Pretty Pest. Pt. 2 - _TNY_6412S3
This beauty peering over the edge of an aspen leaf is a small poplar borer (Saperda populnea).
It was very accomodating and stayed still enough for me to get all the way in to 3.9:1 magnification and get three shots which are compiled into a single image using Zerene Stacker.
The female makes a horseshoe-shaped cut, primarily on young aspen, and lays her egg in the incision. This develops into a gall from which the next generation makes an exit hole the next spring.
Part 1 showing the entire beetle here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50172444078/
Pretty Pest. Pt. 2 - _TNY_6412S3
This beauty peering over the edge of an aspen leaf is a small poplar borer (Saperda populnea).
It was very accomodating and stayed still enough for me to get all the way in to 3.9:1 magnification and get three shots which are compiled into a single image using Zerene Stacker.
The female makes a horseshoe-shaped cut, primarily on young aspen, and lays her egg in the incision. This develops into a gall from which the next generation makes an exit hole the next spring.
Part 1 showing the entire beetle here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50172444078/