Small insects big in the picture

Since I got a macro lens, first on my phone and later on my camera, I have started looking at insects differently. Up close, these little critters often turn out to be very beautiful but, above all, different. With over 1 million described species and an estimated the same number undescribed, this is also by far the largest class within the animal kingdom. So for the time being, I will have plenty of time to take pictures of these creatures. Below are some of the photos I have taken recently.

Green leaf weevil

I took this photo of the Green leaf weevil along the Wantij in Dordrecht. Searching in the reeds growing along the water, it caught my eye because of its beautiful colours. It is a slender elongated beetle seven to nine millimetres long and it is quite common.

Cockchafer

While looking for Dragonflies at the Oisterwijkse fens, I suddenly saw this Cockchafer swimming in the water. Didn't seem like a normal place for it, but shortly afterwards it climbed onto the leaf of a water lily and I had time to take some photos. A Cockchafer has two antennae and you can tell whether it is a male (7 parts) or female (6 parts) by the number of parts on the antennae. In this photo it is not easy to see but this specimen had seven parts so a male

Lacewing fly

In Dutch, we call this lacewing 'Goudoogje (Gold-eye)'. The 'Gold-eye' owes its name to its beautiful eyes, a kind of golden baubles. In this photo, which I took in the Nieuwe Dordtse Biesbosch, it looks very elegant. From what I have read, as a larva, the Gold-eye is mainly a kind of monster that sucks aphids dry. Quite a contrast.

Lice weevil

I took this photo of this small, cute-looking Lice weevil in the Wantijpark in Dordrecht. My eye fell on a small spot in the Buttercup while walking in this beautiful park. This turned out to be this Lice weevil, only 5 mm in size. So not part of the Big Five.

Dance mosquito

Some 175 different species of Dancing Mosquitoes occur in the Netherlands. The males have a large plume on the head. These mosquitoes do not suck blood, indeed as adults they eat almost nothing at all. I saw this specimen while 'birding' in the Donkse Laagten in Alblasserwaard.

Common mudfly

This photo of the Common mudfly was also taken at Donkse Laagten in Alblasserwaard. As larvae, they live in the water. The adults feed on nectar they suck from flowers.

Dung beetle with dung fly

To finish, a picture of a Dung Beetle at work that I took in Alsace. Perhaps not the most appetising picture but this is a very useful critter. Because they not only eat manure but for the most part also bury it, they promote the return of nutrients to the soil.

I hope you enjoyed reading and reviewing this blog post. Please let me know what you thought of it via the reply form below. Always nice to get a response!

I try to make a new blog post every two to three weeks. Want to be notified as soon as I have a new one ready? Then sign up for the newsletter and you'll be the first to hear about it.

You can also follow me on Instagram: @andygeertsma