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First noticed this charcter on the leaf of a wild onion stalk. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen one before. Then again, I may have seen one in passing and thought it was a brown paper wasp. I know, at first I thought this was a wasp. Focusing in with my macro lens, I imediately noticed the halteres and realized it was a wasp mimic. The shape and size of the eyes, along with the antennae were other indicators. It’s a docile fly and seemed oblivious to the setting up the field stacking rig. I even went as far as securing the base of the onion plant with a plamp. I sat photographing the fly for well over an hour. It seem quite content blowing bubbles the entire time. Photographing this proved to be a challenge, particularly when it came to exposure. Background was sandy banks of the bayou and light green vegetation coupled with a dark subject in the foreground. At first I tried to use a 12” reflector but the canopy from the trees wasn’t allowing enough light in for proper illumination. Finally had to resign myself to using a flash with DIY diffuser to augment illumination. Subsequent research has shown the critter in question is a Pyrgota undata, Waved Light Fly. It's a parasitic insect. Females lay an egg under the elytra of June beetles. The fly larvae consumes the host and then pupates inside the remains to emerge the next spring.. Nasty little buggers.
%Tue, 11 September 2018
m1500 x 1202 pixels