If it were Valentine’s Day, this would serve as a special post, but I’ll just celebrate the Act of Love itself (taken from five orders of insects) with these photos from reader Jacques Hausser of Switzerland. His note was simply this: “I send you here some pictures of insects caught in the act or just before.”
Platystoma seminationis, Platystomatidae, Diptera:
The white-legged damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes, Platycnemidae, Odonata:
The Green Mountain Grasshopper, Miramella alpina, Acrididae, Orthoptera:
The silver-washed fritillary, Argynnis paphia, Nymphalidae, Lepidoptera:
The 14-spotted ladybird, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, Coccinellidae, Coleoptera:
Sicus ferrugineus, Conopidae, Diptera:
I love the Platystomatidae – they look like they are wearing gas masks!
Good way to remember them!
Hey, you bugs! Get a room!
But seriously, very good stuff. A perfect beginning to my morning, so thank you.
Ah, romance is in the air! Or at least procreation.
This behaviour puts the moan in pheromones. 🙂
Chuckle!
Damselflies going at it looks like it requires the same technical proficiency of one of those tanker-and-boom in-flight refueling operations.
Looks like some members of the animal kingdom have Cole Porter’s <a href=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RPerSEvP4Y"<"Let's Do It" on their MP3 playlist again.
Reminds me to pick up flowers and chocolates on the way home from work today.
Here. Ella’s swinging cover.
Excellent! I like Noël Coward’s version too.
Very urbane, as was the Coward wont.
Insex are so facinating…
Sorry… (exit stage left).
Cheers,
M.
Brilliant, Jacques–you’ve found a great way to have insects sitting still for their portraits! (At least momentarily; yes, I’ve seen several coupled couples flying about.)
And very nice shots!
Miramella alpina appears to be developing an early form of morality as they eyeball the voyeuristic photographer in an indignant manner. Grasshoppers are so judgey.