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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 16, 2011 21:44:58 GMT -8
Next up is the mantis   |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 16, 2011 21:38:33 GMT -8
I decided to crop it down to the individual bugs to show the level of detail I can get with this relatively inexpensive camera. First up are the katydids   Even these images are cut down more than 50% which lost a little of the detail. |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 16, 2011 21:29:50 GMT -8
I just got me a little $74 Kodak 14mp and decided to try it out. I was very surprised at the results. The subject I started with was a box of assorted insects that I threw together a week or two ago. At first glance, the photo looked quite presentable.  then I zoomed it to 100%... (I had to resize this one to make it acceptable for posting) |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 15, 2011 18:55:54 GMT -8
That MV set up sounds like the way to go for me. I thank you very much for the help. I just got paid so I will be going by Home Depot tomorrow after work armed with this information. As for the blacklight, I figure that I will just pick up one of these www.walmart.com/ip/Black-Light/8198021. It should hold me over until I am able to get the real thing. Even if it doesn't work for collecting, at least I will wind up with a blacklight around the house to play around with. Again, thank you all very much for the info. |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 15, 2011 18:28:36 GMT -8
I want to collect more of these guys, but I am lucky if I see even one each year. I am hoping that as I get more educated in this field that I will be able to find techniques that will enable me to find many more of these guys. If all goes well, I may even try my hand at raising some if I can find a male and female paring.
I actually thought about buying a pair, but the only ones I found were $55 for the couple. That is a steep price to pay for something that I should be able to find for free since they naturally grow in my area.
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 15, 2011 10:47:53 GMT -8
I just found another image. Here is the box I started with these beetles. The other images are actually cuts from this image. That is why they are such low quality. I have since filled this box up.  |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 15, 2011 10:18:11 GMT -8
I am new at insect collecting and on a VERY limited budget. I have noticed a lot of talk about mercury vapor lighting. A Google search for Mercury Vapor Fixtures turned up nothing but bulbs and a couple of street lamp heads.
So what do I need to know about MV lights? Can I throw together an MV set up really cheap or would I have to dish out the big bucks for a premade set up? Is it just about the intensity of the light or is it something about the light from an MV bulb? If it is just the intensity of the light, would a regular halogen work light work until I can do better?
I would also like to know about blacklights. Would a simple blacklight like those found in the party supply section of a store suffice for the time being, or do I need a special type of blacklight?
I realize that I have a lot of questions, but I am new and came here to learn. ;D
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 15, 2011 9:24:40 GMT -8
The last one that I have a photo of at the moment (other than a male tityus that is already posted in the favorite specimen thread) is a female Dynastes tityus.  A relative found her dead in her window sill and passed her on to me. |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 15, 2011 9:21:13 GMT -8
Here we have Cotinis nitida (I think.)  |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 15, 2011 9:13:23 GMT -8
Next is the Necrophila americana.  The one on the bottom right is now full of holes and missing 3 1/2 legs thanks to a slight dermestid problem. |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 15, 2011 9:11:18 GMT -8
A couple of years ago I began gathering beetles simply because I needed something with which to expand my wunderkammer. As I continued gathering, I became more and more interested in the collecting as a hobby aspect of it which led me expanding beyond beetles and actually taking it up as a hobby rather than just a way to fill my cabinet. I have some old photos of the beginnings of my collection and I figured I would share them with you. If you find any misidentified insects, please let me know. First up is Tetracha carolina.  |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 15, 2011 7:41:03 GMT -8
I believe this to be the Cicindela limbalis. I am quite new at this though so my thoughts should be taken hesitantly. Bugguide.net pointed me in this direction, but since it is based only on US bugs, I did a Google search of the range and it seems to match up.
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I will chime in and tell us if I am correct or not.
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 14, 2011 21:34:49 GMT -8
Thank you. My camera situation is really bugging me (no pun intended  ). I have never had a nice camera, but the 6 megapixel camera that I misplaced (I know it is in this house, but it has been over a year since I have been able to find it!) took much better photos than this 9.1 mp piece of junk that I just wasted $40 on. My old camera and an improvised light box (and a little tweaking in the Windows Photo Gallery) could could produce images that would rival those of an expensive set up. |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 13, 2011 16:23:18 GMT -8
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Sept 13, 2011 16:22:13 GMT -8
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). 
