Acanthosoma labiduroides - Male Shield Bug

Hi everyone !

 

After just recieving my Bellows three days back, i thought i'd give them a go with an insect i found in the garden behind some large slabs up against the wall. It was around 0 degrees outside so he was considered in hibernation or dead as he didn't move for a good half hour....

 

I took the little guy inside and let him warm up whilst i got my lunch, when i got back he was sitting under the warm lamp on my camera... perfect chance for me to get some snaps...

 

He was on the whole pretty co operative, but every now and again when i was trying to get enough images for a stack he would move his head or antenae and i would have to start over... which on the whole took a long time in getting something i would be happy enough in uploading.

 

This image was around 10 images stacked in the Zerene stacker which i only just downloaded today after photoshop was just not doing the job i wanted... If a picture was slightly out of alignment then it would produce a very blurry image. I hope to upload my Setup for some people who have been requesting to see it, but beware it's a bit eccentric, nevertheless it works and it is very cheap indeed to get the bits you need.

 

This image was taken with a Canon550D

50mm f1.8 FD Prime lens

Lens reversed onto extension tubes

Then tubes put onto the bellows

Bellows fully stretched out...

Flash attached to the camera via a flash chord around 30cm to the left of the camera with no hot shoe to get past the bellow length...

 

As always here's some interesting facts about this wonderfully colored bug ; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentatomoidea

 

Here's my facebook fan page for those interested ; www.facebook.com/pages/Macro-Photography/126069520823109

 

Click here for a larger image ; www.flickr.com/photos/sequentialmacro/6858657457/sizes/l/...

Done