Bugs and such

This georgeous insect was kind enough to spend several minutes posing for me. In Europe, the non-clear-winged damselfiles are called "demoiselles," but I do not know if the name applies to North Americal species. The flight of this insect is almost flirtatious, unlike the precision of the dragonfly.

It even changed its position to allow different views. A vain insect, and rightly so.

It did this a few times -- coquettishly, because by the time I got it in focus it was back to its prim, wings-together stance. But I managed to grab this.

Damselflies are carnivores, generally eating insects we're happily rid of. This is the last thing those insects see.

Went to town with the macro lens this morning to try and stalk this guy, who is smaller and different in coloration from other bumble bees (who were in profusion, too). Forty pictures later, this was the best I could do. They are a lot flightier than regular bumble bees. And I have just learned it is a Bombus perplexus , the cuckoo bee. Really!

Depth of field when this close, even at f11, is approximately zero. Fly would not sit still to allow the multiple exposures necessary for focus stacking. Oh, well.

Whether this has anything to do with Jimmy and his cracked corn is unknown to me. Was easier to photograph than that bizarre yellow bee, though!

Again, a total mystery. All I know about it is that it's almost too small to photograph with this rig.

Really, really small. A hair over a quarter-inch long. And, as you can see, really difficult to focus on, especially on a windy day!