Anything but insects and spiders
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Category: Dyxum Photographs
Forum Name: Themed Views
Forum Description: Post your photos in one of our themed topics
URL: https://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=41442
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 02:46
Topic: Anything but insects and spiders
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Subject: Anything but insects and spiders
Date Posted: 24 January 2009 at 00:46
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Lotos of invertebrates aren't insects or spiders. So I'm not game enough to include these 'others' in the bugs and spider threads.
NZ has a large but cryptic collection of native creepy-crawlies. This was found under a log in bush near Rotorua. Where am I? 
I'll take a peak 
Gosh it's bright out there 
Perhaps I'll curl up again 
Indecision  ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Replies:
Posted By: brettania
Date Posted: 24 January 2009 at 01:05
Great action series.  Hope the camera had sufficient fps!
Aren't those fellas pretty common in NZ bush areas? See http://lifeunseen.com/index2_list_15.php - Pill bugs. |
Posted By: brettania
Date Posted: 24 January 2009 at 01:11
| Better still -- a Massey Uni take on such crustacea is http://soilbugs.massey.ac.nz/isopoda.php - here. |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 24 January 2009 at 01:17
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Thanks- it's actually a millipede (Diplopod) rather than an Isopod, but it curls up in a 'pill form' just like slaters. If you look carefully at "Gosh it's bright out there' you can see that some segments are clearly associated with 2 pairs of legs.
While millipedes are common in NZ bush, this is a particularly large species- a giant among millipedes  . I didn't need the Raynox for the shots- just the Tamron.
------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 24 January 2009 at 01:23
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As an aside- it's a pill millipede (Sphaerotheriidan). This order is only found in NZ, Australia (presumably in the same habitat as death-adders...sigh), South Africa & Madagascar.
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Posted By: brettania
Date Posted: 24 January 2009 at 01:49
Dang! 
That should teach me. 
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Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 25 January 2009 at 04:10
We all make mistakes . Crikey- I've made some real 'howlers' with messed up ID's before...
Still, while I'm a fairly average photographer, I know my creepy-crawlies quite well  .
Now, just have to see if this thread takes off with other millipedes, centipedes, snails, crabs, starfish etc... Extra points to the first photographer to post a Onycophoran (velvet-worm). I haven't seen one since the late 80s. ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
brettania wrote:Posted By: dilettante
Date Posted: 25 January 2009 at 10:29
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How big is this thing? The DOF suggests it's quite large? ------------- http://www.pbase.com/dilettante/" rel="nofollow - dilettante galleries @ pbase.com |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 23 February 2009 at 09:09
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It's about 4-5cm long.
Here's a common garden snail... 
Nocturnal shot, if you hadn't guessed already
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Posted By: topazlizz
Date Posted: 23 February 2009 at 20:13
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One of my early efforts but I quite like this picture, though it was taken with the cheap little Sigma 28-80 with macro that started me out on bugs and things.
My husband took a picture of me taking this picture and it was not becoming! Does this little creature qualify?  ------------- Liz A700, A350, KM7D and too many (?) lenses. http://www.topazlizz.smugmug.com - My Smugmug |
Posted By: Zack
Date Posted: 25 February 2009 at 03:05
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I like the snail; he looks like he's taking a bow for his audience. Did you use a macro for these shots cthoniid?
