Rover Beetle

[Precarious]

Never saw a rover this big and colorful. Very active and carnivorous. Watched it chow down on Hydei. Will try to get video of it eating.

Found it not far from here...

 

[angelofdeathzz]

That last pic of the stream and woods is priceless! A+

 

[Paradoxica]

Looks at those mandibles!

 

[Precarious]

That last pic of the stream and woods is priceless! A+

Thanks. That's the next thing to tackle - landscapes! Here goes another $700 on a lens...

 

[fleurdejoo]

I love his little tootsie toes!

 

[sally]

The woods look so peaceful. Beautiful.

 

[Peter Clausen]

Woods, schmoods, that's a great beetle! Don't buy the lens. I can see trees in my backyard Jussst focus on bugs, bugs, bugs.

There are a lot of rove beetles with really interesting coloration including reds, variegates and iridescent purple!

 

[Precarious]

Woods, schmoods, that's a great beetle! Don't buy the lens. I can see trees in my backyard Jussst focus on bugs, bugs, bugs.

Well, you're a few days too late. $800 down the drain. Now I'll never take a pic of a bug again! Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Just kidding, of course. I love macro and I love bugs. Ain't nuthin gonna change that. Macro photography has been the most rewarding artistic outlet I've found to date. Instant gratification for me, and I get to share it with all of you. I've gotten more positive reaction to my insect work than anything else I've done. So I could never give it up.

But the way my mind works is I have to be constantly learning new things. Instead of allowing that to mean being led in a direction other than photography I will delve into another aspect of photography. I just want to broaden my creative horizons and expand my photographic catalog. It will give me something to do between the bugs - not to mention draw me to new areas with different bugs to document.

And, unfortunately, there is no money in insect photos. There is more possibility with landscapes/sunsets/puppies/rainbows. Not that I'm in any of this for the money - I would have given up by now - but it would be nice to get some payback to support the hobby. Just like selling nymphs. That isn't the objective but it makes the objective more accessible/sustainable.

So here are more trees to look at followed by some of the bugs I found between the trees...

Anyone know what this thing is???

 

[aNisip]

Awesome photos man! and that insect is a scorpion fly...Mecoptera....

All the best,

Andrew

 

[Precarious]

Awesome photos man! and that insect is a scorpion fly...Mecoptera....

Ah, you're right. But it's a female so no special tail. Cool! Now I know to keep my eyes open for males up there. Another insect I didn't know I could find locally.

 

[aNisip]

I think its some Panorpa sp to narrow the ID down a little...are you keeping her for the male?

 

[Precarious]

I think its some Panorpa sp to narrow the ID down a little...are you keeping her for the male?

If I ever found a male I would be overjoyed. All I found was this female and she flew off before I could grab her. Believe me, I will be on the lookout for more of these next time I make it to that area! I want to get video and photos of a male so bad.

 

[ScienceGirl]

Such pretty scenery accompanied by insects! I love the detail in the compound eyes, and that beetle is... nightmarish. A video of it eating and taking down prey would be intriguing.

 

[aNisip]

If I ever found a male I would be overjoyed. All I found was this female and she flew off before I could grab her. Believe me, I will be on the lookout for more of these next time I make it to that area! I want to get video and photos of a male so bad.

Don't mean to rub it in...but when I go to my grandparents house up in MA, I find loads of bugs...scorpionflies (males and females) and mantisflies (the wasp mimics) I'm going at the end of this month for the fourth of July.... ill see if I can get pics

 

[gripen]

Don't mean to rub it in...but when I go to my grandparents house up in MA, I find loads of bugs...scorpionflies (males and females) and mantisflies (the wasp mimics) I'm going at the end of this month for the fourth of July.... ill see if I can get pics

Why can I never find any of those lol!

 

[Precarious]

Don't mean to rub it in...but when I go to my grandparents house up in MA, I find loads of bugs...scorpionflies (males and females) and mantisflies (the wasp mimics) I'm going at the end of this month for the fourth of July.... ill see if I can get pics

See if your grandparents will adopt me so I can come along. I have yet to see any of those bugs and would love to get footage of them.

 

[Peter Clausen]

Your scorpionflies are nicer than ours out West. Our females hardly have wings at all. I saw my first one in April:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/764126 (male)

http://bugguide.net/node/view/775107 (female)

I'm sending mine off to a DNA researcher to determine whether they are a new species, or how closely they are related to known species. Always some variation in populations.

Have you ever uploaded your photos to bugguide? It doesn't pay, but it sure feels good to contribute to the database! I got the first state (Oregon) record for scorpionflies on the site as well as a few other things. It's a lot of fun!

I better run along and get that moth my wife has requested for the orchid mantis she keeps at work. Lots of people love that thing! (thanks!)

 

[Precarious]

I'm sending mine off to a DNA researcher to determine whether they are a new species, or how closely they are related to known species. Always some variation in populations.Have you ever uploaded your photos to bugguide? It doesn't pay, but it sure feels good to contribute to the database! I got the first state (Oregon) record for scorpionflies on the site as well as a few other things. It's a lot of fun!

Interesting. No, I have never contributed to bugguide. I really should. Thanks.

 

[Scruffy Aphid Herder]

I want to live here T-T