This is a focus-stacked image of my preserved ground beetle which I believe to be a Pedunculate ground beetle.
Adult ground beetles are active at night and tend to hide under rocks or other debris during the day. They will run when exposed so they are not the easiest insects to catch because they can scoot quickly. They come out at night to feed on unsuspecting insects so they are quite beneficial in controlling pests. Likely targets include caterpillars, root maggots, snails, and other soft-bodied insects. Their larvae live below ground and they are also beneficial for they devour the larvae of other ground-dwelling insects.
The optics that I used for this session were a Nikon 5X measuring microscope objective extended on a bellows. It is a "finite" style objective so the distance that it is extended out from the sensor plane of the camera is quite important to achieve optimum results.
Unless a finite objective's extended distance is marked, known, or available in a technical manual, the required distance will need to be calculated using the following:
Optic focal length in millimeters x (amount of magnification +1)
The Nikon measuring microscope objective 5X magnification and its listed focal length are 42mm (which can be determined if unknown).
So...42mm (5+1) = 42X6 = 252mm required extension length
For those that use the world-class Canon MP-E65, that is why the lens becomes much longer when it is extended to 5X magnification compared to 1X magnification.
Awesome. Imagine if that thing was as big as we are.
Way above my level of enjoying photography.I think I will just go out and photograph a sunset. :>)
I love these "parts" shots, Gary!
Thanks, Longshadow. Gald to know that you enjoyed viewing it.
kpmac wrote:
Awesome. Imagine if that thing was as big as we are.
Kpmac, that would be a very scary world....and.... entomologists estimate that there are as many as ten quintillions (that's a ten with thirteen zeros) insects living on the planet at any given moment.
Leland22 wrote:
Way above my level of enjoying photography.I think I will just go out and photograph a sunset. :>)
Thanks, for stopping by, Leland22, and I look forward to seeing some of those warm and lovely sunsets.
UTMike wrote:
I love these "parts" shots, Gary!
Thanks, UTMike. I like to mix it up a bit with some full, some partial, and some isolated parts views.
CindyHouk wrote:
Awesome Sippy!!
Thanks, Cindy. I'd rather it be a picture of a regal bull elk ruling his domain, however, I have to settle for what I have access to which are a bunch of bugs preserved in alcohol.
sippyjug104 wrote:
Thanks, Cindy. I'd rather it be a picture of a regal bull elk ruling his domain, however, I have to settle for what I have access to which are a bunch of bugs preserved in alcohol.
Well then...let me help ya out on that request!
CindyHouk wrote:
Well then...let me help ya out on that request!
Cindy...what a majestic animal..!! Wow. And he is surely reigning over his herd. We have whitetail deer and the State of Missouri has re-introduced elk and this was the first year for a highly regulated and minimum number hunt. Nothing on the order and magnitude of what you have out there.
There are some black bears that are making a comeback also although they are very elusive and seldom seen. Rabbits and game birds have had a hard time and the number has been declining over the past ten or so years.
sippyjug104 wrote:
This is a focus-stacked image of my preserved ground beetle which I believe to be a Pedunculate ground beetle.
Adult ground beetles are active at night and tend to hide under rocks or other debris during the day. They will run when exposed so they are not the easiest insects to catch because they can scoot quickly. They come out at night to feed on unsuspecting insects so they are quite beneficial in controlling pests. Likely targets include caterpillars, root maggots, snails, and other soft-bodied insects. Their larvae live below ground and they are also beneficial for they devour the larvae of other ground-dwelling insects.
The optics that I used for this session were a Nikon 5X measuring microscope objective extended on a bellows. It is a "finite" style objective so the distance that it is extended out from the sensor plane of the camera is quite important to achieve optimum results.
Unless a finite objective's extended distance is marked, known, or available in a technical manual, the required distance will need to be calculated using the following:
Optic focal length in millimeters x (amount of magnification +1)
The Nikon measuring microscope objective 5X magnification and its listed focal length are 42mm (which can be determined if unknown).
So...42mm (5+1) = 42X6 = 252mm required extension length
For those that use the world-class Canon MP-E65, that is why the lens becomes much longer when it is extended to 5X magnification compared to 1X magnification.
This is a focus-stacked image of my preserved grou... (
show quote)
Damn Sippy now I'M going to have nightmares!!!
Fantastic image!!!!!
Nice. That's a strange-looking creature.
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