Pseudoscorpion

Tony T · Post by **Tony T** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:40 pm

Home-made slide prep. (poorly stained!) of a pseudoscorpion. These are small predaceous arachnids that catch prey with their large "pincers" (chelate pedipalps). It's amazing to me that they can catch live insects as the pedipalps are a relatively long way from the rest of the body. This one doesn't seem to have any eyes, must find their prey simply by touch.
50mm f1.8 Canon, reversed, on a Nikon MF 105mm Micro, f16. 6 images stacked with Helicon Focus.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:17 pm

Interesting critter, and a nice clear shot.

I'm presuming that the stain was supposed to highlight some particular kind of tisse, but I can't figure out what.

Or was the stain intended just to increase overall contrast, as opposed to differentiating one tissue from another?

--Rik

Tony T · Post by **Tony T** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:51 pm

Hi Rik:
Thanks for your earlier help and welcoming me to the site. This slide is 22 years old, stained simply to increase contrast; not sure why some parts stained more than others.
No, I'm not a frog person but an entomologist with a keen interest in all of nature, and photography.
Tony

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:52 pm

Another great slide photo Tony.