Insect-Aside Volume 4

Aphid ranching, predation, and SPIDERS.

Above and two below, ants herding aphids.  Ants feed and protect the aphids and the aphids in turn provide a sweet, nutritious secretion for the ants.  Everyone is happy. 

American Hover Fly getting a taste. 

SURPRISE!!!

The shot above shows a spider which lay in wait for the hapless honey bee on a thistle..

The Bridges At LaBenite

                  Hiway 291 Bridges over the Missouri River at Sugar Creek's LaBenite Park.

Insect-Aside Volume 3

More from the insect world.  The shot above was taken by reversing a 50mm lens using an adapter.  Turns it into a super macro.  You have to get really close though and a lot of bugs won't put up with that.

 All photos taken with the Nikon F4 using Kodachrome 25 or 64.

 Just enjoying the view.

 Above and below, bugs in love..... nsfw

Insect-Aside Volume 2

More from the tiny life of bugs.  All shots either Kodachrome 64 or 25, Nikon F4, Nikon 105mm macro lens.  Some available light, some flash.

Below, ants as herders.  Ants have a symbiotic relationship with some aphids...protecting them from parasites and predators as the aphids produce a sugary substance the ants crave...it's fascinating behavior. I'll have more images of this behavior in a future post.

Insect-Aside, Volume 1

To help forget about the COLD and be reminded of warmer times, I present the following closeup images of insects.  All taken in the 1990s using Kodachrome 64 or 25, Nikon F4, and 105mm micro lens.  Their world is very interesting.  More tomorrow.

Posing, Emine Moth

Cuckoo Wasp

 Small fly on thistle. 

 Red-banded leafhopper

 Dragon fly

 Very tiny leafhopper...about 1/2 the size of your pinky nail. 

Brownstone Renewal Ongoing

 The William Chick Scarritt home (1887) continues it's return to glory with new, upper floor, windows.  Special order thermal since they are curved.  Only two panes left to install.  This house has come a long, long way since it burned a year and a half ago.

City View

                           Kansas City skyline from the site of the Scout in Penn Valley Park.