p.1 #1 · Emerald Cuckoo Wasp - 13 pix, couldn't help it. :)
There is a palm tree in the garden, like no other palm tree around. But like all palm trees it drops its leaves, or branches, periodically - especially after the wet. It also flowers periodically, and this one is flowering now for the first time in three years, that I know of. And it seems to produce nectar first thing in the morning, for only about an hour. For that hour the flowers are royally attended by a host of creatures that are about and enjoy a little nectar for breakfast.
I picked this beauty up out of a container of water beneath the tree and put it on a nearby post of rounded wood and it went about its business of drying out, cleaning off and warming up.
While it did this I went about my business of taking pictures. It can be difficult when the creature is always moving around but that gives opportunity for different shots, and I trust I got a few of this rare beauty.
When we were done I gave her a sup of honey, and when she was done with that – which was a long time later – I put her in the sunshine and she launched herself into the air and was gone.
p.1 #11 · Emerald Cuckoo Wasp - 13 pix, couldn't help it. :)
orionmystery wrote:
Great set, Mark. Gorgeous wasp. Looks really similar to the one (and only) i found. How big was it? I had to photograph mine at 3x on crop sensor.
Thanks Kurt. This was around 1.5cm long and I was using the FZ50 with achromats stacked. That's a steady WD of around 2" with an internally zooming lens - small and very manageable.
