Macros

[Dave]

This one, taken more than 15 years ago but just now completely reprocessed, is special to me for a couple of reasons:

1) It's the first one of my photos that won an award (3rd place at my art league's large annual members show) and that got me thinking I might have some talent as a photographer.

2) The judge of the show went out of her way to help everyone; she took the time to write several comments, both positive and gently critical, on a 3 x 5 card and attached it to the back of every photo, painting, drawing, sculpture, etc. in the show - and there were over 100 items. I never again had a judge be that helpful.

Of this photo the judge noted that it was all about circles and arcs, and observed that the colors needed some correction (which I think I did OK in this reprocessing)...

   

C&C is always welcome.

[Man From Ironbark]

What a delightful image. Shows that ladybirds are also pollinators. I know the rule here is that the shiny or glossy ladybirds are beneficial in that they eat things like aphids. The Matt or dull ones are plant eaters. Such as here, the 28 spotted ladybird has a dull matt surface and it ruins any of the family Cucurbit, which is all your pumpkiins, zucchini, cucumbers and melons.

[Dave]

Thank you MFI.

I hadn't heard that the glossy ladybugs were beneficial and the matte ones unwanted - good to know.

[Man From Ironbark]

Well I'm not sure whether that is the case in the USA. I know it is the case here in Australia. The 28 spotted ladybird is a seasonal pest that can completely devastate crops from the Cucurbit Solanum(tomatoes and potatoes) and Fabaceae(beans and peas).
There are also different reasons for not liking ladybirds or bugs as some incorrectly call these beetles, in the USA. The multicoloured Asian Ladybird tend to gather together inside the house in winter but useful in the garden in summer, in the USA.