Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Sphex ichneumoneus

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Wapakoneta, OH
    Posts
    34
    Threads
    19
    Thank You Posts

    Default Sphex ichneumoneus

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This Golden Digger Wasp is a member of the Sphecidae (Digger) family of wasps. They sting and paralyze their prey. They nest in holes in the ground where they lay their eggs. They capture insects, paralyze them with wasp toxins and place them in the nest, When the eggs hatch the wasp larve feed on the living paralyzed insects. They drag their prey to the opening of the nest, drop it, go inside and inspect the nest, crawl back out, and drag their prey inside the nest. If you move their prey they will find it after some time and repeat this procedure. You can do this repeatedly. Note the large compound eye and the claws on the legs for holding their prey.
    Picture taken with a Nikon D2X with a 70 - 200MM F2.8 VR lens. 1/350sec at F8.0 ISO 400

  2. #2
    Mike Moats
    Guest

    Default

    WOW Peter, this is really nice. Great natural behavior shot. The BG is perfect, maybe a little selective sharpening on the body. Excellent image.

  3. #3
    Robert O'Toole
    Guest

    Default

    Beautiful wasp and great image colors. Agree with Mike about the sharpening. So question is did you get any of the wasp with prey?


    Robert

  4. #4
    Alfred Forns
    Guest

    Default

    Excellent image Peter LIke the way you were able to line up for max dof !!! Very pleasing and beautiful I find these type settings are difficult for a clean image mainly form oof front elements This looks great !!!

  5. #5
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Corning, NY
    Posts
    2,507
    Threads
    208
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like this a lot! I especially like the way the left "hand" seems to cradle the flower bud. I also learned a lot from your narrative. Nature is wonderful, but can be kind of gross as well!

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,671
    Threads
    140
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely colours on this wasp Peter. I like the pose as well. The wasp looks a tad soft but it could be my monitor.

  7. #7
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Wapakoneta, OH
    Posts
    34
    Threads
    19
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Robert, No I didn't get any pictures of the wasp with any of its prey. I wish I did!

  8. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    421
    Threads
    120
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Peter,

    Love the spring feel this has to it due to the colours.
    Great setting and i agree a bit of selective sharpness to the wasp would highly improve this photograph!

    Greetings,

    Jeroen Stel

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics