sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

This is another of the specimens provided by Bill that I staged for a focus stacking session. It is quite small and staging and positioning such small insects has always been challenging for me.

I believe this to be a cockroach of some type although that may not be correct and if so please correct me if it is not. What I found to be quite interesting are the spikes on its legs which look quite menessing for something so small.

This is a focused stacked image taken with the setup that I have described in other recent posts.

As always, thanks in advance for viewing and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.

(Download)

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Superb shot Gary. Are those the true colors of the insect or has the lighting changed then in any way? I like the variety of the colors and the fine detail of the spines. Great job.
-Doc

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Ugly critter but nicely shot.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Doc, thanks for viewing. There is no colorcast that I am aware of although it may not be out of the question such as white balance or my computer monitor.

I use a piece of translucent plastic covered in white paper towels to diffuse the light. It's made into the fashion of a long lens hood and it extends over the subject. Due to the degree of magnification the subject is about 1/2-inch or so from the end of the lens. I use LED and fiber optic lights as the source of illumination and a piece of black felt is placed about 6-inches behind the subject to produce the black background.

The insect is a bit less than 3/8-inch and it is a red brown in color. I use a stainless steel laboratory scissor jack to place the specimen on to adjust the height for the camera to see it.

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Good morning, Gary, all.
I believe I collected this in the line of debris on a beach.
It looks like a cockroach, but that is about all I can add.
The spiney legs seem to be a cockroach trait. They have never been a favorite.
Some roaches exude a smelly, sticky substance as a defence.
As you show different shots of this maybe I can add to the info.
Some more of what I sent may be mystery to me. I should have taken notes.
The HMS Queen Elizibeth is moored off Annapolis for a few days.
I should be able to get a few shots. There are many great vantage points of the ancorage area accessible to auto. Get my friend Tammy and visit a few.
Up and out. Good day, all.
Bill

relbugman Loc: MD/FL/CA/SC

While your cockroach (it is - spiny legs, head tucked under pronotum, 3 thoracic nota with probable wing buds at early stage [a juve] at rear corners, flat abdomen with sharp corners, moderate to long antennae, etc.) probably was brown, but colors and texture change after death. The translucency of the cuticle is lost, the attachments of muscles get darker, the 'skin' gets blotchy and usually darker, various movable attachments (spurs, setae, joints) often turn lighter, darker, or get depressed and less - or more - visible. Pale green cockroaches get paler and lose the green, or even turn brown. Backs often hunch and heads retract further. Guts may rot and turn dark brown. Notes on life colors are often very important in IDing one.

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Thanks Gary. That answers a lot of my questions.
Doc

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Definite roach nymph.