Bald-faced hornet

[ECooper]

I haven't posted here for ages! For that matter I haven't done much photography for ages. I didn't lose interest, life just got a bit too busy.
But spring is here and its time to break out the camera gear and start shooting some bugs. In the meantime I've been going through my files and came accross this picture of a bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) that I shot last summer. I love the face on this beast...and the way these wasps rest with their front legs off the ground.

Cheers,
EC
www.macrocritters.wordpress.com
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M5
Lens: Zuiko 60mm micro four thirds macro
Settings: manual exposure (F11 @ 1/160 sec)
Lighting: Olympus flash (I don't remember which one or the setting—oops!)
ISO: 200

 

[Vicious_Fish]

See.....aliens do exist!

Nice photo like always!

 

[ECooper]

See.....aliens do exist!

Nice photo like always!

LOL! Thanks!

EC

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I took a few bug pics last summer but I really need to pic up a macro lens. My subject was a tiger beetle. Talk about an insect that won't hold still! Those guys are lightening on 6 legs!

 

[ECooper]

I took a few bug pics last summer but I really need to pic up a macro lens. My subject was a tiger beetle. Talk about an insect that won't hold still! Those guys are lightening on 6 legs!

I'm jealous! Tiger beetle are really uncommon where I live...I've never even seen one, never mind had the chance to photograph one!

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I'm jealous! Tiger beetle are really uncommon where I live...I've never even seen one, never mind had the chance to photograph one!

I never knew we had them either as we've only been in this house for 2 years now but last summer I found them running all over the forest floor behind our house. Here's a photo of one I snapped that was in the middle of eating a caterpillar. It was sitting still which is the only way I could have ever got the photo! (sorry, not trying to hijack your photo thread)

 

[ECooper]

I never knew we had them either as we've only been in this house for 2 years now but last summer I found them running all over the forest floor behind our house. Here's a photo of one I snapped that was in the middle of eating a caterpillar. It was sitting still which is the only way I could have ever got the photo! (sorry, not trying to hijack your photo thread)

What a gorgeous critter! Nice photograph too. I'm even more jealous now. What State do you live in?

 

[Rbishop]

Excellent shots, guys!

 

[Vicious_Fish]

What a gorgeous critter! Nice photograph too. I'm even more jealous now. What State do you live in?

Thank you! I had never seen this species before I moved here and being the nerd that I am I had to get photos of it. I live in south central Pennsylvania.

 

[ECooper]

Thank you! I had never seen this species before I moved here and being the nerd that I am I had to get photos of it. I live in south central Pennsylvania.

There are a couple of small tiger beetle species that range into southern BC where I live, but they seem to be really rare. Hopefully I'll see/photograph one some day. Have you tried keeping one in captivity?

EC