Here’s a slightly less cute critter I found while doing my recent macro experimentation. This is a flesh fly from the family Sarcophagidae. These common flies typically feed and breed on decaying flesh (road kill deer, anyone?) but also supplement their diet with excrement and rotting fruit. Here, I caught this guy feasting on an old berry on one of our lantana bushes.
This image illustrates the problem I mentioned yesterday with harsh highlights from the flash. I’m going to keep experimenting with different ways to diffuse and soften the light for shots like this when the camera is very close to the subject (about a couple of inches away in this case).
For the technically inclined...