Click Beetle Larva
Mar 16, 2019 15:46:50 #
This is a Click Beetle larva that I found while scouting for insects in the woods. It was much more brightly colored before I preserved it in alcohol. I suspect that the bacteria in it's gut caused the discoloring after it expired.
The image is a close up of its mouth parts and I placed a piece of colored paper behind it for a background and used my typical diffused LED lighting setup to stage the session.
The image is a close up of its mouth parts and I placed a piece of colored paper behind it for a background and used my typical diffused LED lighting setup to stage the session.
Mar 16, 2019 16:13:17 #
Mar 16, 2019 16:19:40 #
Mar 16, 2019 17:06:03 #
Mar 16, 2019 19:12:42 #
Your images are very educational, we are privileged in the macro section to see critters through macro and microscope lenses.
Mar 16, 2019 19:37:35 #
Thanks Brenda, my passion is out in the field amount the thickets with the wildflowers and the community of insects that thrive there. Our area has several weeks to go yet before things start to greenup yet alone start to bloom.
Microscopic images have truly given me an opportunity to develop new skills and new hunting techniques. Of course these microscopic posted views are staged with insects that I have preserved. Most have been grubs or pupa of lower-class insects (even some considered pests) that are quite plentiful. I don't collect the same species twice and I always am respectful to the habitat that I hunt assuring not even to leave a footprint of my presence.
It's been quite educational for me for the things that I can see when magnified never ceases to amaze me. I've learned a lot about the life cycle and the structure of the insects that I have posted.
Microscopic images have truly given me an opportunity to develop new skills and new hunting techniques. Of course these microscopic posted views are staged with insects that I have preserved. Most have been grubs or pupa of lower-class insects (even some considered pests) that are quite plentiful. I don't collect the same species twice and I always am respectful to the habitat that I hunt assuring not even to leave a footprint of my presence.
It's been quite educational for me for the things that I can see when magnified never ceases to amaze me. I've learned a lot about the life cycle and the structure of the insects that I have posted.
Mar 16, 2019 21:43:11 #
sippyjug104 wrote:
This is a Click Beetle larva that I found while scouting for insects in the woods. It was much more brightly colored before I preserved it in alcohol. I suspect that the bacteria in it's gut caused the discoloring after it expired.
The image is a close up of its mouth parts and I placed a piece of colored paper behind it for a background and used my typical diffused LED lighting setup to stage the session.
The image is a close up of its mouth parts and I placed a piece of colored paper behind it for a background and used my typical diffused LED lighting setup to stage the session.
Nice shooting.
Click beetles, Elateridae, have larva both plant and animal feeders. The plant feeders are called wireworms, and can be very distructive in a garden.
Some are predatory, and large. What I believe was Alaus occulatus gave me a time before I dropped it. It bit me as if I had a Singer sewing machine monster. I wanted it, and I wanted to get it out of my hands. It fell and disappeared in the leaf litter. They are predacious, and well suited for the lifestyle. My hands were sore from a dozen paired puncture wounds.
Insect predators may be small, but put most large mammal carnivores to shame with the way they attack, main and mutilate their prey.
Backyard Wild Kingdom.
Bill
Mar 16, 2019 23:14:06 #
Bill, this little thing was quite a handful when I put him in the container. He didn't like it at all and he wanted out. When I picked it up with the tweezers it twisted around and it was quite solidly built. Nothing soft about it. It was a much brighter color before it took the alcohol nap. When I pulled him out a day later he was stiff and I had a heck of a time getting a pin into his hard body.
Mar 17, 2019 11:20:03 #
As you suspect, gut contents, especially carnivorous insects' rot. Inject with alcohol. Insert a pin, analy through things like this, at death and before putting in alcohol.
Mealworm larva are similar, now with both you can compare anatomy.
If you want some live mealworms, say so. I have plenty. For the birds, literally.
The Triops do look like tiny HS crabs, except two tails. This can be seen on a HSC if the telson gets broken as a juvenile. Two may grow in place.
In Annapolis they spawn on full moon (highest tides)at least twice in late July. WOW, aggretions of a dozen males and one female litter the beach. Male front claw adapted to grip groove on shell edge, so males grip males gripping male gripping female.(wheh). A batch of eggs will have many fathers. After last juvenile shed they can live fifteen years, no more shedding. I may bump into Docshark if I can get to a place called Bowers Beach in Delaware. The number one HSC beach in the world for this phenomenon.
The Triops, got distracted there. Will start some when I get the grow chamber running. Alone with some other odd arthropods of which I have eggs.
There are many almost unknown creatures that have quiet, discrete, and ephemeral life. These are a few of them. You, my friend, have had but a peek. It is realy possible to learn an interesting (many ignoramuses say worthless) fact and improve your mind daily. And the best part, the rest of your life to do it. Enjoy.
Bill
Mealworm larva are similar, now with both you can compare anatomy.
If you want some live mealworms, say so. I have plenty. For the birds, literally.
The Triops do look like tiny HS crabs, except two tails. This can be seen on a HSC if the telson gets broken as a juvenile. Two may grow in place.
In Annapolis they spawn on full moon (highest tides)at least twice in late July. WOW, aggretions of a dozen males and one female litter the beach. Male front claw adapted to grip groove on shell edge, so males grip males gripping male gripping female.(wheh). A batch of eggs will have many fathers. After last juvenile shed they can live fifteen years, no more shedding. I may bump into Docshark if I can get to a place called Bowers Beach in Delaware. The number one HSC beach in the world for this phenomenon.
The Triops, got distracted there. Will start some when I get the grow chamber running. Alone with some other odd arthropods of which I have eggs.
There are many almost unknown creatures that have quiet, discrete, and ephemeral life. These are a few of them. You, my friend, have had but a peek. It is realy possible to learn an interesting (many ignoramuses say worthless) fact and improve your mind daily. And the best part, the rest of your life to do it. Enjoy.
Bill
Mar 17, 2019 14:40:40 #
Thanks again for the education into this exciting micro world. You and several others here have played a huge part in my continued interest and drive to explore and learn more for which I will forever be grateful.
Mar 17, 2019 19:53:05 #
sippyjug104 wrote:
Thanks again for the education into this exciting micro world. You and several others here have played a huge part in my continued interest and drive to explore and learn more for which I will forever be grateful.
Sometimes I think my prose are too prolex, ( from Catch -22), but this is not a shallow subject. Getting a bit of praise for a bit of information is a good trade.
Bill
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