A COLLECTION OF ARTHROPODS FROM FRANCE AND CANADA
We often miss the opportunity to observe the amazing details, intricate patterns and fascinating anatomy of these animals due to their small size and sometimes quite elusive behavior.
I have started taking pictures of the most common species surrounding me a few years ago, as I was fascinated by all their amazing features, which aren't always visible to the naked eye. Soon enough, it became a passion, and I have not stopped wandering around with my camera to photograph this tiny fauna ever since.
Photographing insects and other small arthropods truly made me appreciate the complexity of the ecosystem we live in, and it also tremendously help me overcome my arachnophobia. Knowledge is the key to conquer fear.
Trigger warning: there is a section containing pictures of spiders under the "Coleoptera" section. If you suffer from arachnophobia, please do not scroll any further, thank you.
Trigger warning: there is a section containing pictures of spiders under the "Coleoptera" section. If you suffer from arachnophobia, please do not scroll any further, thank you.
HYMENOPTERA
Apis mellifera - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Augochlora pura - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Arge ochropus - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Megachile rotundata (male) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Anthidium oblongatum - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2019
Bombus impatiens - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Philanthus gibbosus - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Chrysididae - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2019
Chrysis sp. (C. ignita group) - Damiatte, France
Dolichovespula maculata (male) - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Melissodes subillata (female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Megachile sp. (female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Augochlora pura - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2019
Conura sp. (specimen about 3mm) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Andrena sp., possibly A. crategei - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Campopleginae, possibly Sinophorus sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2019
Apis mellifera - Parc floral de Vincennes, France
Agapostemon virescens - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Anthidium oblongatum - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Anthidium oblongatum (mating couple) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Vespa crabro - Damiatte, France
Omalus biaccinctus (about 3mm) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Gasteruption sp. (female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Apis mellifera - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Polistes dominula - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Dolichovespula maculata (male) - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Anthidium florentinum - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Megachile sp. (female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Anthidium florentinum - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Cimbex femoratus - Kvikkjokk, Sweden - June 2014
Agapostemon virescens (female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
LEPIDOPTERA
Polyommatus icarus (male) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Pieris rapae - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2019
Polyommatus icarus (female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Polyommatus icarus (female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2018
Polyommatus icarus (mating couple) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Lycaena phlaeas - Damiatte, France - November 2019
Lycaena phlaeas - Damiatte, France
Orgyia antiqua - Damiatte, France
Lycaena tityrus - Damiatte, France
Furcula sp. caterpillar - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Papilio polyxenes caterpillar, displaying its osmeterium (The wind was strong and pushed the caterpillar against the lens for a second, which initiated this defensive response) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Satyrium liparops - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Plebejus sp (male) - Sweden, june 2014
Pyronia tithonus - Damiatte, France
Danaus plexippus - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2018
Coleophora deauratella - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Zygena filipendulae - Vallée Étroite, France
Mythimna unipuncta - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Synanthedonini - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Epargyreus clarus - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Colias philodice - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Polygonia interrogationis (newly emerged imago)- Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Vanessa cardui - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Danaus plexippus - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
HEMIPTERA
Corythucha marmorata (specimen about 2,5mm long) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Gyponana octolineata - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2019
Corythucha marmorata (specimen about 3mm) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Picromerus bidens - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Hyalopterus sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Chinavia hilaris nymph - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Corythucha marmorata (specimen about 2mm long) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Cicadella viridis - Forest of Fontainebleau, France - October 2019
Jikradia olitoria nymph (about 2,5mm) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Halyomorpha halys - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Lygus lineolaris - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Graphocephala sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2019
Pyrrhocoris apterus - Damiatte, France
Cosmopepla lintneriana - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Miridae - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Raphigaster nebulosa - Forest of Fontainebleau, France - October 2019
Elasmotethus cruciatus - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Phymata americana - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Lygaeus kalmii - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Piezodorus lituratus - Damiatte, France - November 2019
Jikradia olitoria (nymph, specimen approx. 3,5mm to 4mm) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Carpocoris fuscispinus - Damiatte, France - November 2019
COLEOPTERA
Harmonia axyridis - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Chrysolina americana - Le Mée-sur-Seine, France
Timarcha tenebricosa - Lautrec, France
Alticini (2,5mm specimen) - Damiatte, France - November 2019
Coccinella septempunctata - Parc floral de Vincennes, France
Crioceris duodecimpunctata - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Popillia japonica - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Diabrotica undecimpunctata - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Harmonia axyridis - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Harmonia axyridis - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Acalymma vittatum - Mont Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Calligrapha multipunctata - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Oreina sp. - Haute Vallée de la Clarée, France
