What kind of insects are these: I finally got the macro out again. We have some bugs to shoot. Does anyone know what kind of fly this is. I couldn't find anything that looks like this...

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I finally got the macro out again. We have some bugs to shoot.
Does anyone know what kind of fly this is. I couldn't find anything that looks like this in my ID books.
This second picture has a focus problem, but does anyone know what he is?

ShooterOR

Country's Mama wrote:

I finally got the macro out again. We have some bugs to shoot.
Does anyone know what kind of fly this is. I couldn't find anything that looks like this in my ID books.
This second picture has a focus problem, but does anyone know what he is?

Nikonian is knowledgeable with bugs.... I'm sure he will be able to tell you.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

There are thousands of different flies. Use this website to find an ID photo: http://www.whatsthatbug.com/category/flies

I do not recognize the pollen-covered insect. Could be a wasp.

ShooterOR

I feel like this might be a Blue Mud Dauber... but I wouldn't bet my shrinking pension.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

ShooterOR wrote:

I feel like this might be a Blue Mud Dauber... but I wouldn't bet my shrinking pension.

Too tiny for a mud dauber and the mud dauber is wasp like. This guy was more the size of a leaf hopper.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

ShooterOR wrote:

I feel like this might be a Blue Mud Dauber.

Insect's waist looks to thick to be a mud dauber: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_mud_dauber

ShooterOR

Nikonian72 wrote:

ShooterOR wrote:

I feel like this might be a Blue Mud Dauber.

Insect's waist looks to thick to be a mud dauber: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_mud_dauber

Thanks. A little hard to tell without knowing the size and with all that pollen stuck on!

colo43 Loc: Eastern Plains of Colorado

It looks like a Horse fly to me.

ShooterOR

colo43 wrote:

It looks like a Horse fly to me.

The second one? Not to me, but I'm no expert.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

colo43 wrote:

It looks like a Horse fly to me.

No, I don't think so. He was pretty little. I don't think a horse fly would fit in the frame at 1:1. This guy was less than an inch long the picture has been cropped down some, maybe 30%. How can you tell what the % cropped is while you are doing it?

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Country's Mama wrote:

How can you tell what the % cropped is while you are doing it?

You have to relate the size of subject to size of captured image. Read this thread, and duplicate photos of ruler: Todays Adventures http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-30453-1.html

naturepics43 Loc: Hocking Co. Ohio - USA

Country's Mama wrote:

I finally got the macro out again. We have some bugs to shoot.
Does anyone know what kind of fly this is. I couldn't find anything that looks like this in my ID books.
This second picture has a focus problem, but does anyone know what he is?

I think #2 might be some kind of assassin bug. PS Great images!

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

naturepics43 wrote:

I think #2 might be some kind of assassin bug. PS Great images!

Assassin bugs have NO mouth parts, just a long rostrum to inject a lethal saliva that liquefies the insides of the prey, which are then sucked out.

Assassin bug

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

naturepics43 wrote:

Country's Mama wrote:

I finally got the macro out again. We have some bugs to shoot.
Does anyone know what kind of fly this is. I couldn't find anything that looks like this in my ID books.
This second picture has a focus problem, but does anyone know what he is?

I think #2 might be some kind of assassin bug. PS Great images!

Thank you.

naturepics43 Loc: Hocking Co. Ohio - USA

Nikonian72 wrote:

naturepics43 wrote:

I think #2 might be some kind of assassin bug. PS Great images!

Assassin bugs have NO mouth parts, just a long rostrum to inject a lethal saliva that liquefies the insides of the prey, which are then sucked out.

Yup! Spoke (typed) too quickly. Should have enlarged image and looked closer. Being so early in the year it may be too young to easily identify. Still a great photo!