Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Last summer the family took a vacation to the ‘upper peninsula’ of Michigan. There we stayed in a rented lakeside cabin for several days, and from that base we could see the spectacular scenery associated with the great lakes. Well, the wife and kids did that. I just wanted to hike through woods and fields with the camera to look for bugs. To each there own! I will have a few posts about this trip.
The first picture shows a mating pair of square-headed wasps (looks like Ectemnius sp.). Don’t get to see wasps mating too often.
Mating square-headed wasps by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Next is a great spangled fritillary butterfly (Speyeria cybele), followed by a kind of flower longhorn beetle (Trigonarthris sp.).
Great spangled fritillary by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Flower longhorn beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Speaking of longhorns, larger species were common up north. Especially the white-spotted sawyer (Monochamus scutellatus).
white-spotted sawyer by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Next is an interesting fly. Getting the ID took a while, but this is a Syrphid fly, genus Chalcosyrphus. The little jumping spider is the bronze jumper, Eris militaris.
Syrphid fly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Bronze jumping spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Bringing up the rear, we visited the Tahquamenon waterfalls, which definitely had a lot of falling water as advertised -- but look at this cool orbweaver spider! These were quite common along the fern and tree-lined trails to and from the falls. Their large webs were usually not occupied in the day time.
Orbweaver spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
More often than not they were in hiding. One had to look in the upper left and right corners of the web for a “sincere” looking rolled up leaf that promised to hide a fat spider. Scissors (which are one of the most useful tools in my kit) were used to expose one while it still hid in its retreat.
Orbweaver spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Orbweaver spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
There are several candidate species in the genus Araneus, and they can be hard to ID since they are quite variable. But because of a slight detail I will hazard the ID to be the cross orbweaver, A. diadematus.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

These are really good, Mark. Definitely a great amount of skill demonstrated here.
--Bob

tinusbum Loc: east texas

nice,love the last two!

napabob Loc: Napa CA

very nice set, well done

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

An excellent set.

Carusoswi

I agree, great pictures. Would you care to comment on your setup? Did you use fill-flash, macro lens, extension tubes. Just curious.

I have visited those falls as a child (I am a child no longer).

Would love to get back there sometime.

Caruso

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Thank you (and everyone). For these pictures I use a Canon T5i body, and the Canon 100mm macro. For extra small things I also use the Raynox 150 diopter on the macro lens to boost magnification. Lighting is by the weird Laowa dual head flash with diffusers made from instant noodle soup bowls and foam wrapping sheet material.

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

A very nice set!

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

A really intersting set. I particularly like the Syrphid fly, I would never have recognised it as being in the same group as the Hoverflies that I see in the summer. All very nicely shot of course.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Mind boggling! Fantastic skill demonstrated here.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Outstanding in every way possible..!

LindaBowers Loc: Hilton, NY

Love the shot of the orb weaver peeking out of the leaf. And the bronze jumper too!

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

A really great set Mark. I really enjoyed "going along" on your hike. Looks like a great lalce to hunt and shoot. A really fine job.
-Doc

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Fantastic.

Mike