Posts Tagged ‘Sceliphron caementarium’

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber

August 8th, 2009
by Krishna Mohan
Black and Yellow Mud Dauber

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber

I just saw this Black and Yellow Mud Dauber building nest on one of the granite pillars at my courtyard.

As the reflection of twin lights on the round body of the insect was quite harsh, I wanted to try new diffuser on my Canon MT-24EX macro twin light flash. I usually have Gary Fong Diffusers puffers on my twin lights. They are invaluable when used with Canon MP-E 65 f/2.8 1-5X Macro lens. But on Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro they produce harsh highlights on glossy bodies of insects. I wanted to try some cheapo Nylon diffusers I procured at local photo dealers which were copy cats of Lumiquest diffusers. The result is here. I need still more experiments to come out with a better solution.

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Closeup

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Closeup

Apparently these diffusers are better, as you can see the harsh light is controlled considerably. But diffusers ate lot of power and flash was taking quite a bit (1-2secs) to recharge and be ready as compared to my puffer diffuser. As it made the twin light into a big soft box like light it might be producing a better fill.

EXIF info…
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode: Manual exposure
Exposure Time: 1/200 sec.
Exposure Bias: 0.0
Aperture (F Stop): f/11.0
ISO Used: 100
Flash Used: Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance: As Shot
Focal Length: 100.0 mm
Metering Mode: Pattern
Date Time: 2009:07:25 10:51:04
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 1.8" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1271 m.a.s.l.
Copyright © Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
EXIF info…
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode: Manual exposure
Exposure Time: 1/200 sec.
Exposure Bias: 0.0
Aperture (F Stop): f/11.0
ISO Used: 100
Flash Used: Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance: As Shot
Focal Length: 100.0 mm
Metering Mode: Pattern
Date Time: 2009:07:25 11:01:15
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 1.8" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1271 m.a.s.l.
Copyright © Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com

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Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (2)

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber

March 25th, 2009
by Krishna Mohan
Black and Yellow Mud Dauber

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber (Sceliphron caementarium) like all sphecids are more closely related to bees than to the vespid wasps. They are solitary insects that build nests out of mud in sheltered locations, frequently on man-made structures. These nests are not aggressively defended, and stings are rare. Mud daubers make use of spiders to provision their cells. The black and yellow mud dauber’s nest is comprised of a series of cylindrical cells that are plastered over to form a smooth nest that may attain nearly the size of a human fist. After building a cell, the female wasp captures several spiders. The captured prey are stung and paralyzed before being placed in the nest, and then a single egg is deposited on the prey within each cell. The wasp then seals the cell with mud. After finishing a series of cells, she leaves and does not return. Eventually, the hatching larva will eat the prey and emerge from the nest. A common species of cuckoo wasp, Chrysis angolensis, is frequently a cleptoparasite in Sceliphron nests, and is only one of many different insects that parasitize these mud daubers.

EXIF info…
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode: Manual exposure
Exposure Time: 1/250 sec.
Exposure Bias: 0.0
Aperture (F Stop): f/9.0
ISO Used: 100
Flash Used: Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance: As Shot
Focal Length: 100.0 mm
Metering Mode: Pattern
Date Time: 2008:06:25 11:46:35
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 2.1" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1269 m.a.s.l.
Copyright © Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (7)