I know I said insects would be off-topic for the forum, but...

[JudyN]

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... I thought you might like to see this incredible beetle I spotted a couple of days ago. I had to ask on a beetle Facebook group for help iding it, and luckily my post was spotted by a curator at the Natural History Museum in London, who told me that it was Donacia bicolora, aka the Two-Tone Reed Beetle, which is extremely scarce. I couldn't believe the colour - I think it's been auditioning for Goldfinger!

 

[Hemlock]

What a gorgeous beetle!

 

[Mad Murphy]

Stunning ... Well spotted

 

[JudyN]

Stunning ... Well spotted

You wouldn't believe the amount of time I spend peering into assorted greenery. Or the positions I have to get into at times to get the best angle - who needs yoga?

 

[Mad Murphy]

You wouldn't believe the amount of time I spend peering into assorted greenery. Or the positions I have to get into at times to get the best angle - who needs yoga?

I would you know..., I photograph one handed while George swings on the other hand like a 20kilo pendulum and get myself twisted into all kinds of strange postitions trying to find the ' best ' angle or 'best' light .. I have a passion for photographing fungi which often sees me in near horizontal positions in woodland or jamming myself between dead tree trunks.

 

[Hemlock]

I wondered who that was - I'll say Hello next time I step over you in the woods.

 

[JudyN]

I would you know..., I photograph one handed while George swings on the other hand like a 20kilo pendulum and get myself twisted into all kinds of strange postitions trying to find the ' best ' angle or 'best' light .. I have a passion for photographing fungi which often sees me in near horizontal positions in woodland or jamming myself between dead tree trunks.

Ha, you get it then... which is why we can never stay clean for any length of time! I keep meaning to photograph fungi, but have decided that it's all about good light, and I'm not good at light. Do you use a flash?

 

[Mad Murphy]

Sometimes I use a flash but a lovely way to photograph fungi is actually to light them with a torch. I will have a look for a couple of photos..

 

[JudyN]

Ooh, I might just try a torch, thank you

 

[Mad Murphy]

These are a couple of shots Ive taken, none of them are with a flash I like the effect I get with my little torch.

https://imgur.com/lUWO2DC

https://imgur.com/lUWO2DC

https://imgur.com/659Egbr

https://imgur.com/KE7PhMm

https://imgur.com/tEKsMFc

https://imgur.com/NixDdWG

 

[JudyN]

Ooh, lovely, thank you for posting these, MM I'll definitely give this a go when the bugs become more scarce - on the walk back from the shops to my son's yesterday I was sidetracked by a large clump of flowering ivy absolutely buzzing with Ivy Bees and was stuck there for 20 mins taking photos. The blimmin' things wouldn't stay still

 

[Hemlock]

What super pics of both fungi and the bee.

 

[Mad Murphy]

@JudyN

So we know you like bugs, do you like the habitat as well? We are replacing windows and found this long abandoned wasp nest.. I love the complex engineering of it.

https://imgur.com/XFFFEUO

https://imgur.com/lpCGoxK

 

[Flobo]

Bugs are truly amazing!
I have no photos, but this year I've seen common blue butterflies down here in 3 different areas. I haven't seen any for a fair few years. When my daughter was little, our lavender bushes used to be full of them!

 

[JudyN]

@JudyN

So we know you like bugs, do you like the habitat as well? We are replacing windows and found this long abandoned wasp nest.. I love the complex engineering of it.

Oh definitely, and even better, they stay still!