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First, in the daylight.
My hostas are blooming. They don't make much of a show; only one flower opens at a time, on each of a few stalks, while yesterday's droop and tomorrow's are still in bud. I grow them mainly for the leaves. Still, that one small flower is worth photographing.
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Zooming in, I discovered that it is playing hostess to a party of ants.
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On the wall, I discover another visitor; a tiny yellow fly, about the size of a fruit fly. From the rear, his abdomen looks like a miniature lemon.
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I was out checking on the American house spiders, and discovered this beastie on my patio doors. The photos were taken with a desk lamp (so the camera could find something to focus on) and the flash, looking from outside in.
First, just the plain bug. I'm not sure what it is yet; a green and red bug, with wings, about 1/4 inch long. Strong, defined markings, big black eyes, outlining on the head. Some kind of "toothed" edge to the body or wings at the bottom, barely visible in this photo, more evident in the next, if you click on it to get the full size.
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And sometimes there's an advantage to the "El Cheapo" brand of digital camera; look what it did with a bit of conflicting light in the distance! Again, click on this to get the full effect.
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*Update: It is a rhododendron leafhopper, Graphocephala fennahi, the only graphocephala in the west. Thanks to Lynne, of Hasty Brook.
That last bug photo is AWESOME!!
ReplyDeleteOoh! Ooh! I think I found your bug in the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. It looks like a "Candy-striped Leafhopper".
ReplyDelete"...common on blackberry canes and various ornamental plants throughout most of the continent."
per Kaufman
Thanks, Lynne;
ReplyDeleteI had been checking the wrong section of BugGuide. With your suggestion in mind, I switched to the leafhoppers, and found it: it is the rhododendron leafhopper, Graphocephala fennahi, the only "Graphocephala that is in the West", says Andy Hamilton.
"Graphocephala" = "Written head"; I love names that actually make sense!
Interesting photographic effect.-I really should pick up that Kaufman Bug book when I get a chance.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty cool photo effect on the last picture.-I'll have to get a copy of the Kaufman insects guide-sounds prety good.
ReplyDeleteHi, Larry,
ReplyDeleteI'll be looking out for that book, too.