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Manfred Auer

@macro.bug.hunter

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- Award winning macro photographer 🏆
- Austria 🇦🇹
- Biodiversity project member 📷
- @cygnustech affiliate ⚡
-🪲 unharmed living specimen 🐛🕷️🌲
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EDIT: Full species list added What a year it has been, 2025 will be unforgettable for me. I had the incredible chance to visit one of the most biodiverse countries in the world: Ecuador 🌿🦋 Together with an amazing group of people, who I am happy to call close friends now, this trip became something truly special. We still write in our group chat almost every day, and it always brings me back to this intense and beautiful time. Once I stepped into real primary rainforest, there was no way back. I know for sure that I have to return one day 🌎✨ During this year, I was also able to share my love for macro photography in several newspapers, on national television, and in talks in front of entomologists, even in other countries 📸🐜 I would have never imagined how far this hobby could take me. I am grateful for every small step and very excited to see where the journey will go next. A huge thank you to all of you who support me all the time, it truly means a lot ❤️ I wish you all the best for 2026, stay healthy, curious, and creative! 1. Weevil 2. Solier Fly (Cyphomyia wiedemanni) 3. Treehopper (Adippe sp.) 4. Poison dart frog (Ameerega Bilinguis) 5. Wolf spider (Aglaoctenus castaneus) 6. Grasshopper (Syntomacris guttulosa) 7. Treehopper (Poppea capricornis) 8. Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria sp.) 9. Paper Wasp (Mischocyttarus sp.) 10. Blunthead Tree Snake (Imantodes cenchoa) 11. Horsehead grasshopper (Apioscelis sp.) 12. Giant crab spider (Sadala sp.) 13. Harvestmen (Rhaucus serratus) 14. Ant (Ectatomma tuberculatum) 15. Leaf frog (Phyllomedusa vaillanti) 16. Jumping spider (Lyssomanes) 17. Longhorn beetle ( Macropophora trochlearis) 18. Tiger beetle (Odontocheila) 19. Sharp nosed toad (Rhinella acutirostris) 20. Dobsonfly (Corydalus peruvianus) ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ 🖼 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #natgeoyourshotnature #macro_highlight #cupoty #macrolympus #omsystem #omsystemde #ecuador taken in Klagenfurt Am Wörthersee by @macro.bug.hunter
566
7 months ago
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Here it is, my absolute favorite species from Ecuador – Poppea capricornis, or as @jwinden_macro called it, “El Diablo”! 😍 Many of you already know how much I love treehoppers, they are some of my favorite insects because of their unique shapes and crazy designs. This one was definitely on top of my wish list, and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I finally found it in Canandé. I immediately called @jwinden_macro and @pbmacro to check it out because it looked unreal. They already shared some incredible shots way before me (yes, I’m a bit slow with editing 😅), so make sure to check out their pages too!⁣ ⁣ Poppea capricornis is a treehopper species known for its strange horn-like structures on its back, which make it look almost alien. These horns are used as camouflage or to scare away predators, because they are looking a bit like ants from above. Treehoppers are part of the family Membracidae and feed mostly on plant sap. Their diversity in tropical regions like Ecuador is mind-blowing, with thousands of species, many still undescribed.⁣ ⁣ 🐞 - Poppea capricornis⁣ 📐 Size ~5mm⁣⁣⁣⁣ 📆 04.2025⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🖼 40 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #NatGeoYourShotOurHOME #macroworld_tr #passion_in_macro #arthropod_perfection #galeri_makro #macro_freaks #insectguru #nuts_about_macro #macromicroworldss #beautiful_insects_japan #macro_perfection #smallworldlovers #macro_highlight #cupoty #macrolympus #omsystem #omsystemde #TreehopperTuesday #PoppeaCapricornis #TreehopperLove #InsectArt #MacroPhotography #EcuadorWildlife #RainforestMacro #WeirdNature #InsectCollectors #AlienInsects #BugsOfInstagram #CanandeReserve #WildlifeMacro taken in Chocó Lodge- Canandé Reserve by @macro.bug.hunter
62
a year ago
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We found this super colorful beetle right in our lodge garden in Canandé, Ecuador. It’s pretty cool that you don't even have to hike deep into the jungle to find amazing stuff sometimes. But let me tell you, getting a clean stack of this beauty was not easy. It was the middle of the day, over 30°C, and this little guy just wouldn't sit still for a second. Sweating in the sun while trying to keep a tiny, fast beetle in focus was a challenge, but I'm really happy with how the colors turned out!⁣ ⁣ This beetle belongs to the subfamily Chrysomelinae, which are known as broad-bodied leaf beetles. They are famous for their round shapes and shiny, metallic colors that look like little jewels. These bright colors actually warn predators that they taste terrible, because the beetles absorb toxins from the plants they eat. They love the hot daytime sun because it gives them tons of energy to run around, which makes them a bit of a nightmare to photograph! 🌿🪲⁣ ⁣ 🐞 - Chrysomelinae (Leaf Beetle)⁣ 📆 04.2025⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ 🖼 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #chrysomelinae #leafbeetle #ecuadornature #macrophotography #NatGeoYourShot by @macro.bug.hunter
