wildlife – Page 47 – A Thousand Acres of Silphiums

Golden Tortoise Beetle

coleoptera, insects, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

*Charidotella sexpunctata* (Chrysomelidae)
f/18, 1/30 sec., ISO-640, 234 mm focal length equivalent

This golden tortoise beetle (not golden during this photo shoot) was found during an insect survey that some WGNSS members participated in at the Litzsinger Road Ecology Center.

A trip to Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary last weekend paid off. I crossed paths with this juvenile Merlin, my first of this season, three different times. In this instance I had my camera prepared. He kindly perched long enough that I could swap for the 2X teleconverter. I think the 2X performed pretty well in this perfect light, but heat distortion was a major problem on this cool but sunny day.

Perched Merlin
f/10, 1/800 sec., ISO-500, 1600 mm focal length equivalent

Big Sand Tiger Beetle (Cincindela formosa generosa)

coleoptera, insects, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Big Sand Tiger Beetle, Sand Prairie Conservation Area, Scott County, MO.
f/16, 1/160 sec., ISO-640, 234 mm focal length equivalent.

Dashing Blue Dashers

insects, macro, odonata, wildlife, wildlife photography

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) – f/8, 1/160 sec., ISO-200, 520 mm focal length equivalent

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) – f/8, 1/200 sec., ISO-160, 520 mm focal length equivalent

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) – f/11, 1/160 sec., ISO-320, 520 mm focal length equivalent

WGNSS Nature Photo Group Travels to Snake Road

herps, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

Timber Rattlesnake feeling safe. f/7.1, 1/60 sec., ISO-640, 205 mm focal length equivalent.

Cottonmouth letting its freak flag fly. f/5, 1/160 sec., ISO-640, 322 mm focal length equivalent.

Missing Muppet? f/5. 1/125 sec., ISO-1600, 342 mm focal length equivalent.

Cottonmouth found at Larue Road. f/5, 1/125 sec., ISO-1600, 342 mm focal length equivalent.

Cottonmouth closeup. f/7.1, 1/100 sec., ISO-1600, 520 mm focal length equivalent.

Green Treefrog. f/5.6, 1/200 sec., ISO-640, 520 mm focal length equivalent.

Larue “Snake” Road, Autumn 2019. f/5, 1/100 sec., ISO-1250, 213 mm focal length equivalent.

Great Spangled Fritillary

insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Copperhead!

herps, wildlife, wildlife photography

Swamp Metalmark – Calephelis muticum

insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Swamp Metalmark – 234 mm focal length equivalent, f/14, 1/125 sec., ISO-640

These special butterflies, endangered or threatened across much of their small range, have their stronghold in the state of Missouri. These images were taken in St. Francis Co., MO.

Swamp Metalmark – 234 mm focal length equivalent, f/14, 1/80 sec., ISO-640

Swamp Metalmark – 234 mm focal length equivalent, f/18, 1/60 sec., ISO-640

Swamp Metalmark – 234 mm focal length equivalent, f/18, 1/80 sec., ISO-640

Birds of North Carolina Coast – Seaside Sparrow

Bird Species of Conservation Concern, birds, wildlife, wildlife photography

Seaside Sparrow, Pea Island NWR, NC. 896 mm focal length equivalent, f/8, 1/160 sec, ISO-640

Wasp Mantidfly – Neither a Wasp, a Mantid, nor a Fly!

insects, macro, Neuroptera, wildlife, wildlife photography

Wasp Mantidfly (*Climaciella brunnea*) 234mm focal length equivalent, f/16, 1/125 sec., ISO-640, with flash

That’s right, this special one visited my home garden one afternoon and allowed me to grab some shots. The mantidfly are categorized in the order Neuroptera along with the lacewings.

Probably obvious, this species is believed to mimic the paper wasps (Polistes) as a potential deterrent to predation. Without a close glance, it would be easy to mistake this species for a wasp with the potential to deliver a nasty sting.

As if their appearance wasn’t crazy enough, larvae of the Mantispinae, the subfamily this species belongs to, feed by paristizing spiders and their eggs!

-OZB

Category: wildlife