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Toad Bug

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted April 21, 20051,314 views7 comments

This Toad Bug is a little different from the one I posted a few days ago. It's smaller and distinctly redder, seen from above. This may be the male of the same species or a different species altogether - I don't know.

I spent a couple of hours a day over five of the last six days crawling around in the mud photographing these critters, and have got to know and like them quite well. Photographically, the greatest challenge was to capture one with a half-pleasing background.

1DM2 EF180/3.5 macro+50mm tubes, 1/200 @ f/16, ISO 500, manual exp, MR-14EX @ -1/3, handheld at minimum focus. Plainsboro Preserve, NJ, 4/21/2005. Cropped. Solar glints off the wet sand/mud toned down.

I should mention, I saw dragonflies yesterday and today for the first time this year.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by David Gottlieb on April 21, 2005 at 10:46 PM

Man is this strange looking..A really cool alien

Registered on November 1, 2003, 436 Posts, 1790 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Harrison on April 22, 2005 at 5:43 AM

Nicely captured Tam. I can imagine how hard it is getting a pleasing background. I have tried to shoot some wildflowers and it was a nightmare. Well done.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 468 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Terri Norris on April 22, 2005 at 7:32 AM

What strange little bugs! The BG here is fine...maybe a bit of noise, but good IMHO.
What kind of environment are you seeing these in, Tam?

Registered on November 1, 2003, 395 Posts, 2402 Comments

Comment posted by William Brozy on April 22, 2005 at 9:03 AM

Very cool Tam. Obviously, this is one tiny critter (smaller than an Ambush Bug?) actually I'm going to Google this insect and learn a little something about it. Nice capture!!!

Registered on November 9, 2003, 559 Posts, 2929 Comments

Comment posted by Tam Stuart on April 22, 2005 at 10:32 AM

<b>Terri</b>, I'm finding them on sandy and muddy soil, and among dead high-water litter at the edge of a small lake - within 5 feet and mostly within 2 feet of the water edge - where the soil slopes gently down to the water. Don't know if it's relevant, but so far the two places I've found them were on the south or east side of the lake. I looked, but didn't find any on the west side. At first you'll only spot them when they walk or hop - often in response to your presence, and within a few feet of you. Good luck - they're fun.

<b>Will</b>, they're considerably smaller than a Tiger Beetle, "10 mm or less" vs. 6 to 40 mm, (mostly 10-20 mm)" according to Peterson. About half the size from what I've observed. There are brown Tiger Beetles in the same area, though TBs range further from the lake shore. I made my positive identification from what I found on Google. That face is unique - Peterson only has a dorsal view.

I observed TBs pounce on Toad Bugs, but they parted undamaged.

Registered on November 17, 2003, 113 Posts, 1600 Comments

Comment posted by Terri Norris on April 23, 2005 at 7:55 PM

Thanks for the info, Tam. Seems like macro photography teaches us that life is everywhere...I'll be looking for these guys!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 395 Posts, 2402 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Benner on April 27, 2005 at 5:29 AM

Wonderfully creepy and alienesque. Great image.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments