Velvet Mite with Prey!

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:18 pm

Canon EOS 1D Mark II N + 3 Tubes + 150/2.8 + Reversed 50/1.8
1/250s f/22.0 at 150.0mm iso50
Handheld.
Full Frame.

It was one of my goals this past Summer/Fall to find a Velvet Mite to Macro shoot. I found some and couldn't believe my luck when I got one with prey!

Velvet mites, with their eight legs, are not insects, but rather more closely related to Spiders and Ticks. They are very closely related to Chiggers, or Redbugs. The adults of Chiggers and Velvet Mites are about the same size, and neither adult chiggers nor adult Velvet Mites bother humans, since they are predators on insects and inset eggs. Among the Chiggers, it's only the microscopic larvae that bite us, making us itch. The very tiny larvae of Velvet Mites are parasites on insects. They are about the size of a pinhead.

Erland R.N. · Post by **Erland R.N.** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:45 pm

This is an extraordinary photo.

First of all these mites are so small, I never even considered having a go at a photo. And this one is not cropped, and the mite is feeding, suggesting this is far from a studio setup.

There is nothing like getting a picture that you have dreamt about

Erland

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:22 pm

That is a wonderful...once in a lifetime shot Jody.You always come up with the best stuff to look at. Simply amazing

That poor little fellow

Thank you Jody

crocoite · Post by **crocoite** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:33 am

Wow! Excellent Jody. Well done.

svalley · Post by **svalley** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:01 am

Great shot, Jody!

Carl_Constantine · Post by **Carl_Constantine** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:44 am

Jody Melanson wrote: It was one of my goals this past Summer/Fall to find a Velvet Mite to Macro shoot. I found some and couldn't believe my luck when I got one with prey!

To quote the A-Team, "I love it when a plan comes together!" I personally can't imagine having a goal like this (just don't know what to expect) but I'm glad you did. Supurb shot Jody.

I didn't realize the detail on these things, and knowing that they are soooo small, and catching it with something smaller in it's clutches. wonderful!

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:36 am

Extraordinary!

And extraordinary macro equipment also!

150 mm macro + 3 extension tubes + 50 mm reversed!
What magnification it gives?

The photograph looks much much more than 1:1. Beside that - handheld!!??!!
Well Jody, you really have golden hands.

What is a tiny fibre across mite's right (its left) rear leg? Do they produce silk?

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:46 am

Erland R.N. wrote:This is an extraordinary photo.

First of all these mites are so small, I never even considered having a go at a photo. And this one is not cropped, and the mite is feeding, suggesting this is far from a studio setup.

There is nothing like getting a picture that you have dreamt about

Erland

Thanks Erland, it went beyond my expectations when I saw the Prey!

I took it at a Conservation area.

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:47 am

beetleman wrote:That is a wonderful...once in a lifetime shot Jody.You always come up with the best stuff to look at. Simply amazing That poor little fellow Thank you Jody

Thanks for the praise, Doug! Yeah, the little guy doesn't look too impressed

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:48 am

crocoite wrote:Wow! Excellent Jody. Well done.

Thanks Steve!

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:49 am

svalley wrote:Great shot, Jody!

Thanks Steve!

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:50 am

Carl_Constantine wrote:
Jody Melanson wrote: It was one of my goals this past Summer/Fall to find a Velvet Mite to Macro shoot. I found some and couldn't believe my luck when I got one with prey!
To quote the A-Team, "I love it when a plan comes together!" I personally can't imagine having a goal like this (just don't know what to expect) but I'm glad you did. Supurb shot Jody.

I didn't realize the detail on these things, and knowing that they are soooo small, and catching it with something smaller in it's clutches. wonderful!

I was always told, "When you fail to plan, you plan to fail!"

Thanks Carl!

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:11 pm

MacroLuv wrote:Extraordinary!
And extraordinary macro equipment also!
150 mm macro + 3 extension tubes + 50 mm reversed!
What magnification it gives? The photograph looks much much more than 1:1. Beside that - handheld!!??!!
Well Jody, you really have golden hands.
What is a tiny fibre across mite's right (its left) rear leg? Do they produce silk?

Here is a pic of my setup.

I'm not sure what the magnification is, but here is a full frame shot, with the above at with my lens focussed to infinity.

And here it is full frame focussed as close as possible.

They are from the Spider family, so I guess they could produce web?

Thanks Nikola!

Carl_Constantine · Post by **Carl_Constantine** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:54 pm

I have that exact same bluetooth headset for my phone. That's one very cool setup. What is that "reflector" on your flash? What does it do exactly? Also, how heavy is that setup?

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:36 pm

Great Picture Jody!

"I took it at a Conservation area."

Hardly a conservation area if it's eating the exhibits!

Is the diffuser one of these?:-

http://www.planetnikon.com/forums/index ... topic=2604

DaveW

Velvet Mite with Prey!

Velvet Mite with Prey!

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Re: Velvet Mite with Prey!