Here is a few of a Witchety Grub: 
 ------------- http://www.zackerythomas.com/ - www.zackerythomas.com a900/200 2.8G HS/100 2.8/28-75 2.8/50 1.4/CZ16-35 2.8/12-24 EX/HVL-56AM/KM5D/18-70/75-300D |
Posted By: Zack
Date Posted: 25 February 2009 at 03:37
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Just realised that a Witchety Grub is in fact an insect larvae! Oh well. ------------- http://www.zackerythomas.com/ - www.zackerythomas.com a900/200 2.8G HS/100 2.8/28-75 2.8/50 1.4/CZ16-35 2.8/12-24 EX/HVL-56AM/KM5D/18-70/75-300D |
Posted By: Stoney
Date Posted: 25 February 2009 at 08:16
I don't think so. It's an insect larvae. ------------- http://www.foto-genuss.de - http://www.foto-genuss.de |
Posted By: Stoney
Date Posted: 25 February 2009 at 09:51
Lost in a Spider's Web
 ------------- http://www.foto-genuss.de - http://www.foto-genuss.de |
Posted By: dilettante
Date Posted: 25 February 2009 at 11:47
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That's amazing, Stoney! You wouldn't think the web would support that weight. ------------- http://www.pbase.com/dilettante/" rel="nofollow - dilettante galleries @ pbase.com |
Posted By: dd001
Date Posted: 04 March 2009 at 16:42
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Here is a (dirty) caterpillar from this past week end.
(probably a Pine Processionary Caterpillar)  ------------- David - http://www.defoort.com/photos - My Gallery |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 04 March 2009 at 22:46
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Well it's a nice photo, and the 'dirt' gives it a lot of character, but technically speaking caterpillars are still insects .
I'm hoping this thread will inspire people to look at the crustacea, mollusca (as Stoney did), the myriapoda and for extra bonus points, the onycophorans. All the creepy-crawlies that aren't insects or spiders. .
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Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 04 March 2009 at 23:24
horrid picture but the right equipment was not at hand, it is about 2mm long but it didnt get trashed because these things tend to give me the shivers. It was found on my 2yo sons head after playing in the woods. It took a little while to pry out but we didnt loose any of it.
chthoniid, sorry no onycophorans :). But just for you this is maybe not as pretty but at leaset wormish. 
tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 04 March 2009 at 23:50
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Thanks Tim- you've done well with the tick photo given the circumstances. Hope your son was all right.
Nematodes and rotifers are probably going to be beyond the scope of most of us . I've got some ideas however...
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Posted By: dd001
Date Posted: 05 March 2009 at 00:11
Thanks! and oops sorry, will try to think twice next time  ------------- David - http://www.defoort.com/photos - My Gallery |
Posted By: Stoney
Date Posted: 05 March 2009 at 09:23
Ok, I have some ticks, too:
A little closer (note that there is another tick on the backside) 
And another one, taking a bath in a dew drop
And here are some diplopoda, Polyxenus lagurus to be exact, (taken with a Panasonic FZ3, but I hope it's ok to show them here): 
These are about 2 mm in size. I find them fascinating. ------------- http://www.foto-genuss.de - http://www.foto-genuss.de |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 05 March 2009 at 21:41
Well, I'm happy to see you posting macro photos again. I always look forward to your shots. You've developed a very good technique for macro shots. |
Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 05 March 2009 at 21:47
Only a photograpeher could say that with pride :). And very nice tics too. BTW dd001 what chthoniid said chthoniid I am looking forward to them. Yes he was fine, but alas the kids havnt had nits and I have been looking forward to them?!?! :). tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 05 March 2009 at 21:58
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Nice shots there Stoney- the diplopods look like they have a lot of character.
Just hoping you can help me out with the tick- I can't find the second mite on the backside. Here's my closeup 
Where is the second mite hiding? ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Stoney
Date Posted: 06 March 2009 at 08:32
@chthoniid: It's on the backside of the leaf. You can see some of the legs. Maybe it's even clearer when you look at the first photo. ------------- http://www.foto-genuss.de - http://www.foto-genuss.de |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 12 March 2009 at 10:33
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Got it- thanks Stoney.
