10/1/2020: Finished year 7 (!), with continuing gratitude towards this amazing community. Based in St. Louis, MO. Regular worker-bee and self-taught photography dilettante....
Wow, fabulous capture. When I first saw the image I thought it was from one of my friends in Zambia or some far away land! Never seen such a creature around this part of town. Wonderful capture!
Absolutely LOVE this photo and title!! In case you don't know what this is, it is An Assassin Bug!!! A Wheel Bug Assassin at that and is just a baby!! But his bite is every bit as bad as the full grown one. If you seen him from the front, he has a probe that hangs down a bit like an elephant trunk!! They use this to stab their victims and then suck our their innards!! I found one just like this guy about 10 years ago and thought he was so cute, until I googled him!!! I called him "Wheelie" Yeah I know, but he was and is as cute as this guy!! If they bite a human it's said to be like 4 or 5 wasp stings at one time in the same place!! They also hurt for weeks after!!
All that being said, this is just one exceptional capture with the details, lighting and clarity!! Instant FAV!
@cashew Thanks for loving this shot... I did, too. Also, many thanks for your wonderful research into this bug. I had no idea what I was shooting at the time. Who knew?? Really fascinating, in kind of a gross buggy way. Thanks so much for the info. :)
So special...the tiny bug, the red of the rock binding the red of the insect, the background colour, the framing and placement of the bug - everything simply works!
All that being said, this is just one exceptional capture with the details, lighting and clarity!! Instant FAV!