The name of this flower is Ageratum. (Seehttp://www.fernlea.com/annual/variety/agera.htm for details.
No, I do not use a tripod to take pictures of insects. I would be too slow to set it up at the right place. It's all hand-held. No problem with the shutter sped of 1/640th. I use a close-up lens. It's a Hoya achromatic +5 diopters - similar to the one Canon sells as add-on.
This is very wonderful picture...how do you stabilize the G-2? Do you use a tripod?
Besides the "wasp", I love this flower, do you know the name of it?
Your hummingbird hawk moth also appeared in my garden this summer...and I tried to
take pictures but he was way too fast for me! I also have a G-2 that I have been using for a couple of years. I'm not sure at really close ranges it is that efficient. But you have certainly made it work!