Here's an isopod (common slater). Nocturnal shot.  ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Pavel
Date Posted: 12 March 2009 at 17:04
One from my collection
 ------------- A-900+VG;16f/2.8fish;50f/1.4,Sig20f/1.8;Tammy 90f/2.8;Sony135STF;M200f/2.8HS;M 200 f/4 Macro;M 300f/4HS;Sony500f/8reflex;M600 f/4HS;M3x1xmacro;16-35CZ;24-70CZ;70-200SSM;70-400SSM;1.4xTc;2xTc |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 12 March 2009 at 21:54
| That's a very nice compostion Pavel. I like the simplicity of the backround. The shadowing under the body works well, and there's still a nice degree of detail on the limbs. |
Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 14 March 2009 at 00:19
I am guessing that this is about the most venomous of the european scorpions? Not that it is exactly dangerous but if the id of Buthus occitanus is right then the african variant has been known to be fatal.
Sorry it also looks horribly over sharpened or something, it was good before the resize though. tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 14 March 2009 at 08:27
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It's a nice addition to the thread Tim .
I assume the shot is of a captive scorpion, rather than one that is roaming free in your garden? |
Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 14 March 2009 at 12:00
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Hi chthoniid, thanks, no that thing is still in the wild.
I have a mate that is pcr typing them so sometimes I capture them and send them to him. He has found that there were many more species in europe than previously thought, but this one didn't get collected so is probably still roaming around free. It is quite funny how their personality differs, the less dangerous ones seem to be much more active, and run away more often, not trying to sting when you prod them, but this thing was very stolid, it wouldnt move at all at first, then when it did all it did was stick its tail over its head and threaten (frightningly quickly though), then crawl off very slowly. tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 22 March 2009 at 03:59
A couple more diplopoda...
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Posted By: Dopol
Date Posted: 25 March 2009 at 22:35
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Three shots of a woodlouse in my (spring) garden.
My wife noticed it for it's clear blue color. Is that a season thing or is it a blue species? 
(shot with T90, that I mounted in the garden, gathering lots of dust on the sensor  . It's all clean again -------------  Be yourself; everyone else is already taken
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Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 05:59
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I don't know about the blue colour Dopol sorry.
I like the first two shots the most- I think the last one has too many regions out of focus. With the top two, you have got some nice compositons, interesting angles and of course, the eyes are very sharp .
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Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 10:10
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Native Harvestmen (Opilionid) Series
#1 
#2 
#3  ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: outback88
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 10:18
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Chthoniids, the poor fellow looks like he's cringing
#1 he has bad knock knees. That new flash is workin a treat. |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 10:24
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Thanks- he (or she) is very cryptic- just trying to be as inconspicuous as possible . The eyes are tiny I'm afraid, as is typical for a creature that prefers the dark.
I noticed after I posted the shot that #1 has a bonus beetle in it as well. |
Posted By: Dopol
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 18:58
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If I count right, I see 8 legs. Isn't it a spider?
(the small insect looks like a ~can't find the Enlish word~ ) ------------- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken
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Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 19:20
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Hi Dopol
Opilionids are a class of arachnids, like spiders. Not all arachnids are spiders . In English, opilionids are sometimes called harvestmen. Almost all arachnids have 8 legs (aside from some pesky mites!).
(Fwiw, the main differences between spiders and opilionids is that chelicerae (fangs) have 3 parts, not 2. The opithosoma (rear body-half) has visible segmentation whereas for spiders this is (usually) fused. The opithosoma and prosoma (front body-half) are also joined across the whole breadth, rather than have a conspicious waist.) |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 19:41
A couple more, this time shot on card
It's not a large creature, so I have employed the Raynox 6x adapter to assist with the shots. |
Posted By: Pavel
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 19:43
Look at those tusks and they will hunt you for ever
 ------------- A-900+VG;16f/2.8fish;50f/1.4,Sig20f/1.8;Tammy 90f/2.8;Sony135STF;M200f/2.8HS;M 200 f/4 Macro;M 300f/4HS;Sony500f/8reflex;M600 f/4HS;M3x1xmacro;16-35CZ;24-70CZ;70-200SSM;70-400SSM;1.4xTc;2xTc |
Posted By: Dopol
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 19:52
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@Pavel, you shouldn't have published that one .
