Insect Mouthparts-Difficult to shoot...

[3vilX]

Hi, My grandparents have a cottage in Blackpool that happens to be by a rural farm & small flooded grasslands. I could get shots of many animals there, and even real samples if needed, so if there are any shots you are looking for, ask me

But, the one thing that interests me the most is what looks to be a horsefly. Ive not found many pictures of its most interesting mouth parts;
The insect has;

It has a brown body, like a small/medium moth (smaller than a "King moth" or those ones that get stuck in the loft) XD

Its eyes are red or brown to my recollection, I odnt remember any patterns on the eyes. The eyes look like that of a houseflies.

It has a red/pink mouth thatopens sideways, & looks like outward folding teeth. But they open up to reveal a small tube.

It flies round with a low humming noise I can not really describe, & it hovers around probing with its tubular mouthpart looking for a blood supply.

My guess is, they feed on the cattle, and go to the pond or the marsh to spawn. They are active in the summer.

http://www.cirrusimage.com/Flies/hor..._Tabanus_2.jpg is the image with the best description I found.

My usual reaction to hearing their wingbeat or seeing one pester me is to run away; going ew ew ew ewwwwwww...

But, no one has documented their extremely interesting mouthparts, and, as they only open up to probe for blood, if they do not find any they will hover to another spot, closing their mouth & ruining the shot. Pluse, I dont want to get bit by one. Anyone got any ideas? I only have a mobile phone with a camera, so if anyone oculd recommend a cheap camera good for small-in depth shots I would be glad to listen. Thanks. Also, if I wear insect repellant, they wont appear & I cant get a shot anyway.

[Paul mabbott]

Mouthparts are difficult to shoot unless you've got the animal actually feeding (even better if you've got it in a box from which it can't escape). Not just flies, true bugs, for instance, only extend their mouth parts (rostra) when the're actually feeding, other times they're cuved under their bodies; the probocis of a butterfly is curled up [i]etc etc[i].
Like lots of minute features you need to get really close and not frighten the insect away - not easy

If you have a captive animal you can achieve this by cooling it down or increasing the CO2 level in its container. This can be useful for other small parts but, of course, the animal will not then have its mouthparts extruded!

So, the only answer is patience ..... sorry! There are lots of recommendations about macro-capable cameras in the photography section.

[nightshade]

If you were REALLY serious you would make any sacrifice for the shot,
bare that arm

[thes3raph1m]

microwave a raw steak till its warm... instant cattle blood! then set up your macro lense on a tripod or something and wait...

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by thes3raph1m

microwave a raw steak till its warm... instant cattle blood! then set up your macro lense on a tripod or something and wait...

I have no idea but I wonder if that would work. Their behaviour is to penetrate skin - I seem to recall that they are attracted to body heat but also the smell of urine .... I don't really want to make any suggestions here ...

[3vilX]

Guess it's gonna be real tricky...
I could use multiple meat produce as well as steak & see what happens, maybe chicken skin will do or something. I will sit out in the sun with camera ready and see what happens though. I would be astonished if I actually got a head on shot.

Another method would be to just catch & kill the thing, and then attempt to open the jaws myself. I dont want to capture one, nor do I want to kill it coz they creep me out despite having the most amazing jaws.

I think I will just take some meat out and leave it inthe sun, then sit awaiting with my camera. There are other issues though. Just how many will come to the piece of meat, because one or two would be ideal, any more and the shot would be ruined, plus, I want them to take interest in the meat, NOT me.

Thanks for the advice guys, I will track down a reasonably priced camera capable of such shots, for my intention is to document the wildlife around my cottage, and nothing more. I am not a fan of natural documentation, rather, just witnessing it myself.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by 3vilX

Another method would be to just catch & kill the thing, and then attempt to open the jaws myself. I dont want to capture one, nor do I want to kill it coz they creep me out despite having the most amazing jaws.

Also worth noting that the horse fly does not have jaws. Infact a series of 9 instruments, which basically cut the flesh causing it to bleed this is then sucked up with its labium. Unsure how effective dead meat will work, you will attract alot of non target species of fly which would be interesting, would use raw steak myself. Although you arm would be better bait.

[Paul mabbott]

.... but make sure it's not the one you hold your camera with

Originally Posted by Dogghound

....... Although you arm would be better bait.