Neon Blue Delight
It was late afternoon on a very wet Macro Day when I noticed this tiny creature, about 5mm long, in the open downstairs bathroom trying to find a way out through the glass window.
To the eye this creature looked dark, with just a hint of blue with the light at the right angle and if seen with care. I often trap creatures I find downstairs, give them a feed and let them go – usually after a few shots if it can be managed. And I don’t release a creature into the night if it would usually be asleep in the dark.
So this one spent the night trapped in a jar with a rose leaf and a little honey. It sleeps with its head down and antennae wrapped under it. In the morning I took a few shots before and as it woke up. In fact it only really woke when I breathed a warm breath on it a few times.
Very quickly it came awake and started twitching those tiny antennae and wandering about and under the leaf. I gave it my finger to climb on and to warm up, which it did. And a few seconds later it took to the air, off to god knows where. To do its ordinary everyday business.
Wonderful little thing. Delightful, to me, little Emerald Cuckoo Wasp.
Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture and click again to enlarge
Nature's Place 
Sadly, this beautiful little Cuckoo wasp takes out bees and wasps by laying eggs in a bee/wasp nest. The eggs hatch and the larvae the eat the eggs of the bees/wasps
That about sums up the process of living, everything eats something else.
That’s no reason not to acknowledge the good in sense, the beauty of form regardless of function or practise.
Mark, your pictures and words struck a chord with me, and obviously others. I was searching to find what kind of wasp I had taken pictures of the other day. I’ve loved photography since a child. My journey began with a Polaroid, then 110, 35mm, and now the wonderful world of digital. My iPhone has a great little camera, and has captured many wonderful moments when the Nikon wasn’t available. One day I hope to actually make money from this life long hobby, but realize will probably have to add portraiture. I’d much rather capture all God’s little creatures and beautiful landscapes than people.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos!
Hi Kelli.
Good luck with that but I wouldn’t bank on making money from photography any more – with everybody being a photographer these days – you never know though, where there’s a will …
how strange, a person to extend the courtesy of consciousness – regardless of function. it’s creatures like you who ruin the idealism of the suicidal. applause and memories, congratulations, you’ve become a small piece of eternity.
Should function be a bar to consciousness? – I don’t think so. There is natural order to the forms of life, one life – many forms, and there is human prejudice – the personal interpretation of that order. Suicide? – for the borderline brave unwilling – an avoidance of the inevitable confrontation with self in all its misery. Just keep going regardless, and regardless of the regardless, and you’ll get to the other side – and serve. Every thing is, a small piece.
No need to remember what you aren’t reminded of.
Mark, only 5 mm, that is small. You are so gentle with the nature. It is nice too see that. As I get older, I just have this hard time to kill any bug in my house, I just relocate them.
And now I know where sci-fi movies get their creature creation ideas, lol.
Mark I also dropped by to wish you happy holiday season. Let it be filled with love and peace. Wishing you all the best in 2011, and let it be another great year for bloggers, and on your side filled with more wonderful creatures. Take care for now and I guess I will see you next year. Anna :)
In our culture it takes much time to realise I don’t need to kill what doesn’t need killing. Primitives arguing over the colour of the drivers seat as the bus plunges on through evolution. ((:
Eventually someone sits down and takes control.
What delightful bees!
These glimpses into the world of these creatures are so instructive on so many levels. Your many beautiful photographic examples and your discussions of connecting with life are so helpful as well as aesthetically pleasing.
I too wish I lived closer and could thus participate in your macro programs. Heck, it’s only about 40 hours elapsed time from the east coast of the US where I live, plus a few thousand dollars air fare. I could be there some time Sunday (east coast US time)! (just wishful thinking – insert friendly smiles here. I made that trip in 1989, as a part of a 5-week Asia-Pacific business trip – what a long series of flights! Sydney and Melbourne were both very beautiful and very enjoyable.)
Thanks DQE. We are blessed here at the edge of the western world, in our relatively unspoilt nature. We just have to give up our rat-race nature to see it.
Wow! Great pictures!
Awesome!
Thanks DT.
Wonderful. Bravo. It’s not just the photography, but the way you relate to and treat the creatures you photograph.
Thanks WDP. If we don’t love all the earth and look after the little things ….
Beautiful shots (as usual), Mark! I so wish I lived near you so I could take one of your macro workshops! I look forward to every one of your posts.
Thanks Cindy. I appreciate your comments. And as long as the creatures rise with the sun and I can hold a cam there will be another picture of our wonderful nature.