What about my night rest 
But no, I am cool 
Great shot Pavel, it is always difficult to get close enough and sharp enough. @at chthoniid: always learning. I'll look out for my next Opilionids (their legs look more like ants-legs) ------------- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken
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Posted By: Pavel
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 20:22
Yes it's difficult but with freaky sharp A-100 and Tamron 90 macro still possible. The setup was freaky too! A-100with Tammy 90+ 12 and 36mm ext.tubes f22 10.0sec ISO100 ------------- A-900+VG;16f/2.8fish;50f/1.4,Sig20f/1.8;Tammy 90f/2.8;Sony135STF;M200f/2.8HS;M 200 f/4 Macro;M 300f/4HS;Sony500f/8reflex;M600 f/4HS;M3x1xmacro;16-35CZ;24-70CZ;70-200SSM;70-400SSM;1.4xTc;2xTc |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 22:25
My little guy is a representative of the Laniatores- they have the stout pedipalps with the spines to help grasp prey. Genus is Nuncia, family is the Triaenonychidae. The most common Opilionid though, is the cosmopolitan (but European origin) Phalangium opilo, so I suspect you will have plenty of them closer to home .
------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Dopol
Date Posted: 26 March 2009 at 23:11
Did I see that right: 10 seconds? How come it didn't move? Did you kill it first? or was it scared and frozen from it's own reflection ------------- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken
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Posted By: Pavel
Date Posted: 27 March 2009 at 13:10
Yes you see it right 10 seconds.I took the spider from my garage,in winter time those spiders look for shelter and spend the winter in there.My garage is a could place but never frozen. I took the picture in other room where the temperature was much higher,that's why I think the spider didn't move. Whan I was done with my macro adventure I place the spider beck to its shelter. ------------- A-900+VG;16f/2.8fish;50f/1.4,Sig20f/1.8;Tammy 90f/2.8;Sony135STF;M200f/2.8HS;M 200 f/4 Macro;M 300f/4HS;Sony500f/8reflex;M600 f/4HS;M3x1xmacro;16-35CZ;24-70CZ;70-200SSM;70-400SSM;1.4xTc;2xTc |
Posted By: dogears
Date Posted: 29 March 2009 at 16:36
@Pavel, augh! That looks nasty! Nice 10sec shot  ------------- http://shutteredlight.blogspot.com - woof! |
Posted By: Tukki
Date Posted: 02 April 2009 at 12:09
How about some flatworms? :)
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Posted By: pegelli
Date Posted: 02 April 2009 at 13:14
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Very nice shape and shot Tukki, never seen one of these.
How did you shoot this, is it swimming or creeping over a glass plate. Can't figure it out. It might be good if you could separate it a bit more from the background. ------------- You can see the April Foolishness 2023 exhibition https://www.dyxum.com/dforum/april-foolishness-2023-the-exhibition_topic142439.html - here Another great show of the talent we have on Dyxum |
Posted By: Tukki
Date Posted: 02 April 2009 at 13:24
| pegelli - thank you. Yes, it was shot creeping on the front glass of an aquarium. I will add a photo with a more contrasty background later (if my crappy internet provider wouldn't mind :)) |
Posted By: jagged
Date Posted: 02 April 2009 at 13:32
Ooh - I've got a flatworm shot too! This one was in my pond, investigating some snail eggs (you can see the partly-formed snails inside). Not quite as nicely-composed as Tukki's shot though
 ------------- Sony a700|a100|CZ1680|Tam 90 Macro|Tam 18-250|Sig 75-300APO|Kit 18-70|Sig EF500DGSuper http://www.pbase.com/jgroveuk - |
Posted By: Tukki
Date Posted: 02 April 2009 at 15:36
jagged - your shot is much better in my opinion since it shows the worm's behaviour. |
Posted By: Tukki
Date Posted: 02 April 2009 at 20:59
Here's the photo I was talking about previously.
