Options
Arge pangana Sawfly Larvae Threat Display
e6filmuser
Registered Users Posts: 3,378 Major grins
A week or so ago, I noticed that the leaves of a small, self-sown Prunus tree were being stripped to the veins. None of the culprits were to be seen. This happened on several subsequent daily visits.
It seemed likely that the feeding was happening at night and I made a mental note to check after dark. On each further visit, I cursed my continued failure to observe after dark.
On Saturday, I was again blaming myself for not checking at night when I saw what is captured in the following images. I believe this species to be the Large Rose Sawfly Argo pangana, adults of which I see around the garden. (They have a dull, dark yellow, plump abdomen).
I had observed this behaviour on roses, in earlier years, but never on a Prunus. Once, disturbed, the larvae rear up but, in previous instances, soon resume their feeding attitudes, making the display difficult to photograph. This was an exception, the larvae rearing up for prolonged periods and/or repeatedly. I had no problem getting a long session.
These images were with my Kiron 105mm. Close-ups, through my Printing Nikkor 105, will follow in a separate topic.
Olympus EM-1, Kiron 105 at f16, twin flash, hand-held.
Harold
It seemed likely that the feeding was happening at night and I made a mental note to check after dark. On each further visit, I cursed my continued failure to observe after dark.
On Saturday, I was again blaming myself for not checking at night when I saw what is captured in the following images. I believe this species to be the Large Rose Sawfly Argo pangana, adults of which I see around the garden. (They have a dull, dark yellow, plump abdomen).
I had observed this behaviour on roses, in earlier years, but never on a Prunus. Once, disturbed, the larvae rear up but, in previous instances, soon resume their feeding attitudes, making the display difficult to photograph. This was an exception, the larvae rearing up for prolonged periods and/or repeatedly. I had no problem getting a long session.
These images were with my Kiron 105mm. Close-ups, through my Printing Nikkor 105, will follow in a separate topic.
Olympus EM-1, Kiron 105 at f16, twin flash, hand-held.
Harold
0
Comments
Photos: jowest.smugmug.com
Book1: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LUBMI1C
Book 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079V3RX6K
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jo.west.16
Thanks. Just to make the session more interesting for me, they would sometimes project their bodies in a plane other than that of the leaf.
Tomorrow's continuation goes in closer, with a better lens, and something extra.
Harold
Thanks.
Harold