Eric, thank you very much for the species (genus) ID. This was the first time i met Rosser, he is very friendly and an authority on Neotropical Odonata. It was a great experience to visit Mexico, and although I've seen a few of the species before in Texas, most I saw was all new to me. Rosser has do...

A long time since I posted here, and I haven't even got anything new to show. Here a photo though from June 2009, Xalapa in Mexico: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2644/3730275978_0d9072cede_o.jpg Canon 5D, Sigma 150 + 1.4 f/10m, 1/200 s, iso 1600 Read about my dragonfly trip to Mexico here: http://h...

As an Odonata "hunterW what equipment do you use? I use a DSLR with canon and sigma lenses. I nearly always use monopod and a ballhead, while doing macro. I mostly use: sigma 150/2.8 sigma 180/3.5 and less often: sigma 50/2,8 canon mp-e 65 And then some wide angle primes like 28,20 and 14 mm, plus ...

That is really interesting, especially the "big bone" dsiplays. I have only once seen big skeletons displayed, and that was two whales. But I would love to see some dinasaurs. Knowledge of pre-historic earth is to me so facinating. I think it's brilliant that we live on a rock formed billions of yea...

Now that I checked it, I see that this species is the one rediscovered in 2008 after 40 years of absence. Did not recognise the look of the female, the male is more spectacular.

I'm not sure I saw the capture of the ant. Might just have been the female attacking a passing ant.

Erland

I have seen this species mating too, where the female feeds
Also an ant.

Erland

Impressive mandibles. How long are these beetles ? I dont think they live in Denmark, where we have terrible habitates for this type of beetle.

Erland

I think it's a lovely picture. The abdomen is sharp, and nearest eye a bit closer than focus, but sharp on top of head. Hard to get just right.

Erland

A very fine presentation of three insects Daan.
The first a real handbook quality picture, but I like the third best. The eyes look strange on the fly in that photo. As does posture

Erland

Nice focus you have captured. Quite a small animal indeed.

Erland

Chris, thank you for comments. I haven't used flash with the 300 tele, and I only have a macro-flash, The third picture is with monopod, the first two could be hand held.

I have only done a single butterfly this year, but spring has been warm the last week and still is. Dragonflies will be present in maybe a weeks time. But I picked out some shots I've done since I got the 300/2.8L IS 16 months ago. These are done with sigma 2x, resulting in a 600/5.6 lens on the Can...

When I've seen dragonflies with three wings, I've been astonished by how difficult it is to see that they have lost flight ability. They surely fly worse, but they are still able to feed enough to survive, at least more tan a couple of days.

Erland

Just saw the two Ischnura elegans damselflies on the front page, and want to congratulate you with this splendid photo.
Quite many damselfly species can be seen "hiding" like in the picture, eyes sticking out on each side of a stem. If you move, they may move accordingly :-)

Erland