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Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 02 April 2009 at 22:14
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Loads of fantastic shots in this thread, are you guys posting them in the middle of the night so as people dont see them or get frightened, the last two pages have just slipped by with out me noticing. Good to finally see what i have been missing out on.
Really great stuff. tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 03 April 2009 at 00:47
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Hmm, I'm enjoying the show . Some good work being shown off, especially of the creatures most people overlook.
If you're yet to tire of Opilionids, here's something a bit more frontal- 
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Posted By: EKStarzinger
Date Posted: 11 April 2009 at 03:36
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These count? The insect, whatever it is, was a bonus.
A300, 70-300G, Fort Island Park, Crystal River, Fl. 
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Posted By: jagged
Date Posted: 12 April 2009 at 18:04
(Moved here from 'Bugs and Spiders' thread)
 ------------- Sony a700|a100|CZ1680|Tam 90 Macro|Tam 18-250|Sig 75-300APO|Kit 18-70|Sig EF500DGSuper http://www.pbase.com/jgroveuk - |
Posted By: Pavel
Date Posted: 07 June 2009 at 21:35
Not sure where to place this one
 ------------- A-900+VG;16f/2.8fish;50f/1.4,Sig20f/1.8;Tammy 90f/2.8;Sony135STF;M200f/2.8HS;M 200 f/4 Macro;M 300f/4HS;Sony500f/8reflex;M600 f/4HS;M3x1xmacro;16-35CZ;24-70CZ;70-200SSM;70-400SSM;1.4xTc;2xTc |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 07 June 2009 at 23:16
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Hi Pavel
It looks like a crane fly (Dipterean)- do a close up of the area where the wing meets the thorax. If there's a single pair of wings (plus a pair of balancers possibly) it will be a fly. Looks like the weather is getting warmer up your part of the world ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: cthep2
Date Posted: 08 June 2009 at 18:13
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ID? 
A700+135mm+reversed yashica lens cheers /chris ------------- Pics talk, Cam doesn't! http://www.flickr.com/photos/cthep2 - MyFlickr http://500px.com/chrisdapito/ - 500Px - Recorded Momentz |
Posted By: Tukki
Date Posted: 08 June 2009 at 19:38
| I am pretty sure it's a bug (Hemiptera) |
Posted By: aa
Date Posted: 10 June 2009 at 04:50
in numbers...
 ------------- ....it's all about timing |
Posted By: Pavel
Date Posted: 10 June 2009 at 06:43
 ------------- A-900+VG;16f/2.8fish;50f/1.4,Sig20f/1.8;Tammy 90f/2.8;Sony135STF;M200f/2.8HS;M 200 f/4 Macro;M 300f/4HS;Sony500f/8reflex;M600 f/4HS;M3x1xmacro;16-35CZ;24-70CZ;70-200SSM;70-400SSM;1.4xTc;2xTc |
Posted By: Stoney
Date Posted: 10 June 2009 at 08:25
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All of the last 5 photos are showing insects, so please be more careful. ------------- http://www.foto-genuss.de - http://www.foto-genuss.de |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 24 June 2009 at 21:18
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Here's an isopod (a type of Crustacean) amongst some lichen.
The shot was taken with the 700, Tamron 90/2.8, Raynox 6x magnifier, Sigma EM-140 ringlight flash, Sony HVL-58 flash, Sony video light HVL-R20, ably assisted by the Manfrotto 330B macrobracket.  ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 09:13
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Back to the arachnids
A native stout-legged harvestmen (it has a very cryptic existence, I found it under a log in the bush). It is a spider relative (but comes from a different order completely). The (small) eyes are on a small mound on top of the carapace. The large pedipalps are festooned with various spikes. Light from Sigma EM-140 ringlight flash, additional magnification from Raynox 6x adapter. Photo processed in Silkypix. 
