1st macro bugs of 2016

With spring getting close this means the beginning of the macro (close-up) photo months of the year, and right now this involves rooting through leaf litter searching for the really miniscule insects (approx. 1-10mm size).

This size of critter warrants the use of a high mag. macro lens, the legacy Olympus 38mm F2.8 lens, which starts at 3x mag and reaches a max. mag of just over 4x when combined with the legacy Olympus telescopic auto tube 65-116.

Diffused flash is provided by the Olympus FS-STF22 twin flash, a necessity when shooting in the field at these extreme magnifications.

The first set of little critters were found today at High Wood besides Badbury Rings.

A Pseudoscorpion (Microbisium brevifemoratum)

Some springtails

1st this sleepy springy

then a couple of the Globular variety

and I think this last one from today may possibly be a young earwig.

This next and final set of a beetle larvae are from an earlier leaf foray at Garston Wood at the beginning of Feb.

High Wood map

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Garston Wood map

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