Allograpta obliqua? - Allograpta obliqua

I just noticed what you said about the blue

on the thorax. I think what we are seeing is areas with less dark pigment. It does look like there are stripes. Instead of one solid color, what I see is three darker vertical stripes (one center, and one to either side)alternating with two less colored areas).

What makes it confusing is that the lighter colored areas seem to be semi-transparent.

In the first picture the angle of view is oblique, and this allows a very nice mirror like reflexion. It actually seems like you can see the landscape in the reflection (I magnified it 4x for a closer look). In the other two you are looking close to straight down hence the more milky appearance of looking into the semitransparent layer itself.

Are these stripes? It would be easier to say if one could see them from many different angles.

… HandsOff, 21 November, 2007 - 4:49pm

Sometimes the stripes are very pronounced

but this is not typically the case.

BTW, your eyes are a lot better than mine.

… Ron Hemberger, 21 November, 2007 - 8:27pm

LOL - I doubt that!

Still, it is true that I enjoy examining images a little more than most. Ironically, I think it is because my actual vision is so poor that I like to examine macro photographs. They give my eyes a new lease on life!

… HandsOff, 22 November, 2007 - 2:48pm

Nice shot of the wings especially!

These syrphid flies are awesome!

… HandsOff, 21 November, 2007 - 1:03am

Thanks, Mac

I'm very aware of wing veins and aim to contribute many shots of them.

… Ron Hemberger, 21 November, 2007 - 11:23am

Well, you have helped to make me aware of their

value identification. When I took the pictures for my recent submission which you identified for me, I was struck most by the shape and flexibility of the abdomen, and the distinctiveness of the markings. After looking at your pictures I am encouraged to double check my archives for a better view of the wings!

… HandsOff, 21 November, 2007 - 3:50pm

You got it right... It is a f

You got it right... It is a female of A. obliqua! Nice shot..

… Martin Hauser, 12 February, 2007 - 4:07pm

Thanks, Martin, for the confirmation and the compliment.

New camera makes a big difference. Oh, and thanks for the move, too.

… Ron Hemberger, 12 February, 2007 - 5:00pm