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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 127 - Macro mania >> Challenge 127 - Eligible > Aphid Nursery *
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24-FEB-2007 Michael Shealy

Aphid Nursery *

Greenhouse at Home

I took a series of pix, of which this was the most dramatic, color and subject wise. I was shocked to find that aphids give live birth. I have other pix that prove this (to me and) to whomever would like to see them. I didn't know that any insect birthed live offspring!! There's a "newborn" just to the right of the "mother" in this pic.

Canon EOS 20D ,Sigma 150mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
1/250s f/10.0 at 150.0mm iso800 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time24-Feb-2007 16:11:05
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 20D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length150 mm
Exposure Time1/250 sec
Aperturef/10
ISO Equivalent800
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Modepartial (6)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programaperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Rod 26-Feb-2007 07:16
Apparently they do both I've found out, they lay eggs & can also do live birth & wiv no male involved, it's a bit complicated but very interesting.
ctfchallenge25-Feb-2007 15:04
Gorgeous colours, and yup aphids do give birth to live long :).

- Jamdiver
ctfchallenge25-Feb-2007 03:32
Thanks for the comments, CJ & Rod; they're much appreciated. I think I got lucky, but the amount of aphids around (my greenhouse, anyway) make this probably not that scarce an event. The other (I only posted two) shots are at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/theentiremikey/ Thanks for asking. Cheers, -mikey
Rod 25-Feb-2007 02:47
Well I'll be buggered I didn't see the young one, that does mean the aphids stay. Where can we see the other shots Mikey?
ctfchallenge25-Feb-2007 00:37
Mikey, this is fantastic! The colors are outstanding of course, but the aphid giving birth is unreal! I bet some bug or flower book or magazine would be interested in this. Great shot! CJ
ctfchallenge24-Feb-2007 23:55
Hey, Rod!! Well, you could well be right, tho I took the pix with the intent to show the aphid(s), ... and the dramatic background and contrast between the background and the leaf. I didn't know there were more than one aphid until I looked thru the VF, and I certainly didn't know she was giving birth, ha! Lucky shot sequence! Cheers mate, -mikey
Rod 24-Feb-2007 23:21
I think because of the vivid red background I would like this better without the aphid so the shot would really work as a sort of abstract. Really a good & unusual shot, well done mate:-)