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Beetle in its Pupa Stage
Feb 16, 2020 10:30:10   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
This is a Beetle in its pupa stage which is yet another from the Bill (newtoyou) collection. I find the ways of nature to be quite amazing and wonderous. These are both focus stacked images and the black background is created with nothing behind the subject allowing the light to fall off with nothing to reflect it back to the camera. The yellowish background was created by placing a piece of colored paper behind the subject.

As always, thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.


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Feb 16, 2020 13:02:32   #
photosbytw Loc: Blue Ridge Mountains
 
First impression..................it looks a little over done...................not PP but as if it was roasted in the oven........

Otherwise, another cool shot

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Feb 16, 2020 13:12:46   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
photosbytw wrote:
First impression..................it looks a little over done...................not PP but as if it was roasted in the oven........

Otherwise, another cool shot
First impression..................it looks a littl... (show quote)


Not over done, they are best if crispy.
Bill

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Feb 16, 2020 13:24:53   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
sippyjug104 wrote:
This is a Beetle in its pupa stage which is yet another from the Bill (newtoyou) collection. I find the ways of nature to be quite amazing and wonderous. These are both focus stacked images and the black background is created with nothing behind the subject allowing the light to fall off with nothing to reflect it back to the camera. The yellowish background was created by placing a piece of colored paper behind the subject.

As always, thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.
This is a Beetle in its pupa stage which is yet an... (show quote)


I think that this is a long horned pupa.
The color is normal. As it matured the exoskeleton got more leathery, tougher.
The pupa is very delicate till this point, the insides a 'slurry' of matter. Now is when the adult is being formed from the 'slurry'.
Now is the time to pull bark from rotting wood and firewood. Put some firelogs in an unpunctured black garbage bag and put this in a clean trash can in the garage or other sheltered place.
Check every few weeks after end of March. Lots of beetles.
Bill

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Feb 16, 2020 13:37:59   #
photosbytw Loc: Blue Ridge Mountains
 

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Feb 16, 2020 15:29:15   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
photosbytw wrote:
First impression..................it looks a little over done...................not PP but as if it was roasted in the oven........

Otherwise, another cool shot
First impression..................it looks a littl... (show quote)


Thanks for the feedback. It is actually the color you see which is the dark brown with the black accents. I suspect that preserving them in alcohol affects the coloration and it gives them that "wet look" as well.

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Feb 16, 2020 15:33:50   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
newtoyou wrote:
I think that this is a long horned pupa.
The color is normal. As it matured the exoskeleton got more leathery, tougher.
The pupa is very delicate till this point, the insides a 'slurry' of matter. Now is when the adult is being formed from the 'slurry'.
Now is the time to pull bark from rotting wood and firewood. Put some firelogs in an unpunctured black garbage bag and put this in a clean trash can in the garage or other sheltered place.
Check every few weeks after end of March. Lots of beetles.
Bill
I think that this is a long horned pupa. br The co... (show quote)


Bill, again a tip-of-the-hat for sharing your collection so that I can photograph them in magnified views to share some of their fine details that some may not see otherwise. Your collection is rich with specimens that are unique to our area and I also lack the skills and knowledge on where and how to collect them so your efforts do not go unnoticed.

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Feb 17, 2020 07:18:11   #
EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England
 
There is interesting and educative detail on the second shot in particular, your images would be advantageous to students of biology.

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Feb 17, 2020 11:18:00   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
EnglishBrenda wrote:
There is interesting and educative detail on the second shot in particular, your images would be advantageous to students of biology.


Thanks, Brenda. I'm surely no student of biology although my better half tells me that I'm older than the dinosaurs at times, however I enjoy seeing how insects morph through the stages of their lifecycle.

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Feb 17, 2020 15:12:59   #
Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona
 
Nice Sippy thanks for the post and the husbandry lesson. No trees close around and besides I can just imagine my wife's response to her question "What's in the bag?"
"Oh nothing right now dear but in a couple of weeks..."

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Feb 17, 2020 15:31:09   #
JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles
 
Excellent detail.

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Feb 17, 2020 16:12:21   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
Curmudgeon wrote:
Nice Sippy thanks for the post and the husbandry lesson. No trees close around and besides I can just imagine my wife's response to her question "What's in the bag?"
"Oh nothing right now dear but in a couple of weeks..."


I doubt that "The Better Half" would even go into my room in the basement if it were on fire to put it out. The good news is that we have gone from "You're Crazy" to just shaking her head now so I think that I'm making some progress.

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Feb 17, 2020 16:13:43   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
JeffDavidson wrote:
Excellent detail.


Thanks, Jeff. It amazes me how much texture there is in things so small.

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Feb 18, 2020 00:36:08   #
Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI
 
👍 The pupa looks like a Tenebrionid, like the pupa of a mealworm. The pupae have those spiny flanges, as shown here: https://pestcontrolcanada.com/6169-2/

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