HIGHLY COMMENDED CATEGORY NATURE OF “DE LAGE LANDEN”
Amanda Blom | Weevil on pink flower

Name: Amanda Blom
Picture title: Weevil on pink flower
Category: Animals of “De Lage landen”
Nationality: The Netherlands
Occupation: I got a fulltime job as Logistics Administrative Employee. Photography is my one and only hobby and I truly love it!

Technical information
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: Canon EF 100mm F/2.8 L USM IS MACRO
EXIF: 1/200 sec at f10  ISO 125
Accessories: 3x Canon 25mm II Extension tube, 1x Canon 12mm II Extension tube, Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-26EX-RT flash with Ian McConnachie diffusers

Amanda Blom says:

After a busy day at work as a Logistics Administrative Employee, I came home and decided to get my macro setup ready. It was a sunny day in May this year and the few flowers we have in our garden started growing. I love colors in general. In nature, for example, but also in my private life such as multicolored clothes and glasses haha. Colors make me happy! And now it reminds me… I really should get more flowers into my garden (lol).

I find it very restful to look for insects in my own garden in the Netherlands. I could also get in different awkward positions to photograph an insect. For this winning image I sat down on the floor and watched at the beautiful small pink flowers, for like an hour (thanks for my high level patience 😊). Their name is Phlox Subulata ‘Rosette’.

Then I suddenly saw a pink flower being moved up and down, but I didn’t immediately see what was moving it. I put my head down to see what was underneath the flower and there was this beautiful tiny Weevil. It was walking upside down at the bottom of the pink flower, which was very hard to photograph in that position. I decided to lay flat on my belly on the ground and just wait and see if I was lucky enough to see the Weevil get on top of the flower.

Oh by the way, I always use my macro setup (around 3kg) handheld, it makes me more flexible and I can get way closer, without scaring insects. Tripods are not my friends (haha). Handheld however makes it a little harder and heavier though, while laying there on the floor (haha), but sometimes you have to make some effort to take your dream photo! The patience and luck were on my side today and the Weevil got on top of the flower, I couldn’t be more happy! It just made my day.

Unfortunately, I am not quite sure about the exact name of this Weevil. Perhaps it’s the Parethelcus pollinarius. I tried to ask in some determination groups, but nobody could give me the exact name for this tiny critter, so if anyone knows the name, feel free to tell me! 😊