Flowers — Page 3

Dennis July 8, 2011 1 Comment

Costa Rica 2011 The Art of Biodiversity Part I

Chris and I traveled recently to Costa Rica with my friend and tour leader, Greg Basco, co-founder of Foto Verde Tours, a provider of tours designed for photographers. Last year I traveled to Costa Rica with Joe and Maryann McDonald primarily to photograph hummingbirds, and met Greg who organized and co-led the trip. This year I signed up early for the Art of Biodiversity tour which offered a wider variety of photographic subjects at the start of the rainy season. Chris decided to join me at a later date, which worked out well as there were only two other participants for a total of four plus Greg and Jose Lopez, our driver and also a very good photographer.

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Dennis October 3, 2009

Bee Assassin

This Bee Assassin stayed on one of two flowers during a four week period in September. The first images are in the nymph stage, and gradually transformed into the adult form over the first two weeks. I visited the flower often to see if the bug would catch something to eat. Near the end of the fourth week I was fortunate to see, and photograph, the insect eating a bee.

Assassin bugs get their name from the way they attack their victims, inflicting sharp stabs with their beak. Their front most legs have powerful muscles to grab and hold their prey while the body fluids are sucked out. The bug pounces on bees and other pollinating insects. After grabbing the prey, the insect thrusts its cutting beak in to the victim’s back, injects an immobilizing digestive agent, then sucks out the body juices.

For these images I used a Canon 40D camera with a Sigma 150mm macro lens and a Canon MT-24EX twin light.

Dennis August 3, 2009

Jan and Cemal’s Yard

My friends, Jan and Cemal, have the nicest house with wonderful flower beds both in front yard and back yard. And no grass to cut. I’m envious. They invited Chris and me for a barbecue as well as to photograph the flowers that were at peak blossom. Except for the fact that it was getting dark and I had to quit, I had a great time. These images are the result. They were all taken using a Canon 40D camera with a Sigma 150mm macro lens.