22
7 days ago
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Thanks to a post from @thetibormolnar , I realized that I am late for yesterday’s World Snake Day too! 🐍 But as a self-proclaimed professional herper, of course I still have to post something, right? 😂⁣ ⁣ Here is a collection of some incredible snakes I have had the privilege to photograph during my trips to Ecuador and Malaysia. I am not done editing all shots from Malaysia by far, so you can definitely expect a lot more of these creatures to show up on your feed soon. Happy start to the weekend folks!⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 🐍 - Snakes of Ecuador & Malaysia⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #worldsnakeday #herpetology #snakesofinstagram #reptilephotography #NatGeoYourShot by @macro.bug.hunter
21
8 days ago
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Eye to eye with one of the most venomous snakes in all of South America: the famous Fer-de-lance! During a single evening walk through the dense rainforest of Canandé in Ecuador, we didn't just find one of these elusive vipers, we actually came across a total of 8 different specimens sitting right along the trails. It was a thrilling night to say the least, but working with a snake like this requires absolute focus. These are majestic, incredible creatures that deserve the utmost respect, and we always keep a safe distance while capturing their beauty.⁣ ⁣ The Fer-de-lance found in the Chocó region of Ecuador is Bothrops asper (often locally called the terciopelo). As pit vipers, they possess specialized heat-sensing pit organs located between their eyes and nostrils, allowing them to detect the thermal signatures of warm-blooded prey even in pitch-black darkness. Their geometric brown and yellow patterns give them phenomenal camouflage in the fallen leaf litter, where they wait quietly in ambush. As top predators on the rainforest floor, they play a crucial ecological role in keeping local rodent and small animal populations balanced. 🌿🐍⁣ ⁣ 🐍 - Bothrops asper⁣ 📆 04.2025⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ 🖼 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #bothropsasper #ferdelance #herpetology #ecuadornature #NatGeoYourShot #snakesunday taken in Chocó Lodge- Canandé Reserve by @macro.bug.hunter
26
13 days ago
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Here is another one of the many incredible harvestmen I found during our nights exploring the Chocó rainforest in Ecuador. It is absolutely unbelievable how many different shapes, colors, and variations these creatures have out here! Back home, they usually look pretty uniform, but in the tropical jungle, every single one you spot feels like a completely new discovery.⁣ ⁣ These arachnids belong to the order Opiliones, and they are commonly known as harvestmen or "daddy longlegs." 🌿🕷⁣ ⁣ 🐞 - Opiliones (Harvestman)⁣ 📆 07.2026⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ 🖼 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #harvestman #opiliones #ecuadornature #macrophotography #NatGeoYourShot by @macro.bug.hunter
24
17 days ago
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Presents N U T S A B O U T M A C R O 🔍 Photographer: @macro.bug.hunter C O N T E N T: Assassin Bug (Reduviidae sp.) I N F O: Assassin bugs are relentless, highly adaptable predatory insects. Using a curved, straw-like mouthpart called a proboscis, they impale prey, inject venomous, tissue-dissolving saliva, and slurp up the liquefied insides. L O C A T I O N: Ecuador 🇪🇨 Selected by Mod @earth_to_rory NAM hub Owner Caroline @cowpi32 #nuts_about_MACRO Follow @nuts_about_macro__ Personal Tag #macrobughunter_nam Subject Tag #assassinbug_nam Team NAM: @mmurphs @vinikrish @abcdee_david @haldanesasha @kalebfriendphotography @officertjhooker.macro #assassinbug #insect taken in Ecuador by @macro.bug.hunter
43
18 days ago
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That not just insects but also tiny plants can be absolutely fascinating close-up proves the amazing photography of @mossranger ! His incredible work completely infected me, and now I find myself constantly looking for moss. ⁣ ⁣ These tiny, upright stalks topped with capsules are moss sporophytes, which look a lot like Ceratodon purpureus, commonly known as purple horn-tooth moss or fire moss. This species is incredibly tough and grows all over the world, often popping up on disturbed soils, roofs, or rocky areas. The sporophytes are the reproductive parts of the moss, they start out green and slowly turn a striking purplish-red or deep amber color as they mature. Inside those tiny nodding capsules at the very top, millions of microscopic spores are developing, waiting for a dry breeze to scatter them across the forest floor so a brand-new generation of moss can begin to grow. 🌿🔬⁣ ⁣ 🐞 - Ceratodon purpureus (?)⁣ 📆 01.2026⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ 🖼 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #mossmacro #bryophyte #naturephotography #macrophotography #NatGeoYourShot by @macro.bug.hunter
10
18 days ago
