newtoyou Loc: Eastport

I see people talk about finding or not finding this or that. I was at some oxeye dasies earlier. Here is my technique. Have zip lock bags and a pair of sharp scissors. Do not let your shadow fall on the flowers. DO NOT LOOK FOR SPIDERS OR WHATEVER. See how the flowers look similar? Look for anything different and investigate. Look close if it moves. Watch for a spot of color, any movement. A mirror will allow you to light hidden areas. Many insects will come around to your side of the leaf to escape light. You can photo or take flowers home and shoot at leasure. Some things are minute. Today I got three crab spiders. About 0.5 mm. One larger. 4 or 5 jumping spiders. All sizes, and a lot Ihave to look at. True bugs, flies,beetles. I believe most people see less than one in ten or less of the insects in sight. Hundreds or more hidden. I saw more, but this is enough. I turn them loose on my plants or back where I find them. Then I trap flies for food. All part of a day's play. Bill

one shot Loc: Pisgah Forest NC

Who eats the flies?

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

The spiders. They think time is fun when you're having flies. Here is a totally different subject, so I post a pic. My pet freshwater clam. About 18 mm wide. About twenty or more years old according to growth lines. Never needs walking. Bill

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Good thinking. I took an image of a little blue butterfly today but once on the computer I saw something nearby but not in sufficient focus for ID. Easy to miss good stuff.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

These are good suggestions. I try not to think of all the things I miss when going out. If I go one way down a trail versus another way, it can be the difference between a great find or nothing very special. Dang it, I thought about it.

Anyway, have you noticed that if you settle down to take pictures of something, then you notice something else that is also camera-worthy. Then something else interesting comes along...

One thing I will do from time to time is use my ancient sweep net. This is a butterfly net with heavy muslin reinforcement around the net opening. Sweeping this back and forth through tall grass and soft brush (watch for thorns), like a broom, is a standard method that entomologists use to collect large #s of arthropods. High dozens at least. Then I settle down and sort through it. The active fliers take off, but there are usually several things worth looking at. This is a great way to find things that you usually don't see.

napabob Loc: Napa CA

yes on the sweep net, several times I've been using the butter fly net for one thing and inadvertently gathered another, and yes also on the seeing one thing leads to seeing another thing, like my obsession with tomato bugs led me to the horn worm eggs, never would have seen them.........the up side is when crawling about I come home with hitchhikers crawling on me, some I've never seen

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Back when I actively collected I used most of those tactics. Was sometimes burdened with gear( just like now with camera gear). Over time I amended methods. A bunch of weeds shaken into a garbage bag was as good. Take all home. Still had light net for flying insects( a sport to itself). Rarely kill anymore. May take photos. Carry vials to this day. Paper rolled up for larger. Whatever works. Ever use pit traps?. That produces surprising results. Truely believe I am blessed with very good perception. Not the same as eyesight. Sixty years at this in all levels have taught me a lot that is not on paper. Nature is grand. The more you know, the grander. Thanks for listening. Thanks for responding.CARPE DIEM. That's Latin, Darlin'.
Bill