a Red Soldier beetle on its way to the top
a shiny false Blister beetle inspects a Buttercup
couple of Two-spot Ladybirds
a couple of Green Snout beetles are at it
male Meadow Grasshoppers noisily rub their legs to attract females
Malachite beetles can excrete a stinking substance to deter attackers
Other insects of the uiterwaarden (3) Grasshoppers, Beetles
The nature reserves in the floodplains of Empel and Hedel are never mowed and therefore sport flowery meadows and bushes in spring
and summertime.
On a warm day the area is buzzing with mosquitoes, flies, bumblebees, bees.
Other critters like Bush crickets, Snout
beetles, Ladybirds and tiny but brave Soldier beetles hop, fly or scurry around between the flowering plants.
I use
a Canon SX70 HS camera to shoot the insects. The camera may not always produce super-sharp images, but the extreme focal
length of 1365 mm allows you to get close while keeping your distance. But depth of field is an issue.
.
The photos are from 2022
onwards.
this Dark Bush cricket seems ready to make the jump
a Great Green Bush-cricket. Watch out, they can bite
a Seven-spot Ladybird
a false Oil beetle on another Buttercup
