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The Translucent Terror of Leaves, Pt. 3 - _TNY_5655

This sawfly larvae, along with a whole bunch of its brothers and sisters, were hanging out on the leaves of some flowers - and absolutely shredding them. Most of the leaves were just reduced to the veins and not much else!

I believe the species to be Euura melanocephalus and if you look really closely at the black head, you can see the reflection of not only the flash diffuser, but also of my finger holding the leaf while taking the shot.

I've been thinking about the weird S-shape these guys like to take up. I find various mention of it being a defensive position, but I can't for the life of me figure out what would be scary about it for a bird or other predator. Perhaps it's a way to imitate the empty veins of the leaf after the larvae have eaten them clean?

If you look closely at the neck of this one, there is evidence of a threat which the possible camouflage didn't ward off. I think that white thing pointing out is an egg that some other insect has laid there and will hatch as some sort of parasite on this larvae.

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51607823909/

Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52431862325/

Taken in: Sweden / Stockholm / Sjötäppan (show map)

Taken on: September 9, 2021

Tags:

macro

Canon

CanonEOS5Ds

5Ds

flash

Godox

Thinklite

TT685C

plåtdiffusor v6

MP-E65

2.4:1

2.4x

Åva

Stensjödal

Tyresta

Tyresta National Park

leaf

underside

green

translucent

yellow

black

shiny

reflective

reflection

Euura

melanocephalus

larv

larvae

Nematinae

sawfly

växtstekel

stekel

hyme

Hymenoptera

Tenthredinidae

bladstekel

Tenthredinoidea

Symphyta

buggyl

BuggyLunch

Bugs on Bugs

egg

parasite

hair

hairy

bristles

veins

black spots

spotted

yellow spots

f/11

Canon MP-E65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro « less

Stats: 657 views / 4 comments

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