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Walking the tight-rope
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Walking the tight-rope

by Gary Yeoh

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted March 7, 2010137 views8 comments
Haven't been active in this gallery for awhile. Now that I have finished sorting out photo from my recent Japan trip, I am back hunting bugs.

Saw this bug walking on a vine across a morning glory in a drizzly Sunday morning. It is probably an assassin bug but I find an exact matching image in Bug-guide (ID appreciated if someone knows what this is).

D90 Nikkor105 1/3sec F/16 iso200 tripod cable release. Thanks for looking and comments appreciated.

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Charles Younger on March 7, 2010 at 10:16 AM
These dark brown bugs can be difficult to find in good light. I have a similar one to ID. I think I would like to see some of the finer detail that a reduction in saturation can bring out. It's very nicely composed.

Charles
Registered on January 15, 2010, 151 Posts, 269 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Moats on March 7, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Hey Gary, cool critter and good details, I would light him up a bit. Nice contrast with the flower.
Registered on October 20, 2004, 892 Posts, 6324 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Borzynski on March 7, 2010 at 3:12 PM
Gary -

Where was this shot? Your signature indicates Hong Kong and you've posted a number of butterflies that are not North American. BugGuide only shows images from the United States and Canada.

While those front legs don't look vegetarian, I might also look at seed bugs, leaf-footed bugs and squash bugs. Except for those front legs, it reminds me a lot of the western conifer seed bugs.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 109 Posts, 799 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on March 7, 2010 at 4:51 PM
I can't help with the ID; I like this composition with the flower as BG.

D&L
Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on March 7, 2010 at 9:37 PM
Dan:
This is taken in Hong Kong. I looked at your suggestions and I think this is probably a leaf footed bug (Acanthocephala femorata).
Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments
Comment posted by John Kerr on March 7, 2010 at 10:09 PM
Hi Gary, I'd have to agree with the Leaf-Footed Bug. That's the closest ID I can find in the Simon & Schuster's guide. Great BG to complement the insect with the dew covered flower.
Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Borzynski on March 8, 2010 at 12:47 AM
I think you may be in the right family (Coreidae) but I have doubts about the id of Acanthocephala femorata. This is a species native to the southeastern United States, which makes me question it being in Hong Kong. It certainly wouldn't be impossible - I've photographed more than my share of non-native species here in the US midwest but without additional confirmation, I'm hesitant about the certainty of the id. Unfortunately, I don't know of any good web references for insects outside of North America, butterflies excepted.

In either case, it is still a nice photo. Having the bug position right in front of the light flower really draws you eye to the insect.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 109 Posts, 799 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on March 8, 2010 at 12:03 PM
Nice capture, Gary. I would go with Mike's suggestion and brighten up the insect a bit, but otherwise it's quite nice.
Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments