False Garden Mantis, (Pseudomantis albofimbriata)

The egg sac of a False Garden Mantis, (Pseudomantis albofimbriata), adhered to the trunk of a young Plum tree.

1/250 - f/16 - ISO400 - macro
 

False garden Mantis underside

 

One thing about photographing a False garden Mantis (Pseudomantis albofimbriata), is they always seem to be upside down. So here's a shot, taken from above, showing the underside of the Mantis. This specimen is a male.

1/200 - f/9 - ISO100 - diffused flash

Zebra Cactus Flower Macro

 

Here's a macro shot of a Zebra Cactus flower, (Haworthia fasciata), isolated from the background using a telephoto lens and macro extension tube.

1/250 - f/8 - ISO200 - 135mm + 31mm macro extension

Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis) 'Luscious Grape'

 

Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis) 'Luscious Grape'. A small strongly scented flowering low shrub with oval-shaped green leaves. The flower-head is a cluster of several purple to lavender to white funnel-shaped flowers with lobed corollas each nearly a centimeter wide. In Australia, this plant is a noxious weed and is toxic to livestock.

1/200 - f/9 - ISO400 - 55mm macro

Echeveria Pulvinata

 

Flowers of Echeveria pulvinata, called the plush plant, is a species of flowering succulent plant in the genus Echeveria, native to southwest and central Mexico. It has stems tipped with small rosettes of green spathulate leaves covered with silvery-white hairs. The plant produces yellow and orange, bell-shaped flowers.

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1/200 - f/11 - ISO100

Pink Bellied Moth (Oenochroma vinaria)

 

Although moths are known to appear at night, attracted to bright lights, they can also be found resting during the day in various places. The Pink Bellied moth, (Oenochroma vinaria), is common all over Australia. This one was resting on a Hebe bush early morning.

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1/250 - f/8 - ISO400 - external flash and reflector

Grapevine Moth Caterpillar (Phalaenoides glycinae)

 

Many caterpillars are found in gardens, some rarer than others. This one is the caterpillar of the Grapevine Moth, (Phalaenoides glycinae), which I discovered on the leaf of a Fuchsia.

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1/200 - f/9 - ISO100 - diffused flash

Garden Orb Weaver (Eriophora transmarina)

 

The Garden Orb Weaver Spider, (Eriophora transmarina), has many colour variations and can be found in many parts of Australia, including suburban gardens. This specimen was repairing it's web after your's truly accidently walked into it.

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1/200 - f/10 - ISO200 - diffused flash

False Garden Mantis

 

The False garden Mantis, (Pseudomantis albofimbriata), is one of the most common species of mantis in Australia and are either green or brown but rarely may come in other colours. Females have short wings that only cover half of the abdomen, whereas Males have wings that cover the full length of the abdomen.

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1/200 - f/11 - ISO100 - diffused flash -  macro

Plant Hoppers

 

These small insects are known as "hoppers". They are, from left, Passion Vine hopper (Scolypopa australis), Green Flatidae Planthopper  (Siphanta acuta) and Grey planthopper (Anzora unicolor).

1/200 - f/9 - ISO100 - macro

Rose Pest

 

One of the serious problems for rose growers,an infestation of Aphids, (Aphidoidea).

1/200 - f/11 - ISO200 - diffused flash - reversed 55mm

Garden Orb Weaver

 

There are many species of orb weaving spiders. The Australian Garden Orb Weaver, (Eriophora transmarina), is the most common in Australia, ranging in colour from off-white through tan, brown to almost black.

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1/200 - f/8 - ISO200

Skink Lizard

 

The Common garden Skink, (Lampropholis guichenoti), is a species of small common skink endemic to Australia.

1/640 - f/5.6 - ISO200 - 200mm

Blue Flower Head

 

Many plants produce flowers, which gives us a plethera of subjects for photography. The blue hydrangea Evergreen produces small florettes, forming a large flower head.

1/200 - f/8 - ISO200

Elegant Mr Lincoln

 

Keeping an eye on the background when taking a photo can mean the difference between a good image or a "snap shot". Even with bright sun light covering part of the background, this Mr Lincoln rose still has elegance.

1/125 - f/8 - ISO400

Shooting Birds

 

Photographing birds in the backyard is just a matter of leaving them some food, then moving a distance away. To shoot this Australian Magpie, (Cracticus tibicen), I threw a hand-full of small pieces of bread on the ground, then moved back inside the shed door and crouched down.

1/2000 - f/5.6 - ISO400 - 100-200mm lens

Bumble Trap

 

A common house spider, (Badumna insignis), has trapped a European bumble bee, (Bombus terrestris), in it's web formed on the leaf of a rose bush.

1/200 - f/11 - ISO100

Flies, Flies and more Flies

 

This time of year in Australia, flies are everywhere. Most people don't realise just how many different types of flies there are. The four examples above are from left, Hoverfly (f. Syrphinae), Tachinid fly (f. Tachinidae), Flesh fly (f. Sarcophagidae), and Blow fly (Lucilia cuprina).

Hoverfly, Bush fly, Flesh fly: 1/200 - f/8 - ISO100 - diffused flash

Blow fly: 1/200 - f/10 - ISO400

Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae)

 

The Cabbage White Butterfly, (Pieris rapae), is probably the most common butterfly found in Australia. The velvety green caterpillars are considered a pest because they feed on cabbages and other plants found in vegetable gardens, such as cauliflower, brussel sprouts, broccoli, radishes and turnips.

Butterfly: 1/200 - f/10 - ISO200

Caterpillar: 1/200 - f/10 - ISO100 - diffused flash

Fully Loaded

 

This honey Bee has been busy collecting pollen as indicated by the orange coloured buldges on it's rear legs.

1/500 - f/14 - ISO800 - +4 closeup filter