A Beetle?

[Chopski]

My first post on these forums.
Seen some really impressive pics while browsing these last few days :notworthy: but here goes.

Have a Sigma EX 50mm macro on a Pentax *ist DL and learning the ropes I guess. I took these pics (and a lot more!) while 'on safari' in my garden...as you do...

I have no idea what # 3 is. Could be a beetle but they have wings don't they?

Any other comments would be appreciated.

#1
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1128/IMGP3244_R1.gif[/IMG]
#2
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1128/3565_R1.jpg
#3
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1128/IMGP3248_R1.gif

[Messiah Khan]

Quite nice these. Number 2 is my favourite due to it being closer in. The middle of the flower could do with being in focus though. The exposure in all 3 of them looks spot on, andf the composition isn't bad. Beetles do have wings btw, its just that they're forewings have formed into the protective shell. But that looks more like an aphid to me.:)

[Janice]

Sure its not a baby grasshopper?

[RobertP]

Not too keen on #2 but 1 and 3 are great! love the colours.

lets see some more :)

[Chopski]

Thanks for your comments. :thankyou: Glad you liked these. Will post some more.

Hadn't thought of a grasshopper, so Googled it. Apparently a grasshopper's antennae are usually shorter than the body, so I went for crickets. It looks like it's a Speckled Bush-cricket nymph (Leptophyes punctatissima), so thanks for the 'lead' Janice. :thumbs:
(Had a quick look through the other images I took and this one definitely looks more like a grasshopper/cricket.)
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1128/3234_R2.jpg