Sackens Bee Hunter Photograph

This is a Sackens Bee Hunter.  I came across this insect by accident one day.  I thought it was a Bumble Bee at first but I quickly realized it was a bee mimic.  I took a few photographs and began my search on the internet.  I have never seen one of these and I have lived in the same house for 25 years.
It turns out I took photographs of a Sackens Bee Hunter.  These bee mimic will capture and eat other bees.  They blend in and using the same color patterns are Bumble Bees.  They are stripped yellow and black but are not as wide bodied as a Bumble Bee.  They also stand differently in a different posture.
I have not been able to get much information on the internet as these seem to be elusive and not very common.  I found some articles that state they can bite of sting and that it is quite painful.  They are not aggressive and would only sting you if captured or maybe stepped on.  These insect are very good at mimicking bees.  If I wasn’t trained to notice details on insects because of my fascination with macro photography I would have dismissed this Sacken’s Bee Hunter as just another bee.

Macro photograph of Wolf Spider

These are some macro photographs of a Wolf Spider on a white background.  Wolf Spiders are not aggressive and are mostly harmless.  They will bite if harassed but in general they can be held if you are gentle.  A bite will be painful but otherwise it wont cause death, sickness or permanent damage.

These photographs of a Wolf Spider were shot on a Canon 5D Mark II and a Sigma 180mm macro lens.  I used a Canon MT-24EX twin flash unit.

Tiger Salamander pictures

Tiger Salamanders are one of my favorite types of Salamanders.  I currently have one living in an aqaurium with my two baby Painted Turtles and my baby Softshell Turtle.  These are some Tiger Salamander Pictures that I have taken.

These Tiger Salamander pictures were taken on a Canon 5D Mark II camera with a Sigma 180mm lens.  I use a Canon MT-24EX twin flash unit.  My Tiger Salamander eat mainly insects I find in the yard as well as worms and store bought crickets and meal worms.  Here are some additional Tiger Salamander Pictures

Hammerhead flatworm

I found this Hammerhead flatworm on mother's day.  I have never seen of of heard of these things.  Hammerhead flatworms are not dangerous but they are pest and eat earth worms which are beneficial to your garden.

Hammerhead flatworm video

Macro photographs of insect

This is a collection of the macro photographs and videos of insects I have taken over the last few years.  I took all of these photographs and videos with a Canon 5D Mark II camera body and a Canon MP-E 65mm 1x - 5x lens or a Sigma 180mm lens.  I also use a Canon MT-24EX twin flash unit.

http://www.squidoo.com/collection-of-insect-videos-and-photographs

Orange and Black insects on Bluebonnets

These are some macro photographs or orange and black insects on bluebonnets.  I took these macro photographs with a Canon 5d Mark II and a Sigma 180mm lens.

http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35861

Unknown Red and Black Beetles

I found these ed and lack bug nymphs in my back yard.  They were in 5 clumps and each clump had hundreds of bugs.  I am not sure what species they are.


http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35947

MP-E 65mm macro photographs of flower

This is my latest series of MP-E 65mm macro photographs of flowers. I use this lens on a Mark 5D II with a Canon MT-24EX twin flash. I find that macro photography is my favorite type of photography. The Canon MP-E 65mm lens is a must for anyone interested in doing extreme macros.