God's Artistry

While my big lens was at Canon being repaired, I took advantage of playing with my macro lens. Louisiana is full of unusual, and sometimes beautiful, insects. At least I think so! I've thrown in some plants for those that aren't into bugs.

Microcrambus elegans (Elegant Grass-veneer moth)

Wild strawberry

Grasshopper?

Ladybug with a heart.

Carolina Mallow

Sweet love

Carolina Mallow

Tent Caterpillers meeting on the boardwalk.

Sweat bee on Daisy Fleabane

I've learned a life lesson by observing and photographing bugs: Once I realized how God poured so much artistry, detail, and thought into each creature, they've become difficult to despise or swat away. Carrying that same thought out to people, if we really and truly got to know them, wouldn't that knowledge make it harder to push them aside or ignore? Maybe I'm not articulating this right, but I feel I'm onto something! :) We don't take the time to SEE. Do y'all get what I'm saying? 

Mostly Macros

Still cleaning out my hard drive. I plan to take as many photos in 2014 (Lord willing) and my Mac is getting a little full—kinda like me on Thanksgiving Day. Time to purge and make room! Photos taken in July and August, 2013.

Edited to add: Common Housefly
Thanks, Linda, for asking!

This bottle fly is either eating something or about to deposit an egg sac.

Is this an immature grackle? Not sure.

Assassin bug eating a bottle fly.

Mealybug. Cute like a poodle, but deadly for plants. :/

Cute little jumping spider. 

Monarch caterpillar?
Black swallowtail - thanks, Kim!

Linking with Our World Tuesday.

More Flutterbys!

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome back on my last post! It made my heart swell with joy to know that so many of you still care. Group hug! I replied to everyone that had a return email address attached to their Google account, but several of you didn't. FYI

My fuzzy memory can't remember how long I've had the 100mm macro lens, but I can tell you that it has rarely left my camera body since I received it. Bertha and this lens make a good marriage, I think! The poor 100-400mm lens lies neglected in my camera bag, pining away for Bertha. But what can I do? This new lens has me smitten right now. Is it possible that a camera lens has the ability to stimulate serotonin levels? Maybe I can throw these happy pills in the trash soon.

Macro photography is CHALLENGING, y'all! Why is it, when I'm walking around in this Hades-like climate, there is no breeze to cool me off? Yet the minute I point my camera at something, Mr. Breeze makes an appearance, laughing maniacally at me, I'm certain. Despite my often loud protestations and proclamations of The wind is not my friend, while begging it to CALM DOWN FOR ONE BLASTED SECOND, it continues to annoy at the worst possible moments! And just when I think I've somehow convinced Mr. B to be still, my subject moves, or worse, flies off. Maybe that's why I never get bored with doing macro shots, because just the idea of getting that perfect image is such a thrill. 

Now, on with the show! These were all taken the last week of August and first week of September at Independence Park in Baton Rouge.

Monarch

Spicebush Pipevine swallowtail
Thanks for the correction, Kim!

Talk about flitting about! These guys are constantly fluttering their wings while they feed.
Out of 200 shots I'll bet 5 had decent focus on the wing markings.

Silver-spotted skipper - a first for me.
I only had a handful of chances with this rare sighting. I'm still stalking his whereabouts to do better.

Fiery skipper (pretty sure)
Skippers are some of my favorites with those soulful brown eyes.

Eastern tiger swallowtail

A beautiful specimen with no tears on the wings.

Long-tailed skipper

Anybody know what type of butterfly this will turn into?
I have nearly Googled myself to death. Help!
Update: Thanks, Tammy & Hilary for helping me identify this is a clouded sulphur!

The Destroyers

Oh, happy day! The azaleas in front of the house are getting ready to bloom again! It made me giddy to know that we do indeed have the Encore Azaleas. As I was admiring the new blooms I noticed an interesting caterpillar so I hurried inside to retrieve trusty Mabel II (my camera). After my eyes became adjusted to the foliage I noticed more and more and more of these suckers until I was all, "We've got a frickin' army of these things! This can't be good." 

It was about to rain so I went inside to consult with Google. Turns out these are azalea caterpillars or datana major. Azalea leaves are their crack, but they'll also settle for apple, blueberry, red oak and rhododendron. 

Today was a clear day so I continued my observations, noting that the bushes these little devils were on the night before were pretty bare, and "the family" were now latched onto the next bush, having themselves an enormous feast.

As much as I wanted, I just could not harm them; after all, they are God's creatures doing what they were designed to do, but I felt for my azaleas as well! Not fair to them, right? So I hand plucked each caterpillar, gently placing them in a plastic container as green goop ran down my arm. I don't know if they puked or pooped on me, but EWWWW! Being a nature-loving gal has its down side for sure.

I got a little too close with my camera and this one reared back, trying to threaten me I think. But I just laughed.

Another angry little devil. Hee!

My little captives. I even threw in some crack so they wouldn't have withdrawals. It was the least I could do.

Safely at the edge of the woods behind our house, hoping they do not find their way back!

And that was a good portion of my Saturday afternoon! Hope you had more fun than me. Or is it I?

Edit: Thanks to Hilary at The Smitten Image for selecting this post for Post of the Week! I always have a good day if I win POTW. I was having a pretty sucky week on the new job until today, then I came home and found this. Thanks again, Hilary! :)