Red Milkweed Beetle?

Image Critiques Macro/Close-up Critiques
1

9k_1.jpg
9k_1.jpg2000×1333 2.14 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Mostly for ID. After viewing Ed’s milkweed bug photo, I thought it would be interesting to see if this is also a milkweed bug or beetle but of red variety. Fairly windy so 1/640th.

Specific Feedback

Mostly for id feedback.

Technical Details

Canon 7DII; 1/640th; 9.0; spot; 640 ISO; -1/3.

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2

Excellent composition and depth of field, Jim. I really like this one. I used the Google Lens search and Bugnet returned this ID: Red-femured Milkweed Borer or Red Milkweed Beetle (synonyms) - Tetraopes femoratus

3

Dennis, Thanks. Bugnet (I’ll add this to my how to id library.)

4

This is a really good look at these Red Milkweed beetles Jim. It looks like they are might actually be on a milkweed plant too. Really nice DOF to get all the details sharp, with a good BG, and the colors are true to nature.

5

I was able to key these out as Tetraopes femoratus. The raised area on the pronotum (area behind head) is longer than wide.If so desired I would crop some from the left to get the beetles bigger in the frame…Jim

6

Jim, this is an excellent capture of bugs I have never seen before. Wonderful details, and I like that their positions allow me to see both the face and the back side giving me the full perspective.

7

Shirley, Thank you. Once you know how to find them, they are fairly common around here.

8

9ka
9ka1316×1155 1.23 MB

Jim, Cropped, but maybe too much?

9

Jim, this works for me. That curled leaf now seems to frame the bugs, where before to me I hadn’t noticed that and it was just a part of the image.

10

Perfect! I saw that leaf begging to be part of a frame for the beetles. The relative larger size of the beetles also gives the image a more macro-shot feel to it. Well done…Jim

11

Thank you.

12

Jim: I’m late to this party but do like your crop and the position of the beetles relative to each other and in the frame. We have variants of these critters in our garden but I don’t shoot them often. You’ve inspired me to take another look. >=))>

13

Bill, Like you, I have seen them but was not interested in photos. I took a closer look and decided to give it a try. Very interesting beetles. I read that they have two sets of eyes; lower and upper.