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p554537939-5.jpg - Link to larger Image ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 22:05
Anterior view - Stout-Legged Harvestman
 ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 22:11
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That is a real beastie there. Those jaws are seriously out of this world. Great find and great shot. You wouldnt want to send it to me so as i can get it under the microscope would you? O.K I guess thats not really something I should be asking but what a wonderfull monster :) and a real treat to see.
Tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 23:15
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NZ has some very strange Opilionids Tim. Some have pedipalps even larger than this (as you can see, the size of these plays hell with the focus plane even at f22). We also have polymorphic males- they can appear in different shapes and sizes. Some were originally so distinct, early zoologists classed the different males and the female into seperate species.
Oh, and they look very interesting under the microscope. I've got some more shots to develop yet. While I think I can export these animals without needing a special permit, they are I'm afraid, very likely to die in transit. Can you request specimens from official collections? They'd be dead and stored in ethanol. ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Tue Romanow
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 02:16
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Nice catch!
That has got to be the nastiest spider like creature I've ever seen!! Do those huge pedipalps have any speciel function or are they just for show? I'm getting more and more into spiders and having just found 4 Argiope bruennichi just across the street has really been a treat! First of all: I've never seen that species here in Denmark before and the first time it was ever observed in Denmark was in 1992. I've litterally spent hours (if not days!) just watching them. Amazing little critters...and damned pretty, too! ------------- There's no such thing as too many lenses. |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 03:14
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I'm not entirely sure why the pedipalps are this size Tue. The Opilionids in NZ haven't really been studied since the early 1950s.
Given the dimorphism between sexes, it's likely large pedipalps are perceived as more attractive to females. Or it may be better for dominating other males. (He was waving those pedipalps at my camera aggressively when I was herding him back on the leaf). Anyway, there are lots of possible reasons but not really any research to back it up. I've got some more photos of this stout-legged harvestmen to process, and some of a long-legged harvestman yet to come. Unlike spiders, the Opilionids are not poisonous. Good to hear that you are getting into the spiders . I agree that they can be very attractive at a morphological level. There are lots of shapes, colours and textures on their bodies- which suit macro-photography. I'm often surprised by the number of people who are afraid of them.
------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Tue Romanow
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 04:20
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Arachnophobia!That's one thing I don't understand...at least not here in Denmark. We haven't got any spiders that are slightly 'dangerous'...not even close! That said..erm...You wont ever see me getting close to swans or horses as they scare the **** out of me... ------------- There's no such thing as too many lenses. |
Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 05:38
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Hry Tue, a friend who is generally not into spieders at all phoned me up the other day to say he had found a wonderfull spider, by the sound of it some kind of argiopae too. I couldnt beleive it when he told me but now it sounds like it is a genuine one. Don't beleive they dont hurt when they bite though. I can still remember when one got me (during pretty rough handling) when I was a child. I got quite a shock and it went for a short but unexpected flight.
chthoniid, gunny that they have such a vision orientated behaviour when their eyes are set so far back, the idea of them signalling with the pedipalps is great, if anyone finds out that they have similar behaviour to jumping spiders they will be all the rage for research again :). Shame noone has looked into them recently, facinating animals. Just kidding about posting it (perhaps 1% serious), but so nice seeing things like that. There was a point when I sent some scorpions to a guy differentiating them by pcr and they turned up live, I wouldnt ask anyone to send though, if it turned up on a red list I should imagine its possible to get into a whole heap of trouble. I think denmark is almost exactly on the other side of the world so a fair way off too. If the harvest man wont go to mohommed it looks like it may be a case of having to go to the spider:) Tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 07:05
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Okay, a couple more developed shots
I think this one is the best of the bunch 
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p91109577-5.jpg - Larger Image Still trying to get the eyes and the pedipalps in the same focal plane 
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p40478569-5.jpg - Larger Image And a 100% crop of the one from last night 
I think this makes the eyes and the spikes a lot more obvious. ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: dogears
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 08:37
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Wow, that's one very interesting spider(?)! How small is it? ------------- http://shutteredlight.blogspot.com - woof! |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 09:54
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Thanks dogears- I think they're very interesting but not a lot of people share my opinion . Morphologically I don't think there is anything quite as strange-looking.
