Shield bug nymph at or near 5th instar - perhaps?

Images taken in a controlled environment or with a posed subject. All subject types.

Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau

Beatsy
Posts: 2105
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:10 am
Location: Malvern, UK

Shield bug nymph at or near 5th instar - perhaps?

Post by Beatsy »

Bad time of year to be trying to ID shield bugs. All the nymphs at different stages of their development often look sooo different! I have no relevant reference material for these so the variety of the instars is driving me nuts. This one just looked a dark, crusty brown when I noticed it crawling up the bark on the shady side of a tree. It was very drab and boring to look at really, but it's one I've not collected before, so in the jar it went.

To my surprise, it practically lit up like Christmas under the macro rig lights. I can't find anything that looks similar (colour-wise) in online references, so help with ID is appreciated. Thanks.

Image

JH
Posts: 1307
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:46 am
Location: Vallentuna, Stockholm, Sweden
Contact:

Post by JH »

As usuall I like the light - especially that ther is no black/dark zone in the middle of the back if the insect.

Best regards
Jörgen Hellberg
Jörgen Hellberg, my webbsite www.hellberg.photo

mawyatt
Posts: 2497
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:54 pm
Location: Clearwater, Florida

Post by mawyatt »

Steve,

Beautiful image, love the colors and detail!!

Best,
Research is like a treasure hunt, you don't know where to look or what you'll find!
~Mike

Beatsy
Posts: 2105
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:10 am
Location: Malvern, UK

Post by Beatsy »

Thanks both.
mawyatt wrote:Research is like a treasure hunt, you don't know where to look or what you'll find!
The first rule of successful treasure hunting (aka metal detecting - another of my far-too-many hobbies) is, "only search where there's treasure to be found". True that :)

rolsen
Posts: 148
Joined: Tue May 01, 2018 1:21 am
Location: Finland

Post by rolsen »

This is really nice photo, well done!

- Rane

Smokedaddy
Posts: 1951
Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:16 am
Location: Bigfork, Montana
Contact:

Post by Smokedaddy »

Beautiful image, I like the lighting too.

Timmsy
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 11:23 am
Contact:

Post by Timmsy »

Im guessing its a Tectocoris diophthalmus - Cotton Harlequin Bug

https://lifeunseen.smugmug.com/Insects/ ... /i-fg3ZSPX

I have a few of these in my freezer

hayath
Posts: 295
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:18 am
Location: Bangalore, India
Contact:

Post by hayath »

oh wow! Great iridescence and detail on this.

davidguitar
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:23 am
Location: Sverige
Contact:

Post by davidguitar »

truley epic shot. Well done. What gear did you use?

Beatsy
Posts: 2105
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:10 am
Location: Malvern, UK

Post by Beatsy »

davidguitar wrote:truley epic shot. Well done. What gear did you use?
Thanks. I used the rig pictured here, but with a Minolta DImage 5400 lens attached instead.

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... t=linoscan

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic