant growing at home. CAPE MOUNTED - good name. "Serious pest? Did you leave it living?
Very sharp and clear and it's yellow antennae sure is different.
TFS
Janice

Hola Anna,
bella macro y pov,
color y agradable trabajo...
bonito ambiente,
saludos
pt

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2008-03-24 2:37]
  • [+]

Hello Anna,
This is a great capture of this fine Blister Beetle on the pretty Hibiscus flower that he seems to be demolishing! Great sharpness and natural colours of both Beetle and flower. I like the dark background and the composition is excellent.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Ciao Anna,
molto bella questa specie di Mylabris del Sud Africa.
I suoi colori risaltano molto bene sul fiore.
Complimenti per questa interessante foto e per le note.
Marcello

Hello Anna,
this is a perfect macro shot for both of flower and beetle. Wonderful sharp details. Nicely composed. POV and colors great. good notes. TFS, well done
Ahmet

Anna,
Blister Beetle, not a very pleasant sounding name, but a beautiful little bug. You captured it very nicely, great sharpness and good contrast. the color of the flower make it standout and demanded attention, and well worthy of it.
Way

Hello Anna. Another stunner from your rare but well anticipated post. The hibiscus itself is beautiful here with the sharpness of the stamens very well written in the image. You have muted the background very well giving the whole pleasant perspective of the image. The bug is first class, top quality capture. Flawless sharpness throughout the body and the diagonal position is pleasing. The cropping is just perfect living some room for the bug to move ahead in the frame if the need is there. Well done and have a very nice day. Regards. Jusni

Hi Anna,
a very fine shot, the colours lovely and pattern on the bug are
beautiful. Excellent DOF, the whole subject is in focus and it standout well against the BG.
Te picture is well composed with nice POV. And of course a great note too.
Well done, mf.

Hello Anna,
an excellent photo of this beautiful beetle
Good sharpness and superb colours
Thanks for the very good note
Well done
Albert

Hi Anna,
I love the diagonal positioning of the frame.This, of course, over and above the other brilliant details you have come to be associated with.
Very well done, indeed!
Thanks and regards,
Goldy

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2008-03-25 9:54]
  • [+]

Hello Piggy, thanks for this excellent sharing of the shot. I like the sharp details and lovely view. Good composition. Ganesh

Hello Anna,
This is clever use of the delicate flower as background for the beetle!
Impressive details have been captured in the little bugger and the colour palette is well tuned in...
I like the composition, it is well balanced and with the flower in a fine diagonal!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Anna,

You could have called this beauty and the beast. Lovely shot, both of the flower and the bug. Everything is right here; level of detail, pov, dof and of course the composition. Interesting insect and you've recorded him (or her) extremely well.

Mike

Hi Anna,
I liked the colors, contrast, POV, composition and the details. The flower is a very nice touch. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2008-03-26 8:31]

Hi Anna,
Outstanding shot of this Blister Beetle on the hibiscus flower. Very impressive sharpness and lovely colours - I like the colour contrasts here. Superb muted lighting and exposure levels. You have really captured a fine pose with a precise DOF and a well chosen POV. The BG looks fabulous and it highlights the subjects perfectly. Excellent diagonal composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2234 W: 188 N: 1912] (8073)
  • [2008-03-26 9:38]
  • [+]

Hi Anna,
Hardly can't wait until I can show off such colorful pictures again, still snowing in Canada.
The colors defiantly catches the eye and you did a great job with focusing in on your main subject. The sharpness is excellent and the diagonal composition looks great.
TFS..Sky

Hello Anna,
Very fine and beautiful macro shot!
best DOF with perfect sharpness on both the beetle and the flower!
very good colour and details in the shot
pleasing image and great notes
best regards
Tony

Hi Anna

Great looking beetle with his bright yellow antenae. I see he's busy destroying this hibiscus.
Well composed and colourful image.

