Iron Cross Blister Beetle Laying Eggs

Image Critiques Macro/Close-up Critiques
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OwensValleyBlisterBeetleTD.jpg
OwensValleyBlisterBeetleTD.jpg2000×1407 973 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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Description

This is an Iron Cross Blister Beetle from the Owens Valley on the East side of the Sierra Nevada Range. I believe it was laying its grey eggs on this little plant.

Specific Feedback

Cropped to about 25 % of original frame. Any comments are welcomed.

Technical Details

Canon 60D, f4, 1/3200 s, iso 400, 24-105 lens at 105 mm. Minimal Topaz denoise applied.

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1 Like
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What a cool critter! Love his colours against the green spikey leaves.
The eggs are great, but hard to define - playing a little with removing the stuff around them, so they are sharp, would be good.
The busy BG is not a problem to me, as long as the beetle and eggs are clear.
Great find!

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Very cool, Ed. I really like the beetle. The eggs are a trifle hard to distinguish, but they’re probably safer that way.

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Thank you @SandyR-B and @Dennis_Plank. I’m pretty sure those are eggs being laid. . . You’re right about it being hard to distinguish.

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Ed: Great detail on the beetle and eye popping color. I like your DOF management here. Not sure how you could bring out the detail in the eggs but this stands well even without them. Nice find and a fine capture. >=))>

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Ed, wonderful colors and details in this little gal. I have never seen or heard of one of these. Must be just located out west. I think I see the grey eggs in the larger view. Outstanding.

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Ed, this is what I had in mind, when suggesting the eggs could be better-defined:

OwensValleyBlisterBeetleTD.copy EdW copy
OwensValleyBlisterBeetleTD.copy EdW copy807×1129 562 KB

1 Like
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Thank you Sandy. That really helps define them better.

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Thank you @Bill_Fach and @Shirley_Freeman. Yes, this is a desert species, and apparently they can live up to their common generic name of blister beetle with some nasty burns from fluid oozing out of their legs when disturbed, or it may even be fatal if it is ingested. https://sabinonaturalists.org/critters/iron-cross-blister-beetle/

1 Like