Macrophotography

Macrophotography allows me to reveal details invisible to the naked eye, to capture a moment of behavior, or simply to highlight the formal richness of life. Through this section, I invite you to explore the fascinating world of arthropods—insects, arachnids, and other tiny creatures—encountered during my field observations. Each page is dedicated to a family, an order, or a group of species, with a rigorous naturalist approach combining photography, identification, behavior, and ecology. This work aims to be both artistic and scientific, in the spirit of a passionate exploration of the miniature.

Characteristics

Two pairs of wings covered with pigmented scales
Spiral proboscis (often functional in adults), varied antennae
Complete metamorphosis (holometabolous): egg → caterpillar → chrysalis → imago
Highly variable colors: from cryptic to aposematic
Diurnal or nocturnal activity depending on the families

Habitat

Lepidoptera colonize:

All terrestrial habitats: forests, meadows, wetlands, steppes, gardens
Urban areas, cultivated lands, tropical or alpine ecosystems
Found from sea level to high mountain zones

Biology

Eggs laid on or near a host plant
Phytophagous caterpillars, sometimes miners, borers, aquatic or carnivorous
Pupation in a naked chrysalis or in a cocoon
Life cycle varies: from a few weeks to several years
Some adults feed actively, others not at all

Main Groups (selected superfamilies)

Papilionoidea – Typical day butterflies (swallowtails, whites, nymphalids…)
Hesperioidea – Skippers or zigzag butterflies (stocky, hooked antennae)
Noctuoidea, Geometroidea, Pyraloidea, Zygaenoidea, Hepialoidea – Highly diverse moths
Tortricoidea, Tineoidea, Gelechioidea – Microlepidoptera
Bombycoidea, Sphingoidea – Powerful and often spectacular groups

Iconic Species

Papilio machaon – Swallowtail: large yellow and black butterfly with tails, very common
Vanessa atalanta – Red admiral: migratory, visible from spring to autumn
Autographa gamma – Silver Y moth: very common, wing marked with a silver symbol
Zygaena filipendulae – Six-spot burnet: brightly colored, slow-flying

Specificities

Ideal group for naturalist observation, easily accessible to the public
Valuable indicators of habitat quality (meadows, forests, wetlands)
Highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation, eutrophication, and pesticides
Important both in ecology and agriculture (pollination vs. pests)

here are the order pages:

Clickable Links

My best arthropod photos

The top twenty-three common spiders in Switzerland 2023

The Southeast Asian spiders I’ve encountered

My Best Arthropod Photos

A personal selection of my favorite arthropod shots, captured through macrophotography over the years and various explored locations.

Spiders of Southeast Asia

Photographic exploration of spiders encountered in Southeast Asia, from tropical jungle to rice fields and urban areas.

The Most Common Spiders in Switzerland (2023)

Overview of the spider species most commonly encountered in Switzerland, in homes, gardens, and natural areas.

Order Mantodea – Mantises

Mantodea, or mantises, are spectacular predatory insects equipped with raptorial forelegs and keen eyesight.

The Order Hymenoptera

Hymenoptera include bees, wasps, ants, and entomophagous parasites, essential for pollination and natural pest control.

The Order Lepidoptera

Lepidoptera encompass both butterflies and moths—winged insects covered with scales in varied patterns and colors.

The Order Odonata – Dragonflies and Damselflies

Odonates, including dragonflies and damselflies, are fascinating aerial predators closely tied to aquatic environments.

The Order of Beetles (Coleoptera)

The order Coleoptera is the largest in the animal kingdom, grouping insects with characteristic elytra. It includes diverse groups such as jewel beetles, ladybugs, scarabs, and weevils.

The Order of Flies (Diptera)

Introduction to the order Diptera, an extremely diverse group of winged insects including flies, mosquitoes, horseflies, and hoverflies.

The Order of Spiders (Araneae)

Introduction to the order Araneae, an ancient and diverse group of silk-producing predators occupying a wide variety of ecological niches.

Characteristics#

Habitat#

Biology#

Main Groups (selected superfamilies)#

Iconic Species#

Specificities#

Clickable Links#