Lema daturaphila - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Harmonia axyridis, hatching - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Megacyllene robiniae - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Coleomegilla maculata - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Curculio sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Plagiometriona clavata - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Popillia japonica - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Popillia japonica - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - summer 2018
Carabus problematicus - Forest of Fontainebleau, France - October 2019
Gaurotes virgineus - Vallée Étroite, France
Diabrotica barberi - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
ARANEAE
Phidippus audax (juvenile female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Araniella sp. (male) - Damiatte, France
Pardosa sp - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Phidippus audax - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Misumena vatia preying on an unidentified Diptera - Damiatte, France
Pardosa sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2019
Steatoda grossa (female, carrying egg sac) - Gennevilliers, France
Xysticus sp. preying on Harmonia axyridis - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Tetragnatha sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Agalenatea redii - Damiatte, France - November 2019
Phidippus audax (juvenile female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020A
Araneus trifolium - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Argiope bruennichi - Damiatte, France
Xysticus sp. (note the perfect camouflage) - Damiatte, France - November 2019
DIPTERA
Condylostylus sp. - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Allograpta obliqua - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2019
Tachina sp. - Damiatte, France - November 2019
Eristalis arbustorum - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2019
Spilomyia longicornis (female) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2020
Sciomyzidae - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Eristalis flavipes - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2019
Condylostylus sp, - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Condylostylus sp, - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Rhagoletis tabellaria - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Lucilia sp. (probably an old individual, hence the red coloration) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2019
Ferdinandea sp - Forêt de Fontainebleau, France - October 2012
Lucilia sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Dioctria hyallipennis - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Tephritidae - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2019
Allograpta obliqua - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2019
Physocephala sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Spilomyia longicornis (male) - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
Dolichopodidae - Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2019
Eristalis tenax - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2019
Allograpta obliqua - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2019
Stomorhina lunata (female) - Damiatte, France - November 2019
Syritta pipiens - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Euaresta sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
MANTODEA
Empusa pennata (female, erythristic specimen) - Damiatte, France
Empusa pennata nymph - Damiatte, France
Empusa pennata nymph - Damiatte, France
Mantis religiosa - Damiatte, France
Mantis religiosa - Damiatte, France
Mantis religiosa - Damiatte, France - November 2019
NEUROPTERA
Chrysopa oculata - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Hemerobiidae - Parc Maisonneuve, Montreal, QC, Canada - October 2020
ODONATA
Libellula pulchella (male) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Symptetrum sp. - Damiatte, France - November 2019
Sympetrum sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Pachydiplax longipennis - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Sympetrum sp. (mating couple) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Sympetrum sp. (female) - Mont-Royal, Montreal, Qc, Canada - August 2019
Sympetrum sp. (male) - Mont-Royal, Montreal, Qc, Canada - August 2019
Libellula pulchella (male) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2020
Sympetrum obtrusum (female, dark form) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2019
Sympetrum sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
ORTHOPTERA
Acrididae nymph - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - june 2020
Melanoplus sp. (erythristic specimen) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Melanoplus sp. nymph (erythristic specimen) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - june 2020
Melanoplus bivittatus - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - August 2020
Melanoplus bivittatus - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - September 2019
Melanoplus sp. - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2019
Melanoplus sp. nymph - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - June 2020
Tettigoniidae nymph. - Damiatte, France
Orthoptera nymph (Pezotettix?) - Damiatte, France
Tettigonia viridissima - Damiatte, France
Phaneroptera nana - Damiatte, France - November 2019
Stauroderus scalaris - Isère, France
Melanoplus sp. (erythristic specimen) - Botanical garden of Montreal, QC, Canada - July 2019
Pezotettix giornae (mating couple) - Damiatte, France - November 2019
DISCLAIMER
No arthropod was ever harmed in the making of these pictures. They are all live wild animals (except for Apis mellifera, which is a domesticated species), photographed in-situ.
Most of the pictures have been taken using natural light conditions only, though a few were taken using a flash when the lighting was so dim I had no other choice but to switch to artificial light. I tend to avoid using a flash as I noticed some arthropods present a strong averse reactions to sudden bursts of light.
Most of the pictures have been taken using natural light conditions only, though a few were taken using a flash when the lighting was so dim I had no other choice but to switch to artificial light. I tend to avoid using a flash as I noticed some arthropods present a strong averse reactions to sudden bursts of light.
Unless specified otherwise under the picture, the arthropods have not been moved onto a different background/location. The ones photographed on my hands willingly climbed atop my fingers to seek some warmth during the cold days of late summer and autumn, they were either relocated on the nearest safe area where I found them or flew away on they own once they felt warm enough to take off.
PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR USED
Canon EOS 60D
Canon EOS 7Dmk II
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Kenko extension tubes (for most of the smaller subjects)
Raynox Dcr-250 Super macro lens (for the Harmonia axyridis extreme closeup shot only)
Yongnuo YN-24EX TTL Macro ring flash with homemade diffusors (for about 5 pictures shown here only)