The body-length is 7-8mm long. That doesn't include the pedipalps (spiky, leg-like things in front). I was in no danger when it started threatening me. It is an Opilionid, so not actually a spider. It is an arachnid however, albeit you cannot see its chelicerae. It shares the 8 legs of spiders however. The common names (in English) for Opilionids are Harvestmen. They are a cryptic group that likes dark places. They are however, widely distributed, even if rarely seen. |
Posted By: brettania
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 13:04
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I think it is better that I refuse to acknowledge that such creatures exist in NZ. I do want to get some sleep at night. ------------- http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/posting-images-and-links-faqs_topic28010.html - Posting Images and Links | http://tinyurl.com/oz62mfp - Posts awaiting answers |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 23:36
Okay, this is the last of this 'stout-legged' harvestman. In this shot I was just trying to get all of the pedipalps in focus.
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p486790549-5.jpg - Link to larger image The main lighting challenge here is the cuticle on the pedipals is large and waxy, hence reflecting light much more so than the rest of the animal. I've got a much smaller long-legged harvestmen to display next. ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 00:18
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Okay, as promised/threatened this is first of my long-legged harvestman series.
It is of course, another Opilionid. 
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p872002755-5.jpg - Link to larger image Original crop: 1600x1278 pixels This arachnid has very different pedipalps to the one above. These are both very hairy and its got a long thumb growing out of the pedipalps. I have never seen anything quite like this on an arthropod before. You can see the smaller 3 segmented chelicerae the animal bites between the pedipalps. It has the standard 2 eyes on a mound on top of the carapace. This guy was about 3-4mm long (body-wise) so the extra magnification has come from a Raynox 12x adapter (I didn't get many keepers). Shots are hand-held with lighting from a Sigma EM-140 flash. ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 01:25
Show me the pedipalps
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p561433065-5.jpg - Link to larger Image ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 08:15
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Let the weirdness continue
Grooming the legs takes a long time 
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p1034957623-5.jpg - Link to larger image 
http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p744710069-5.jpg - Link to larger image ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: dogears
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 09:27
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I am enjoying your posts chthoniid specially this one:
------------- http://shutteredlight.blogspot.com - woof! |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 10:31
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Thanks dogears.
The NZ opilionid fauna is often very archaic in form, not just odd .
I have to say that I've seen a lot of microscopic creatures but nothing quite as strange as the long-legged harvestmen above. I can't even begin to classify it... So, Dyxum is highly likely to be the first group of people ever to have seen this species. That doesn't happen every day surely? ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 22:10
Last of the series
 ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: brettania
Date Posted: 26 August 2009 at 00:57
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Well done chthoniid. I must be becoming used to seeing them! ------------- http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/posting-images-and-links-faqs_topic28010.html - Posting Images and Links | http://tinyurl.com/oz62mfp - Posts awaiting answers |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 26 August 2009 at 04:58
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Thanks Cameron
It's going to be hard finding anything weirder looking than this harvestman, so I think everyone will be safe from now on. Opilionids are well dsitributed globally, so everyone should be able to find local examples . THat's a hint I'd like to see species from elsewhere...
If people do have the chance to visit the http://chthoniid.zenfolio.com/p638753185 - album and make comments on favourites (or such like) I'd appreciate the effort. (These guys took a lot of search time and careful planning to photograph) ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Tue Romanow
Date Posted: 29 August 2009 at 18:09
Well, I had to have a go at a local harvestman. ..Found a few hiding in the rhubarb..This one was nice enough to pose for a few seconds for this shot...
 ------------- There's no such thing as too many lenses. |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 30 August 2009 at 01:00
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We have the same species in our local gardens I think Tue, it's a cosmopolitan species.
