Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Ray on January 10, 2018, 04:45:41 am
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Whilst out for a walk recently in Brisbane, Australia, I came across a cluster of beetles or ladybirds spread over a single leaf.
I wish I'd had a high quality macro lens with me, but all I had was a Nikon D5300 and very basic 18-140 mm zoom. Nevertheless, I managed to get a few shots which are reasonably sharp.
I'm surprised that I couldn't find the name of this species of beetle (or ladybird), during a search on the internet. It has a remarkable, cartoon-like, smiling face on its back. (In case anyone is suspicious, this is not Photoshopped.)
I hope someone reading this can recognize the species. Maybe they are aliens. ;)
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I believe they're harlequin bugs. See http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/leaf/harlequin_bug.HTM.
Nice photo, btw ;)
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The Harlequin bugs look similar but not quite the same as the clearly defined, cartoon smile of my bugs. But thanks for the link.
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It is an immature (nymph) stage of the Blue Bug (Zicrona caerulea).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zicrona_caerulea
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It is an immature (nymph) stage of the Blue Bug (Zicrona caerulea).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zicrona_caerulea
Why are there no images on the internet of this immature stage? A clear and unambiguous impression of a human face on an insect is so remarkable, I would expect to see images of this on the internet.
Perhaps my image in this thread is unique. Perhaps no-one has ever photographed such a scene.
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Perhaps my image in this thread is unique. Perhaps no-one has ever photographed such a scene.
Perhas it's a Ray-bug, never before seen! ;)
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Perhas it's a Ray-bug, never before seen! ;)
That name would be far too simple, Eric. ;)
I would deduce that the beetles on the leaf would be some species of 'Leaf Beetle'. Leaf beetles belong to the family Chrysomelidae, which is a word from Greek and Latin meaning 'Golden Apple'.
The Latin word for a happy facial expression using mouth, but without producing voice, is 'Risus'. Therefore, an appropriate name for this new species of beetle would be Chrysomelidae Risus. Okay? ;D
Below is a 100% crop. I wish I'd been carrying a better quality lens.
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Charming, whatever their name.
And now I suggest that we get rid of the old term "smiley" and henceforth refer to those typographic gems as "ikons risus."
-Eric
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I thought I might resurrect this old thread because of new information I've discovered, which might be interesting to those with an inquisitive mind. ;)
I recently revisited the site where I took the shots of the amazingly human bugs, and this time with a good quality prime lens. Unfortunately, there were no bugs in sight, but I did photograph the same tree where I first discovered the bugs, which has very small, red berries, which I suspect are related the the bugs' appearance, because sometimes some creatures tend to change their appearance to blend in with the environment so they will not be noticed by predators.
As I walked back from the site, using a different route, I came across a placard which identifies the tree.
The tree is, Mallotus Philippenensis Euphorbiaceae Kamala, known for short as Red Kalama. Refer my attached photo. Also on the placard it was mentioned that a certain bug is attracted to the tree for food.
The bug is described as the 'Mallotus Harlequin Bug', but the picture of the bug on the placard looks nothing like my pictures of the bugs. What's going on? The confusion sounds a lot like the confusion of 'climate change'. ;D