Denizen - Frolicking ...

[MarkB1]

Occasionally I see these huge beetles flying around the garden, with a loud buzz to match. They do command attention.

The ones I get close to though are already stopped, such as the one pictured – I call them Leopard Beetles, for the markings – frolicking in the flowers.

It was climbing around one of the straw flowers, munching away on the pollen, so I took the opportunity for a few shots.

Others I have seen in the flowers of the garden have ended up as food for the Kookaburra or the Pied Magpie. Two who keep a close eye out for a morsel.

[P Plates]

Stunning as always with amazing detail.

[MarkB1]

Cheers PP ...

[eaglem]

Great markings on this one.

[millicat]

I'm loving the flower petals more than the beetle lol .. The 2nd and 4th one are my faves

[MarkB1]

Thanks for comments all, appreciated ...

[HansE]

Fantastic.
You would never know what these things look like otherwise. Must have a go at this. I remember years ago we had a club member who used to put his subjects in the fridge to slow them down.
Hans

[MarkB1]

Fantastic.
You would never know what these things look like otherwise. Must have a go at this. I remember years ago we had a club member who used to put his subjects in the fridge to slow them down.
Hans

Thanks Hans. I've never had to slow a bug down, there's always another if one is too fast. The key is to enjoy, isn't it.

If you don't have a dedicated macro lens you can always put an achromat on a zoom to good effect. This http://www.ki.tng.de/~sgude/achromats.html has good info, just not recently updated.