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This bulky guy here clearly never misses a gym session! Just look at how massive and muscular its legs are. Finding this heavy-duty predator sitting quietly in the foliage was a fantastic surprise during our night walks in Ecuador.⁣ ⁣ This impressive insect is a member of the assassin bug family, Reduviidae, found in the diverse tropical forests of Ecuador. Many species in this family develop incredibly thick, powerful front legs (often lined with tiny spikes or sticky hairs) specifically designed to ambush and tightly clamp down on struggling prey. Once they grab hold of another insect, they use their sharp, tube-like mouthpart to pierce the victim's shell and inject a powerful saliva that quickly paralyzes it. 🌿🪲⁣ ⁣ 🐞 - Reduviidae (Assassin Bug)⁣ 📆 05.2026⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ 🖼 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #assassinbug #reduviidae #ecuadornature #macrophotography #NatGeoYourShot by @macro.bug.hunter
16
19 days ago
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Tiger beetles are always something truly special to find, but getting a clean macro stack of one is on a whole different level! These insects are famous for being the fastest land-living insects in existence, meaning they rarely stay still for more than a split second. I found this gorgeous specimen during our time exploring Canandé in Ecuador. Happy weekend folks!⁣ ⁣ This stunning beetle is Pseudoxycheila chaudoiri, a specialized genus of mountain tiger beetles native to the Neotropical regions of South America. Unlike common ground beetles, tiger beetles have huge, bulging eyes that give them incredible vision, along with large, sickle-shaped jaws used to instantly crush their prey. They are so fast when they run that their eyes actually cannot process light quickly enough, forcing them to temporarily go blind during a sprint before stopping to visually relocate their target. Finding species like this in the highly biodiverse forests of Ecuador highlights just how many perfectly adapted, high-speed predators are hidden right under our noses. 🌿🪲⁣ ⁣ 🐞 - Pseudoxycheila chaudoiri⁣ 📆 05.2026⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ 🖼 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #pseudoxycheila #tigerbeetle #ecuadornature #macrophotography #NatGeoYourShot by @macro.bug.hunter
35
a month ago
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#weevilwednesday ⁣ ⁣ One of my absolute biggest targets for our trip to Malaysia was definitely a giraffe weevil! I was so incredibly happy when @yahya_aziz managed to find one for us right in Kuala Lumpur. But let me tell you, this little guy was everything but cooperative! 😂 I think @jwinden_macro can easily sing a song about just how active and tricky it was to photograph haha.⁣ ⁣ I was lucky enough to get exactly one clean macro stack, not one more, not one less. Thankfully, that stack turned out good, so I am more than happy with the result! I have always wanted to see a male with one of those super long necks. We actually have leaf-rolling weevils back home in Austria too, but they have a way shorter neck compared to these impressive tropical ones.⁣ ⁣ This amazing beetle belongs to the genus Paracycnotrachelus, which includes the Asian branch of the famous giraffe weevils (family Attelabidae). While Madagascar has the most famous species, Southeast Asia is home to these incredible, elongated lookalikes. The extreme neck of the male is a specialized tool used both to battle other males for territory and to win over females. After mating, the females use their own slightly shorter necks as a clever lever to tightly roll up a living leaf into a perfect tube, laying a single egg inside to give their future larva a safe home and its very first meals. 🌿🪲⁣ ⁣ 🐞 - Paracycnotrachelus sp.⁣ 📆 05.2026⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ 🖼 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #paracycnotrachelus #giraffeweevil #malaysianature #macrophotography #NatGeoYourShot by @macro.bug.hunter
101
a month ago
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This amazing blue-eyed katydid was crawling around right on the jungle path, and it was incredibly hard to shoot! It was constantly facing downward and always on the move, never giving me a moment to easily line up a shot. Because of the tricky angle, its face isn't perfectly lit up, but I am still so glad I managed to capture this frame.⁣ ⁣ This incredible insect belongs to the genus Cocconotus, which are actually katydids (often called bush crickets) rather than true crickets. Found in the dense, tropical forests of Central and South America, these master mimics belong to the true katydid subfamily Pseudophyllinae, meaning they are built to look exactly like the leaves and twigs around them. Their striking, bright blue eyes provide a massive contrast to their bark-colored bodies, helping them navigate the dim light of the rainforest floor at night. They are mostly active after dark, using their powerful hind legs to jump away from danger and their long antennae to feel their way through the pitch-black jungle understory. 🌿🦗⁣ ⁣ 🐞 - Cocconotus sp.⁣ 📆 05.2025⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📷 @omsystem.cameras OMD OM-1⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🔭 OM System 90 mm F3,5 Macro IS ED Pro⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⚡ @Godox.EU V860iii-O⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💡 @cygnustechdiffuser⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💾 @progradedigital v90 SD Cards⁣ 🎒 @cotton_carrier⁣ 🖼 image stack⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #cocconotus #katydid #ecuadornature #macrophotography #entomology by @macro.bug.hunter
14
2 months ago
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