{"id":3153,"date":"2023-06-13T20:46:25","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T19:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturetc.nl\/?p=3153"},"modified":"2023-06-13T20:46:26","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T19:46:26","slug":"kleine-insecten-groot-in-beeld","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturetc.nl\/en\/2023\/06\/13\/kleine-insecten-groot-in-beeld\/","title":{"rendered":"Small insects big in the picture"},"content":{"rendered":"

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
E-M5MarkIII f\/4.5 1\/100sec ISO-400 60mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Green leaf weevil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
E-M5MarkIII f\/6.3 1\/200sec ISO-800 60mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cockchafer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
E-M5MarkIII f\/5 1\/250sec ISO-400 60mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lacewing fly <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
E-M5MarkIII f\/4 1\/250sec ISO-800 60mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lice weevil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
E-M5MarkIII f\/5.6 1\/320sec ISO-200 60mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dance mosquito<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
E-M5MarkIII f\/5.6 1\/200sec ISO-200 60mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Common mudfly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
iPhone 11 Pro f\/2 1\/122sec ISO-50 6mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dung beetle with dung fly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Wil je op de hoogte gehouden worden van nieuwe blogs?<\/p>\n\n\n