My first encounter with an assassin bug! This one was about 1cm (0.3in).
Assassin bugs are killer bugs. They eat other bugs. An assassin bug grabs its victim, stabs it with a curved spike (proboscis), then injects a toxic saliva that liquefies the insides of the victim before it sucks the juices up.
I feel a little nauseated just typing out that description. XP
Where do I find the bugs I shoot? I get asked this question sometimes. All my macro shots are made in parks, nature reserves or mangrove forests. I never know what I am going to find when I go hunting for macro subjects, so it's something of an adventure every time. Grasshoppers and katydids are common and easy to find; everything else is a matter of luck!
Livia, you've become my fav macro buddy lately! You've found some great subjects to photograph! I'm still trying to get a butterfly to sit still long enough for me to capture it...
Love this capture! The focus and colors on this are amazing!
Life goes round and round! Assassin bugs, ladybirds eating aphids, kingfishers eating chameleons! Glad no one is in the water with alligators or sharks!
I fully understand your excitement and sense of mystery about what will appear when you get up close and personal with plants in your neighbourhood. Lovely focus on this chap.
However you're doing it, you're doing an amazing job. Do you think you will do anything with all these bug shots. A stock photo company would probably be interested in these, you never know who needs a good photo of an assassin bug.
@tonydebont An entomologist? I don't want to study them, heh, I'm too cowardly! The other day I came across this awesome spider. I was so afraid that it would jump at me, I was unable to bring myself to go near enough to get a proper macro shot. So I ended up with a stupid looking faraway shot. And I think I will be kicking myself for the rest of my life, whenever I remember it, for not getting a closer and better shot because it was a really odd, really impressive looking spider. I probably won't see it again!
@myautofocuslife Livia, I think you could be any number of 'ologists but above all you are a photographer of great skill and with the eye of a true artist. Your work continually inspires me.
Amazing details. Nice colours. Planning on getting a dedicated macro lens this month. Slowly getting impatient... ;-p But, no fan of spiders, myself too...
@bankmann Make sure your first macro lens has a focal length of at least 100mm! This allows some breathing space between you and your macro subject. Mine is a 30mm lens and I have to get kissing distance close. I'm okay with other insects but ferocious looking spiders scare me. XD
@myautofocuslife I've been planning to go for a 90mm Tamron (NKR 3690,-/GBP 406,-/USD 635,-). There is however a 100mm Pentax available (NKR 4490,-/GBP 494,-/USD 772,-). That's kind of stretching it, I feel. I've spent a lot of money already this spring, upgrading my equipment. I'll most probably stay with the 90mm... ;-p
Wonderful shot with awesome detail - I think I write that every day but it is always true :-). I guess this guy has no choice when it comes to eating matters... unlike humans.
Fantastic colours and focus, as always!! Your surroundings are really beautiful and adventurous; and this fella sounds like a Sam Fisher type character -___-
A great, big, orange-hued and brightly lit "THANK YOU!" to everyone! Thank you for taking the time to look and leave a comment! I didn't know it was an assassin bug at the time I was shooting it. I just thought it was a very pretty orange color. Imagine my surprise when I started googling to identify it, haha! Again, thank you so much for your encouraging and supportive comments!
not so nice a story.
Glad we don't have bugs like that over here. :)
Love this capture! The focus and colors on this are amazing!
Lovely shot this is....and nice info as well!