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Larva of the 24-spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata)
Possibly my toughest subject from 2020 to photograph and video, given the almost imperceptible size of the Larva, the difficulty of getting a clear view in the grass without disturbing it, and a blustery wind making reasonable focus hugely difficult to maintain.
However, we got there eventually and to see this little thing (that's a blade of grass) go about its business made it worth it:
See and read about it here:
''Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata'' is a beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Subcoccinella''. It has the typical, almost semi-spherical, ladybird shape and is patterned with spots. However it differs from many of the well-known ladybirds in being neither smooth and shiny nor an eater of aphids: the wing-cases look velvety and it eats fungal moulds on plants.
comments (8)
It's a beauty, isn't it?
It reminds me of one of the English languages great ironies:
The word 'Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia' is used to describe 'a fear of long words'.
I wonder if there's a word for 'a fear of irony'?
PK
Posted one year ago
Thank you. It involved a lot of failed attempts, on a blisteringly hot day.
I hate it when people try to photograph or see something of note and in their enthusiasm trample down or damage the very environment needed by whatever it is they have come to see. The Long-tailed blue last year being a case in point, when a small group of long time enthusiasts who should have known better were blindly running around the relatively small patch containing this (for us) very rare butterfly.
The point being, I was determined to get something without taking the easy option of clearing a patch of grass which may well have contained more larva.
If you miss out, you miss out, but don't harm the subject.
On this day persistence paid off, but I didn't quite realise until I saw the videos again the other day.
The light was not an act of planning, but you're right it works wonderfully.
PK Posted one year ago
And on a similar note, a particular type of photographer would totally appoint the favorable light as their well planned artistic choice.
Yet you do not. I deeply respect that. Posted one year ago
I wish it had been!
But no, you only fool yourself that way.
Accept the good luck and try to remember the lesson.
What was I talking about................? :-)
Posted one year ago