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Project Noah Nature School
Family Culicidae
Mosquitoes belong to the suborder Nematocera – true flies with long antennae. Mosquito antennae have 6 or more segments. The male's antennae are quite plumose, providing lots of surface area for detecting female mates. Female antennae are short-haired. (information from http://insects.about.com/od/flies/p/Culi...)
Suburban backyard
I was poking around the backyard while my wife used the computer to print something secret, most likely connected with my upcoming birthday. Good thing I went outside because I've been wanting to photograph a male mosquito that was visiting flowers. From what I can determine, the plumose antennae on this mosquito makes him a male. :-)
Spotted on Sep 21, 2012
Submitted on Sep 22, 2012
3 Comments
Thanks, guys. It was kind of a rough shoot. I couldn't find my headlamp so I was using a giant Maglite flashlight (heavy!). I held the light in one hand and my heavy camera rig in the other. It was awkward to say the least but what made it easier is the fact that I was lying on the ground. I am, however, really pleased with the outcome for 5 minutes of spotting. :-)
Great job capturing the beauty of a mosquito!
Nice series!