MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

In these trying times it's nice to know that simpler creatures can be great guides. It is spring and I found this Cicada. The Cicada is dead and what in the picture appears as a stiff upper lip is actually a neck but what the hell. It's a Cicada and it's spring.

Wow! Cool shot.

How did you take it? Macro lens?

it was a 4x planachro with 20X offset phase diaphragm as a quasi DF stop.

Oops, the reason I asked about macro lens and DSLR combination was the picture creates illusion of reflection from specimen surface. I don't know how to put it into words, but it terribly looks like a picture taken by a camera and a macro lens. It does even have bokeh discs in the background.

Now you told it's a dark field image, I can think 3 dimensionally

That is a very nice photo!

Trying times indeed ! (big long queue outside the pharmacy being let in only 2by2 this evening )

Thanks Apo' that made me smile ,,,
I was going to say that I have heard of Cicadas but we don't have them over this side of the pond so it was good to see one close up,,,,
but you caused me to read up on them on Wiki,
and Lo! "and a single species was known from England, the New Forest cicada, "

So I have learned something as well as being amused Cheers.

PS thinking on "was known" sounds a bit ominous, is it not now found there, some more reading is in the offing I think ?

Thanks. That is of interest to me too. Was, when used in literature devoted to species is seldom a good word. Cicadas are pretty transglobal. It's surprising that few are in the British Isles.
The site Cicada Mania says that there are 190 species in N.A..... but not so many this far north. This particular one, is very small. I don't know what species yet but perhaps one that isn't that common here. Maybe Beameria Venosa, with a body only 15mm or so. Usually, the ones I have seen are located by their extreme loud midday call which sounds a bit like a high speed grinder against stainless steel. Neotibicen Canicularis. Those are more than 30mm in body length. usually. Like everything else that loves heat, Cicada species are moving north.

apochronaut wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 24, 2020 1:13 pm

their extreme loud midday call
Cicada species are moving north.

Yes! A mixed blessing of having them on one's doorstep.

Not to mention ticks,
which were a problem in Europe, but not here in my yooof.
But have moved north and now they are widespread in the UK,
which probably means that most self-respecting NF Cicadas are now to be found in Scotland ??