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Photo#322022
Leaf Beetle - Gastrophysa polygoni - female

Leaf Beetle - Gastrophysa polygoni - Female
State Capitol Campus, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA
August 18, 2009
Size: ~6 mm
Small beetle crossing sidewalk through lawn with scattered large trees. Very colorful: black head, red thorax, green elytra, bulbous yellow abdomen.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Gastrophysa polygoni
A Leaf beetle. The abdomen swollen of eggs is typical for females of this genus, and polygoni is the red-collar species. A safe ID is possible even with quite blurry photos, you were lucky!

 
Thank you!
Yes, my next camera will have a manual focus, or at least a manual override to the auto-focus. This auto-focus camera tends to orient on the substrate when viewing small insects. The concrete in my photo is in excellent focus! ;)

 
Focus
Can you auto-focus (half press the button) then raise the camera a few mm and shoot? I have done that for the same reason, and with some trail and error it can work pretty well. Also, catching and placing on a surface with no texture can force the camera to focus on the bug.

 
Thanks!
I have tried raising the camera like that without much success so far (more "error" than "trial" due to my poor estimation of the height of a small insect and the corresponding adjustment) but will keep trying with your encouragement. Excellent suggestion on the substrate texture!

 
Many
of my shots are taken inside a picnic cooler or whatever you call those big blue ice/soda coolers. The Rubbermaid one has smooth white interior and walls that curve into the floor (no hiding in a crease). High enough that some bugs can't get out and many fliers/climbers can be stopped before they reach the top. If the phone rings - close the lid.

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