Trying out the Nikon Achromatic 10x

[tevans9129]

I have no idea what this critter is, it is approximately 1.5mm wide and perhaps 25-30mm long with "pinchers" on the end. Background and lighting needs work, other suggestions appreciated.

D800e, pn11, pb6 closed, 9.5x, Nikon Achromatic 10x, 1/3, ISO 125, 200 slices @ 8 microns, Controlmynikon, Stackshot, Zerene, 2 studio 300ii lights 1/8, double Styrofoam cups for diffusion.



Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bearevans/

[rjlittlefield]

Interesting critter! Seems like the shape of the mouthparts should be distinctive, but I do not recognize them.

Well photographed -- looks like you have good control of your illumination and stacking now.

Any chance of showing us a whole-body shot, just to help with the ID?

--Rik

[mawyatt]

Great shot, nice detail & lighting. Looks like the styrofoam cup diffusers with the AC 300II strobes are working well

That could be the leading monster in a sci fi movie, that is one scary critter

Best,

[leonardturner]

Impressive, all around.

[Olympusman]

Looks like a mite.

Mike

[rjlittlefield]

Looks like a mite.

That was my first impression too, but it's not consistent with Ted's description of "approximately 1.5mm wide and perhaps 25-30mm long with "pinchers" on the end."

--Rik

Edit: correct typo in name

[Dalantech]

Actually I think that the dual light setup gave you some nice shadows and kept the critter from looking flat -a big problem with most stacks. Looks like you had a key light at the top and a fill to camera left. Might try getting the fill a little higher next time (if possible). Look for a way to deepen the shadows to camera right (opposite the fill). Diffusion looks good -looks like you brought out a lot of texture detail, and it's easy to lose if the light isn't diffused well.

[Saul]

Looks like a mite.

That was my first impression too, but it's not consistent with Tim's description of "approximately 1.5mm wide and perhaps 25-30mm long with "pinchers" on the end."

--Rik

Maybe https://bugguide.net/node/view/431283/bgimage ?

Like this ?
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... tle+larvae
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... tle+larvae

[tevans9129]

Interesting critter! Seems like the shape of the mouthparts should be distinctive, but I do not recognize them.

Well photographed -- looks like you have good control of your illumination and stacking now.

Any chance of showing us a whole-body shot, just to help with the ID?

--Rik

It seems to be getting better but I have a long way to go. As of now, my concentration is on the more technical aspects. Here is a 1:1 view of the critter taken with a Nikon 105 f/2.8 with pn11. Only tried to get an image that shows the critter.

[rjlittlefield]

Thanks for the image.

Looks to me like Saul has the ID nailed. An interesting thing about these beetle larvae is that the sharp point on the tail are actually fixed in place, not capable of pinching despite their appearance. Surely they have some use, but I have no clue what it is.

--Rik

[tevans9129]

Great shot, nice detail & lighting. Looks like the styrofoam cup diffusers with the AC 300II strobes are working well

That could be the leading monster in a sci fi movie, that is one scary critter

Best,

Thanks Mike, I am thankful that it is not the size of a gorilla.

[tevans9129]

Actually I think that the dual light setup gave you some nice shadows and kept the critter from looking flat -a big problem with most stacks. Looks like you had a key light at the top and a fill to camera left. Might try getting the fill a little higher next time (if possible). Look for a way to deepen the shadows to camera right (opposite the fill). Diffusion looks good -looks like you brought out a lot of texture detail, and it's easy to lose if the light isn't diffused well.

You are correct about the two lights and their placement and thanks for the recommendation, I will try that on my next attempt. I appreciate all suggestions that will improve my images.

[Troels]

Elongated form, absense of big eyes, chisel-like jaws, all adaptations to a living in narrow, dark tubes. Tubes in wood would be my first guess.

In vertical tubes is is a nice thing to be able to lock yourself in a fixed position without using all your leg muscles. Twoo big spines on the tail could solve that problem. Perhaps they could also act as kind of defence against small predators from behind.

[edit jan 31.: corrected spelling error]

[BugEZ]

Urogomphi appears to be the proper name for the rear horns. I did not find any discussion on-line about their function but suspect Troels idea of them providing a brace to resist sliding backward is correct.

Keith

[rjlittlefield]

In vertical tubes is is a nice thing to be able to lock yourself in a fixed position without using all your leg muscles.

Good point, particularly for a wood eater which I presume needs to press its mandibles against the wood to get a decent bite.

--Rik