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Bee or Fly?

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted August 14, 2013105 views6 comments

Not sure what this creature is, but it shared our Rose of Sharon with bumble bees and other winged creatures. Interesting, it seemed to prefer to feed on blooms that were still closed instead of opened. Did manage to get a couple OK shots of it.

Canon T3i
1/250 @ F 7.1 ISO 400 +0.3 adj.
Canon 100mm 2.8 macro, USM
HH

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on August 14, 2013 at 6:38 PM

Well, it is a bee of some sort. Long antennae and smaller eyes say so (as opposed to a fly)and the rear legs done appear adapted to gathering pollen. I wonder if it might, in fact, be a bumble bee. What size is it and does it have 4 wings?

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on August 14, 2013 at 10:37 PM

Can't help with the ID, John (although I tend to agree with Peter that it's a bee), but I like the detail you captured. Perfectly exposed as well. I really like the pollen stuck to the hind legs/sacks.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on August 15, 2013 at 1:51 AM

Splendid detail, John - the pollen flecks are a delightful feature on top of the sharp rendering of the insect itself.

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on August 15, 2013 at 1:59 PM

You captured excellent detail in this insect. I agree with the others that the pollen flecks are a nice feature of this image.

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on August 15, 2013 at 4:37 PM

Looks like a carpenter bee. There are over 31 species of carpenter bees, but this does resemble one. Good detail on the photo.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by David Taylor on August 25, 2013 at 5:39 PM

Registered on April 24, 2006, 101 Posts, 837 Comments