My OperaButterflies and Bugs
Sunday, June 28, 2009 11:33:07 PM
Following on from yesterday's colourful moths, today's selection is of a couple of equally abundant species: the common red soldier beetle, and the meadow brown and marbled white butterflies. I'll start with the beetles, which are very distinctive, very red, and often seen mating at this time of year.
Red Soldier beetles mating
They often walk upside down as well
And they can fly
A meadow brown butterfly and red soldier beetles
Marbled whites have beautiful black and white markings. They are somewhat flighty and don't always cooperate with the camera. I was in luck today (there were so many of them that occasionally one would settle in range of the camera).
Marbled white butterfly
This next shot looks a bit odd. Click on it for the full size image. It's an attempt at a 3D stereoscopic image. You need to make your self go cross-eyed, and what should happen is that the two images merge into a third (in the centre) which should have 3D properties. That's the theory. If you have trouble getting it to come into focus hold a pin a few inches in front of your face and focus on that. The image should appear. Or not!
3d image - click to enlarge
Finally, a video from last night of all the garden visitors. We had a lot!
Camera note: all shots taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro apart from the meadow brown butterfly which was taken with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
Red Soldier beetles mating They often walk upside down as well And they can fly A meadow brown butterfly and red soldier beetlesMarbled whites have beautiful black and white markings. They are somewhat flighty and don't always cooperate with the camera. I was in luck today (there were so many of them that occasionally one would settle in range of the camera).
Marbled white butterflyThis next shot looks a bit odd. Click on it for the full size image. It's an attempt at a 3D stereoscopic image. You need to make your self go cross-eyed, and what should happen is that the two images merge into a third (in the centre) which should have 3D properties. That's the theory. If you have trouble getting it to come into focus hold a pin a few inches in front of your face and focus on that. The image should appear. Or not!
3d image - click to enlargeFinally, a video from last night of all the garden visitors. We had a lot!
Camera note: all shots taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro apart from the meadow brown butterfly which was taken with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
EricCedarFox # Monday, June 29, 2009 3:13:07 AM
Interesting 3-D effect too. My eyes will only hold for just a few seconds, but I can see it, sort of.
Darkogdare # Monday, June 29, 2009 4:29:52 AM
Words # Monday, June 29, 2009 6:35:34 AM
Words # Monday, June 29, 2009 6:36:10 AM
Mark JonesFlying Red Fox Blog # Monday, June 29, 2009 8:22:37 AM
Words # Monday, June 29, 2009 9:43:31 PM
NeilUkwildlife # Tuesday, June 30, 2009 9:49:40 PM
I can only just do the 3d image - how did you take/create it?
The red soldier beetle is the common name for the species I only came across in BBC Wildlife magazine this week - Ive never heard it before. Ive only seen a scientific name in print before, which I always thought was odd for such a common, distinct species!
Adele BrandSittingFox # Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:18:59 PM
Words # Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:13:46 PM
Words # Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:15:18 PM
NeilUkwildlife # Thursday, July 2, 2009 10:26:59 PM