Pollination

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Pollination

June 15, 2013 by Mike Powell

As we move through spring, I am finally starting to see more hover flies and bees, busily at work collecting food and pollinating the flowers.

The insect in the first photo is, I believe, an American Hover Fly (Eupeodes americanus). A year ago, I would almost certainly have called it a bee, but I have learned a lot about insects since then, thanks to my photography.

The second photo feature a beautiful variegated flower and what looks to be a honey bee, though it’s a little difficult to make a positive identification, because of the angle.

It’s early in the season, so I am having to recall some lessons from last year, like the need to pay attention to my distance. In my desire to get closer, I have already managed a few times to bump the flower and scare off the bee, forgetting that the lens hood on my macro lens is pretty big.

Posted in Flowers, Gardening, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography | Tagged Alexandria VA, American Hover Fly, Apis, bee, brookside gardens, Canon 100mm macro lens, Canon Rebel XT, Eupeodes americanus, honey bee, hover fly | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on June 15, 2013 at 2:37 am | Reply USA PRESS STAFF

Reblogged this on USA Zorro Press.
on June 15, 2013 at 5:17 am | Reply New Hampshire Gardener

I have trouble with the bee / hoverfly thing too, sometimes.
on June 15, 2013 at 6:28 am | Reply jeaninjackson

Wow, I can’t wait till I can get a macro lens. What lens do you use and what do you recommend for a T3 ?
- on June 15, 2013 at 4:48 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I use the Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens. It’s currently about $550. There is an image-stabilized version for about $900, but I think the one I have is a better buy. I try to use it as often as I can on a tripod and image-stabilization is not needed (and usually is turned off when on a tripod). There is a 60mm macro lens that is a little cheaper, but requires that you get closer, which is ok for flowers, but not so ok for insects. During the winter, I didn’t use my macro much, but I am rediscovering my love for it now that spring is here.
  - on June 15, 2013 at 6:06 pm jeaninjackson
    
    i have looked at the 60mm. After seeing these shots I will go for the 100 mm(cheaper one). I also have looked at the Tamron 18-270. It is suppose to be really sharp and the best walk around lens at that price range. Anyway, I think I have my next two lens picked out. Thanks
on June 15, 2013 at 9:50 am | Reply uthamz

Beautiful colors !
Eye-catching shots !

Congrats !

utham
on June 15, 2013 at 11:06 am | Reply Ed

Bee pics are cool but bees covered in pollen are really cool..great shots..:-)
on June 17, 2013 at 12:27 am | Reply Sue

Very sharp and crisp photos, Mike.
- on June 17, 2013 at 4:42 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sue. I am sure that I will have some more bee photos as we move into summer, but these are some of my first ones of the spring, so I decided to post them. (Later I’ll worry more about things like composition).)