APHIDS ! - (enlarge)

This afternoon I had just gone outside to do some 'homework' and

Mike Palermiti had just called. He coaches me a few times a week

on properly using my equipment, especially my 100mm Macro Lens.

While we were chatting, I started to go down the steps from our deck

to the lower level. Just as I had found last year, Aphids were

covering one of the new shoots on our Bittersweet Vine. Ants were

there 'colonizing' them, and I did get a shot of an Ant picking up one

that I will post. This shot is not the best, I feel I should have gotten

better focus. The wind was blowing, it is handheld, but I managed to

get a shot when it was not as breezy. I will post a shot below, taken a

few seconds later where you will see an Ant over the same Aphids.

you will be able to see the size of the leaf compared to the Ant and

the Aphids. I have a few shots of a smaller leaf (the underside)

where it almost reminds me of a 'Nursery' where baby aphids are

being born, there are so many tiny ones. I really don't like Aphids,

they creep me out, but they are a pest that really can destroy our

Garden shrubs and flowers. (any visits always appreciated, Gail)

...

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This is definitely a great capture of the Ant but I wanted to show the Ant picking up the Aphid. When they are Colonizing the Aphids, (for their benefit) they will move the Aphids to a location of their choice. The intelligence of Ants just amazes me.

Hi Gail,  

Congratulations on your insect images.  One thing you might consider in a situation like this is that you need more depth of field, so need to stop down.  Probably that means you simultaneously need to increase the ISO.  

One way I find to practice this when no subjects are around is to use little dabs of putty to hold broom straws vertically along a branchlet of a tree (or similar).  Set the two straws a quarter inch apart and try a different series of f/stops to see what depth of field you get (using manual focus is best).  If you know that f/11 works for straws a quarter inch apart, then try to figure out what works best for an 8th of an inch, etc.   Then when you see an insect target, think of the f/stop you need to set to get the depth of field you want, and adjust your ISO accordingly so that you are using a shutter speed fast enough to avoid blurring by motion of the camera.

A second thing to consider is that when ants herd aphids, they may suddenly take them to another plant which they now regard as a better deal.  I hope to see many more insect pictures from you this summer.

 I once had a huge slide collection of insect pictures but projected the slides for 30+ years for science classes, not realizing that this would bleach them out.  When I went to digital, they had been sitting for another ten years and I found out that about 99% of them were useless to copy onto digital format.

Regards,

Jerry Matchett

Aphids , ugh ! A gardeners nightmare . I knew that ants farmed and milked them , but I've never seen it happening . I'm glad you posted all 3 images showing the ants at work . Your macro work inspires me to have a go , but I could do with a longer focal length lens . An excellent series , I particularly like the close shot of the ant picking up an aphid . Educational and inspireing ! Hope you don't mind , but I've Emailed a link to my brother , he's into macro . Great shots . Bill

Hi Gail,

Excellent use of your Canon 100mm F/2.8 macro lens. Shooting wide open or near it (like F/4, F/5.6) takes advantage of all the optical design that went into producing a lens of higher definition at these close working distances than the normal lens available.

The use of excessing F-stops is USELESS. The compromise obtained justifies buying a cheap lens rather than purchasing a quality lens to do the same kind of work. The benefits of a quality lens are greatly reduced as the f-stop increases.

Owning over 40 macro lens, certainly the world's best, I rarely move the f-stop dial below wide open.

Warmest Regards, Mike

There is traffic here!!!

I made an error above when describing the image of the Ant picking up the Aphid, I meant to say this is NOT a great capture of the Ant. I knew it was totally OUT OF FOCUS, the only reason I posted it was I was wanting folks to see the Ant picking up the Aphid to move it to another location. Sorry about that, I posted that image just before I had to quickly shut down my computer.  Sincere regards, Gail

"Aphids of the word unite

lets call at Gails and catch a bite

All things good and sweet await

Hurry up or we'll be late!"

I think you have achieved what a lot of insect photographers would love to achieve here Gail. Particularly the ant picking up the aphid, its a great testament to your observation and photographic skill.

Just a thought.....If I could persuade the little pests eat grass, then I'd never have to mow the lawn : - )

Compliments!

Alf

Well, I have not yet seen them eat grass, it is usually my favorite of shrubs and flowers. I am going to try getting some images using my Tripod. While 'handholding' was the 'aim' that day, it is pretty tricky when the wind is blowing strong. the Aphids were slower moving than the ants!! Thanks for those kind words Alf and for stopping by!

Yes, traffic, TOO MUCH traffic!! Many thanks for taking the time to comment Maurizio.

Thanks very much for stopping by to critique and for the advice Mike. You more than anyone knows how much I practice with this lens (handholding, manual focus, shooting wide open). I really want to try imaging them with a tripod next time. Hopefully I can obtain better focus.

Sincere regards, Gail

...The underside of this Leaf looked like a safe place for a 'Nursery'. Many of the small leaves had baby Aphids and Parents under them.

