Influencing insect behavior

JohanJ · #1 (**permalink**) 24-11-2011, 05:59 PM

Hello,

I was hoping to obtain some advice from folks here about influencing insect behavior -- in particular about making some surfaces more attractive than others.

To explain, I'm a mad keen photographer and one of my winter projects is to create a small indoor studio setup to take great shots of insects. Usually I shoot naturally - ie see my macro stuff here: Macro - a set on Flickr - but it's wintertime so there isn't too much around =).

So I'm getting the various bits together but I was hoping for some guidance on the last stage. Ie if I have a cage and want a moth or fly to sit on a branch rather than on a bit of plastic, what's the best strategy.

- Do I spray the branch with something they like and the plastic with something they don't?
- Can I use heat - do they like warm or cold surfaces
- How about light, is this a turnoff or turnon for them?

Many many thanks for any input or advice - if anyone wants to point me at some literature or examples and tell me to go read that, that'd be great too. Any input appreciated!

-Johan

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 24-11-2011, 06:05 PM

The best way with most insects is to pop them in the fridge and lower their metabolism. They then slow down and you can carefully place them where you like, without them moving.

Kayleigh · #3 (**permalink**) 24-11-2011, 06:13 PM

Have a look at Bruce Williams insects he finds them all through the winter in their natural habitat.
His shots are simply amazing.

Have a look at the shots at the bottom of the page.
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...-williams.html

Paul mabbott · #4 (**permalink**) 25-11-2011, 07:22 AM

There are a vast number of insects with a vast range of behaviours - for instance, some are attracted to light, others repelled while some seem indifferent. You can read up on the behaviour of families and orders or make observations. One particular problem is that many insects seek out a background of their own colour so that they are camouflaged - not very good for photography! In some ways, it's better to get them on a contrasting background - easier to focus and get surface details? Good luck.