As you note, getting them to pose makes up a good part of the challenge. The eyes look sharp though. Hope to see some more. ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 01 September 2009 at 18:50
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chthoniid, it has been a real pleasure to see all of these. I have one shot of one but its very old, however recently something similar turned up unexpectedly, a Ixodes ricinus sheep tick, so i guess it belongs here too.
These things have been increasingly bringing diseases to denmark so they have a morbid kind of interest for me, even though i think they are about as ugly as an animal can get. Quite often they transmit borrelia and more recently meningoecephalitis that i beleive there is no effective treatment for. Before they feed they look like something like this, however this is a totally different species that hunts prey (Not totally sure on the ID yet but it shows what they look like before they feed) rather than hangs onto humans dogs and sheep. 
This one has recently fed (on a dog but is just at home on humans) increasing its size from about 3mm long to probably over a cm. After feeding they fall off and lay their eggs. This one didnt get the chance. That black mark just above the head covered nearly the entire body before it started to feed. 
They hang on to their host with sticky pads and claws on their feet, then they stick their head into the skin of the host. Before feeding their legs are much more normally positioned as in the red one above. After feeding they get splayed out on that ballon of a body, but they still work and they can move (not really a walk) around slowly with them. 
The head really is not much more than a pair of teeth and a pin like stylus less than a mm long. 
It looks like it has rudimentry eyes though? 
One of the few animals I am really not keen on. And a the harvestmen, not nearly as ornate or weird as the others. Oops forgot there was another one. To check the size of the second one have a look at the bug in the top right. It was in italy and i had never seen one so big :). 
Tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 01 September 2009 at 23:55
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Very nice sequence Tim, with some excellent photos. The engorged tick looks very 'ghoulish'.
How did you get the magnification of the mouthparts so high? It's not a big creature and you've managed to record a lot of very fine detail. Your first Opilionid reminds me why I like these guys so much. They have a lot of wonderful textures with the spines and bristles. It's the sort of thing that suits macro photography immensely. ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: eccles
Date Posted: 02 September 2009 at 00:10
| Cracking shots, Tim, although they have me recoiling in horror having been caught by tiny black tick nymphs five times in the Spring of this year for the first time. I removed them long before they reached that level of engorgement but the bites itched and itched for days, and sometimes weeks. In this country (UK) the infection level is low but Lyme's disease is a growing risk if you don't spot them and remove them quickly enough. |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 03:47
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I haven't given up on this thread
Centipede 
(Yeah, it's a carnivore...). ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Tukki
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 05:31
That's a scary one, chthoniid! And here's a philosophical opilion.
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Posted By: zulu12
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 09:09
A300, T90/2,8 http://www.flickr.com/photos/sermeszo/3892348632/ - http://www.flickr.com/photos/sermeszo/3892348632/ |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 13 September 2009 at 23:14
heh, cute, I like the way the eye stands out, and the way the lines lead towards it in the composition. |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 13 September 2009 at 23:20
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Looks like a bee on one side, and a spider on the other, zulu12.
If you're interested, there are separate Dyxum themes for bees and wasps and for bugs and spiders.
Bees and wasps are http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48782&title=show-us-bees-and-wasps-3 - here and bugs and spiders http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49005&title=bugs-and-spiders-9 - here . ------------- α1, α7cii- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF |
Posted By: Wētāpunga
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 00:57
A panoramic centipede
----- http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32732&title=lets-see-some-beetles - Let's see some beetles |
Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 16 November 2009 at 23:37
tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 22 November 2009 at 12:08
this guy is about 3mm long pseudoscorpion (which can be found in most gardens) possibly Neobisium carcinioides. most closely related to spiders, but to me their mouth parts look very scorpion like apparently they can inject venom through their claws.
tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |
Posted By: tpetpe
Date Posted: 22 November 2009 at 21:26
apparently these things are no longer insects even though they have 6 legs, so the last lot in bugs and spiders were incorectly posted.
sorry guys tim ------------- http://www.scientificillustration.net |