Chris

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer [C: 773 W: 3 N: 1157] (4077)
  • [2008-03-26 16:14]
  • [+]

Hallo Anna! Well thought out notes as usual, interesting and well documented. You're so close to this insect, it's incredible, and it came out sharp and clear. Congratulations to you for a great macro shot,

francine

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  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2008-03-26 18:51]
  • [+]

Hello Anna,
WOW, Anna this is an exquisite macro image. Your fine camera work has resulted in beautiful colors and tack sharp details. Then you give us great notes on top of the fantastic image. A posting to be proud of Anna, thank you for the superb job.
Rick

Hi Anna,
Another excellent macro shot! Beautiful colours and clear detail.
Chi

These are some great colors...love the contrasts and boldness. Wonderful sharpness...well done as usual! :) BEAUTIFUL but a bit scary. 70 KG...hmmmm.....not going to give my weight away here though. ha ha ha

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
  • [2008-03-28 2:11]
  • [2]

Hi AnnA

Luckily these were in the neighbour's garden and not in mine, but then again I presume there was no guarantee that they did not visit our side of the street as well. I can understand why farmers hate these guys with a passion. By just looking at the damage to the Hibiscus flower gives one enough reason to realise that these beetles mean business when they attack your plants. Bad business. It was so busy devouring the flower that it was not even aware that you took a photo of it.

Anyway, the capture was great with excellent details (one can even see the texture of the shell) and lovely colours especially showing those flashy orange antennae. The flower acted as a colourful BG on the bigger OOF green BG which made everything stand out quite nice. The exposure was well balanced showing good contrasts between the darker and brighter areas and the composition was also set up well with the flower ranging through the diagonal axis.

Good work and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2008-03-28 5:13]

Hi Anna,
very nicely framed indeed, your DOF is perfect and the colours are so vibrant. Focus is sharp, excellent clarity and spot on exposure - all in all, a brilliant effort.
Do be careful of those nasty bugs though, we need you to be able to shw us much more from your beautiful country!!

Hi Anna,
I like the shared subject status here with the "whole" flower & beetle in the diagonal. Great detail, DOF, and blurred BG.
Well exposed, with a good top view showing the insects markings nicely. Perhaps a very slight blue cast affecting your color balance?
Maybe it's just me.
Well done & have a great weekend,
Howard

Hallo Miss Piggy
Now can you believe that a piggy from Empangeni in South Africa must teach an old kaaskop in Holland at the age of 76 something that he did not know? I never knew that these beetles where poisonous or dangerous or even that they gave blisters. I am sure many people will be angry at what I am going to tell you, but it is something that came to mind when I saw you’re posting. As youngsters we use to play tennis with these beetles. They where our balls, and we would hit them too and through for and to each other. But I am sure they only became dangerous afterwards, because I remember how we caught them and I never got blisters or became sick of their poison. The colours you captured on both the Hibicus and the beetle is really outstanding, and you must tell the joker I said thank you for telling you about these beetles that morning. I agree with Mike (Warnzy) that you could have called this Beauty and the Beast, it would have been a most appropriate title. A lovely visual presentation.
Warmest regards
Aaltjie

Hello Anna,

Excellent DOF and POV. Spot on focus.
Very informative note. TFS.
Cheers
Mark

Hi Anna,
Great macro of this beautiful insect. DOF very nice that also flower good in focus. Dark GB make incect and flower more prominent. Regards,
Mustafa

Bonjour,
Charmant insecte qui ressort bien sur cette fleur.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Anna,
Such DETAILS!!!!, both in your notes and photography.
Congratulations.
I saw a lot of them in Angola but not in Mozambique. Wonder why???
You are becoming good at this.
Mario with friendly greetings from Calgary.

Hi Anna,
very nice image of this interesting insect, great colours and composition, brava
kind regards
franco

Hi Anna
Ek het self hierdie beatletjies baie lanklaas gesien. Ek hou van die kleur kombinasie wat jy hier opgetel het met die pienk, swart en wit. Baie mooi. Hoop jy het baie lekker vakansie en dat julle werklik 'n geseende tyd saam sal hê om julle 27 jaar te vier!!

Olá Anna Tudo bem ?

Esta imagem é de tirar o folego !!!!
Muito bela, cores e nitidez indiscutiveis e o fundo em desfoque... é uma obra de arte !
Parabéns

Abraços

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2008-04-03 15:49]

Hola Anna.
Iam sorry. I miss this one. Let me tell You. This is a great Macro photo. Beautiful colors, high shaprness, and well focus. When a photo takes time to see everything. it is for sure an excellent image. You does it.
Saludos Anna.
Luis52.

