Large Blue Wasp - Chalybion californicum

Female!

6 abdominal segments = ♀

… Bob Biagi, 9 August, 2015 - 7:01pm

Moved

Moved from Blue Mud Wasp.

… John S. Ascher, 10 September, 2014 - 7:34am

Moved

Moved from Blue Mud Wasps.

… John S. Ascher, 10 September, 2014 - 7:34am

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Efram Goldberg, 26 May, 2013 - 12:47am

Chalybion

Great images. The simple (no teeth) mandibles mean this has to be a species of Chalybion, but I've honestly never seen such a bright specimen.

… Eric R. Eaton, 24 May, 2013 - 12:22am

Chlorion aerarium

I was thinking Chlorion aerarium
I will try to get better photographs of the clypeus

… Efram Goldberg, 24 May, 2013 - 12:33am

Great Shot!

Don't you just love that MP-E

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 23 May, 2013 - 6:44pm

yes

Yes I do, but I was talking to my dad about this last night, all my old shots taken with my d5100 and 50mm f1.8d reverse mounted lens are just as good.

… Efram Goldberg, 23 May, 2013 - 6:48pm

I tried that ...

I reversed mounted my old Minolta 50mm f/1.4 and didn't get as good of results as I did with my 100mm macro. But I do love my MP-E ...

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 24 May, 2013 - 8:09am

reverse mount

the nikon 50mm f1.8d is one of the sharpest lenses made. shooting reversed at f/11 performs much much better then the 1000$ 105 macro or the canon 100mm L macro. the only advantage the mpe 65 has is zoom.
http://eframgoldberg.com/wasps.html
about 95% of those and my other macros were shot with the nikkor 50mm f1.8d
I have tested it using the airforce 1951 resolution test, and it outresolves the sensor on the camera
the nikkor 28mm f2.8 ais lens also outresolves the camera sensor, but it shoots at like 2x so it is more difficult to use, and you need to move your flash off the top of the camera and close to the subject.

… Efram Goldberg, 24 May, 2013 - 9:59am

Nikon

Since you're a Nikon user, the 36mp D800 would put you over the top :)

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 24 May, 2013 - 10:29am

I converted my d5100 to Infrared and I shoot with Canon 5d mkii now with mpe65mm and mt24ex flashes, but I sometimes attach my nikkor 50mm to the canon.
It would be nice to have a d800 but grad students have limited funds. my dad has the phase one iq180. shooting macro with that would put me over the top.

… Efram Goldberg, 24 May, 2013 - 11:33am

WOW

Does he shoot fashion photography ... at $40,000 and 80mp. I don't know what else to use a Phase One

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 24 May, 2013 - 11:55am

phase one

landscapes and street photography

… Efram Goldberg, 24 May, 2013 - 3:42pm