Recent Peak into the Micro World

Recently I had some time at the weekends to go looking for the tiny micro creatures that can be found under our feet.  Most of the following ( with the exceptions of the woodlouse and beetle ) are hard to spot with the naked eye.  However a bit of looking and sometimes searching around with the magnification lens that is the Canon MPE-65mm ( it reproduces from life size to 5x lifesize on the cameras sensor ) these tiny things can be seen and photographed.  Well photographed if they don’t run or ping away!

Here is a fairly large selection of photographs from my three most recent outings to find them at Ramsdown Nature Reserve, near Hurn, Christchurch.

First up a tiny mite ( about the size of a pin head – as are the later globular springtails )

Creeping Mite
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Creeping Mite

This Woodlouse was co-operative, allowing me to take a couple of high magnification focus stacked shots, which I merged together in Photoshop CC.

Woodlouse ( 3 images Stacked)
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Woodlouse ( 3 images Stacked)
Woodlouse ( 2 images Stacked)
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Woodlouse ( 2 images Stacked)

I feel this Elongated-bodied springtail has a fairly sinister look to it.

The Evil One
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
The Evil One

Whereas this globular was almost attacking the diffuser on my flashgun, leading to a couple of amusing poses.

Getting Jiggy with It
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Getting Jiggy with It
All Hail the Twig
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
All Hail the Twig

This springtail below has fairly short antennae for an Elongated bodied one.

Elongated-bodied Springtail in profile
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Elongated-bodied Springtail in profile

I had fun following this Globular springtail up and down the stem of a small rotten leaf.

Going Up
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Going Up
Going down
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Going down
Down to the end of the stem
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Down to the end of the stem
Globular Spingtail in profile
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Globular Spingtail in profile

As far as I can recall this next springtail is the smallest I have taken.  This is an uncropped image of a around 3x magnification.

I am really tiny!
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
I am really tiny!

One thing that is interesting to me, when getting a detailed view on the small world, is how hairy some of these things are..

See my hairs
See my hairs

I was pleased to get the following shot of this dark springtail, they appear almost black to the naked eye, and are among the quickest to run off if disturbed.

Dark Elongated Springtail
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Dark Elongated Springtail

Tiny is the word again for this small Globular springtail, it was about 1/4 the size of the other globular springtails shown in this post.

Tiny Globular Springtail
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Tiny Globular Springtail

This Dicyrtoma fusca globular springtail also got annoyed with my lens being close and pulled some interesting poses before bouncing off.

Hi, I am globby
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Hi, I am globby
Hands Up!
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Hands Up!
Wave Hello
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Wave Hello
Globular Springtail on bark edge
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Globular Springtail on bark edge

I have yet to id the blue springtail in the next two images – some scale being given by the tiny pinhead sized mite that appeared briefly by it.  These images are at 4x magnification.

The Mite and The Springtail
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
The Mite and The Springtail
Tiny Blue Springtail
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Tiny Blue Springtail

And from the tiny – to the small – a beetle.  Even though it is not big, it is much more easy to spot.

Beetle
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Beetle

Finally a selection of springtails, the last of which I think looks a like it wants to pounce out at you.

Small Elongated-bodied Springtail
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Small Elongated-bodied Springtail

The face of the globbyCanon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)

Dicyrtomina saundersi ( I think)
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Dicyrtomina saundersi ( I think)
Dicyrtoma fusca on my mat
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Dicyrtoma fusca on my mat
Dicyrtoma fusca
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Dicyrtoma fusca
Fear Me!
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO200)
Fear Me!

All images taken on Canon 5D mark IV, with Canon MPE-65mm Macro Lens, and lit by Canon MT-24ex Twin flash with home made diffusers.

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