Hello Anna

Dit lyk my jy kan maar net nie weg bly vanaf die peste nie. Loot is reg, jy moet met 'n kannetjie DOOM rondloop in die tuin dan kan jy ten minste 'n goeie daad verrig wanneer jy jou foto klaar geneem het. Ek sien die 'fans' val nogals oor hulle voete om jou fotos te besoek. Jy doen goeie werk met die kamera en met die pen. Gaan so voort en jy is een van die dae ook 'n gevesdigde en wel bekende lid van hierdie pragtige gemeenskap, indien nie al reeds nie. 'n Goeie foto met sterk klem op die blom en die tor. Ek kan jou egter waarborg, as daardie ding in my tuin was sou hy nie lank geleef het nie.

Groete
Rehanna

Hi Anna ,
Very nice macro.It has great composition and vivid colours.
Bg is excellent too.
Very well done.

kind regards
Saeed

Hi Anna,
Beautiful vibrant colour and crystal clear detail.A lovely composition with the angle of the flower and balanced content.Have a great weekend!
Regards, David

Muchas gracias por tua amables comentarios Anna. Tu trabajo es encantador, sobre todo por el buen tratamiento del color, el ángulo de disparo y los colores.
Que tengas una buena semana: Josep Ignasi

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2008-04-17 7:34]

Hello Anna,
The technical aspects of this macro of a Blister Beetle are almost perfect nd the composition on the Hibiscus flower superb against an OOF natural BG that couldn't be better for showing it up.
If the beetle could have raised his head when you took this the whole image would have been pefect.
As it is, it's fantastic and thanks for sharing it and the good note.
Ivan

  • Great 
  • smitha Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 348 W: 73 N: 1165] (4409)
  • [2008-04-19 10:46]

Hello Anna,
What a beautiful macro shot of the CMR beetle/ Blister Beetle.Excellent POV, DOF , sharpness and details.I liked the way you have composed the picture with the flower making a diagonal composition. The pink hibiscus flower in the green blurred background looks very attractive. The beetle on the flower adds good contrast in the frame.
Thanks for sharing this lovely picture,
Smitha.

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2008-04-21 1:22]
  • [+]

Hello Betsie,
Interesting posting, Betsie. I unfortunately missed it, not being too often on TN any more. The beetle had the good idea to land on a very attractively colored flower, which gives to the picture a great visual impact. I also liked a lot your note. I didn't know about being so much poisonous.
I wish you a nice day
Anne

Lovely composition here and the colors provide such a vibrant contrast. Great detail, well saturated colors. I very much like the notes, well done !

TFS, Mish

Hi Anna,

A nice close-up image of the beetle on the flower. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the insect and of the flower. the subject is well framed. There is a good contrast between the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Dear Anna,
a very conspicuous, well composed, well describing image, coming with an excellent, well entertaining text.
Reading Professor Scholtz's epert words on the man killing properties of a CMR beetle, for the first time in my life I am happy to have arrived well above my ideal weight of 70kg.
With thanks, and all my best to you,
Peter

Hi Anna,
it's a pleasure to see a Mylabris beetle, and such a big one at that. I like them, I also like your crisp picture.
Mylabris also occurs in my country, as a student I worked with them (biosynthesis pathway of Cantharidin). In order to not be obliged to kill them, I raised the larvae (much work, they are parasites of grasshopper eggs, as you wrote).
Best regards
Dietrich

Hello my dear Anna,
you are realy a very good photograph, all style are perfect, landscape, portrait and macro-shot
this one is splendid, very godd focus, excellent lighting and wonderfull colours add very well on this splendid composition,
cheer,
friendly,
Pat

Ciao Anna!
UNic shot!
Colorful and lightful!
I like this pic so much!
Marco

Anna, this is a really good shot. A lot of detail and sharpness. Thanks so much for commenting on my 'Wild Flight' shot. God bless, Bill

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2008-07-20 21:05]

Hello Anna,
a great shot of theinsect. nicely composed and very clear. the colour of the insect is really outstanding with the pink background of the flower. what an opportunity and what a great moment awarded to you to exploit and share with us.
Great insect created and allow a great opportunity to share.

Regards,
Foozi

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