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Skeeter Eater
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Skeeter Eater

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted January 18, 2013109 views5 comments
Another very common insect most people are familiar with. Here it's clutching some prey, I believe it's a small ant..
The family Gerridae contains insects commonly known as water striders, water bugs, magic bugs, pond skaters, skaters, skimmers, water scooters, water skaters, water skeeters, water skimmers, water skippers or Jesus bugs.
F/13, 1/320th, ISO 640, 1D M3, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 handheld, no flash. Significant crop on this one.

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Skip Layman on January 18, 2013 at 10:13 AM
I wondered how you got this close to a water strider until I saw that it is a significant crop. Your DOF is great and you captured this viscious miniature predator very nicely. Good shot.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 558 Posts, 1704 Comments
Comment posted by David E Lester on January 18, 2013 at 12:40 PM
Excellent closeup, your shot brings to life what others do not see..well done!! :toast:
Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on January 18, 2013 at 2:25 PM
When I was a kid, we tried catching these, but, boy, are they fast. I haven't tried photgraphing one. I like your low, eye level perspective, and the forward angled postion of the strider. This shows your usual attention to good composition details. Very sharp, too. The fact that you also caught this one having lunch is excellent. I also like the reflection and the effect of refraction on the legs.

Congrats on having your Thistle Fly image selected as a finalist in the Nature Conservancy's annual photo contest. Great shot! :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Roberto Facchini on January 19, 2013 at 1:20 AM
Beautiful picture. Really detailed image. I like the reflection of the insect in the water.
Registered on November 15, 2012, 35 Posts, 202 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Lusk on January 19, 2013 at 11:33 AM
I'm glad I'm not the only one fascinated by all the striders and whirligigs, diving beetles and such that infest our waters.

I've got some shots of some striders, but nothing as good as this.

Well done! :toast:
Registered on September 17, 2005, 312 Posts, 600 Comments