Yes, I have learned to be very vigilant when it comes to watching for Aphids. They are so tiny and the color of many of the stems of plants that it is easy to miss them. They can destroy some of the most beautiful plants in no time and are often very difficult to get rid of. I don't mind you sending a link.

 A few years back there was an influx of Aphids from Europe, some trade wind brought them to Canada. They were so tiny, and almost ivory in color. I always soak my LETTUCE, BROCCOI, etc in WATER with SALT in it, even after I have rinsed it to get the dirt out of it. Doing this will cause any insects to come to the surface, thus you are not DIGESTING them and their eggs. One evening I was soaking some Romaine Lettuce for a Caesar Salad. I could almost CHOKE right now thinking of the number of PALE APHIDS that rose to the surface of the water in the bowl. The entire surface was nearly covered in APHIDS !! The evening before I had only rinsed the Romaine, not soaked it in the salt water. I am sure there had to have been APHIDS in that SALAD!!! UKKKK!

Many thanks for dropping by and commenting Bill! warmest regards, Gail

Hi Jerry,

I know the Ants were moving the Aphids, because I could see them moving them. (eg. pic of (out of focus) Ant picking up the aphid. I could see that the Ants were removing the Aphids from the Undersides of the leaves and placing them on top of each other on the tendril. Quite the operation when you think of it. It is unfortunate that you lost most of your Insect Slides. I am sure you were very disappointed. Thank you for stopping by Jerry and sharing your techniques with me.

Warmest regards, Gail

Some great pictures of these little critters, Gail. That one with the ant gently moving the aphid to better territory is a classic whether it's in perfect focus or not. Fascinating.

I had a lot of trouble with aphids last year in my balcony garden. They really went for the eggplant and I was out their every day with sticky tape trying to thin their ranks. Then one day I noticed another couple of bugs and I thought another insect army was invading. I started removing these too until one morning I saw one on a leaf with an aphid in its pincers. It was snacking on it. I did a little research and found out these were ladybug larva whose principle diet is aphids. Within 10 days there wasn't an aphid to be found. So if you have any ladybugs in the area, be sure to encourage them to drop by.

Thanks for the compliment Jack. You know I have discovered a few years ago that Ladybugs love Aphids!!!! In 2009 we lived in An Adult Lifestyle Community (classy name for a Retirement Village!!). I waundered down to the Clubhouse Outdoor Pool one afternoon and right beside the steps to the pool I found this Thistle plant in the Garden. There was a few Ladybugs just having the 'Buffett'!!!!! I noticed a few LADYBUGS on the leaves of the Bittersweet Vine, but they were really tiny, had a darkish brown background with almost an ivory/peach spots, never seen them before ever!!! Ladybugs are the best way to get rid of them, we don't have that many anymore. Some places sell them. The only other way I have been able to get rid of them is to spray a water/soap solution on them but it sometimes ruins the look of the 'plant' depending on what it is!! Thanks so much for sharing your story with me, I never thought of using 'tape' to get rid of them!!!  BTW in the image I posted with this comment there is some kind of 'worm' that I never could identify, I've seen Ladybug Larvae, but it didn't look like that either, just creepy looking!

Wanted to suggest :)

Ladybugs are ferocious carnivores.

Tiny aphids are nice though. Few of them survive relaunching Life.

They are pest to our flowers but they don't do it on purpose: just to feed.

When observing Life in its perfection, one cannot refrain of thinking of The Master.

Evolution, agree.

(I believe in God ! All seems so magnificently orchestrated...)

Gail, I like your bravery in sharing your journey toward growth through experimentation - lessons learned and all. That is a sign of someone who really wants to get better and is willing to do the work to get there. You always take what people say and try to apply it. There are so many factors to consider for each shot and there are always tradeoffs you must choose. You seem to be in that phase of trying to learn as much technical stuff as you can. Another piece of the game is figuring out what you want a particular image to say to the viewers and then using all the technical knowledge to make the image do what you want it to in a pleasing way. I think you will be awesome when you believe you have enough technical info and you marry both of these ideas together. Even after that you never stop learning more technical ideas and more ways to compose an interesting image. I have enjoyed watching your growth.

Very beautiful macro, great details and colors my dear Gail!!

Hugs

As I told you before I basicly hate bugs, but I love yours!

Regards
Eystein

You changed my mind about whether it is possible to find beauty in a collection of aphids!  Amazing macro work . . .

My best,

michael

Gail, I think you've made some pretty good use here of your macro lens, and also provided some really interesting insights into nature and gardening. Getting the DOF right isn't easy - and no matter, you've shown this whole cycle of nature really well!

Very good subject but lot of problems when this is in our garden,they eat all buds and fresh green on the plant.About all image you did I must say that I find interesting that one with ant so as it is,you discover some new macro subject and we enjoy with your work.My best regards for this weekend.