This is one of the smaller Predaceous Diving Beetles (Family Dytiscidae - posibly Graphoderus fascicollis). The circle of white dots on its thorax is actually a colony of protozoans attached to its exoskeleton. 2.5 gallon aquarium setup, 1D IV, 100 mm macro, 1/125, f/14, ISO 160, 2 remotely fired 430EX flashes (manual mode, diffused), tripod, live view manual focus, mirror lock, cable release. I removed some of the floating bits of debris in the water and ran nr on the background. All comments are welcome and appreciated.
You have a most interesting subject here. You have exposed it well and presented it against a very good background. It is sharp everywhere that it needs to be. And I am fascinated by your explanation of the circle of white dots. The only way I think this might be improved would be to provide a more lateral view, that would essentially retain what you have shown here, but also show more of this beetle. But this is an excellent image as is. I continue to be awed by what you show from your aquarium! Very well done.
Excellent Steve.
We have two large Dytiscids over here and the last one I did had the growths all over the thorax and most of the lower abdomen- ended up like a fungus.. Love the indentations on the elytra and just the right amount of weed.
Is it one of the bladderworts ?
Any way a fine pic.
JohnR
I really like how the bright feathery vegetation surrounds and highlights the solid oval shape of the diving beetle. The lighting adds a lovely rich glow & brings out the colors and details on the beetle that are probably hard to see without this kind of set-up. The explanation of the white dots is so interesting. A tiny world within a small world.
Another quality image from your aquarium, Steve. Textures, details, colors all excellent and the image is very clean overall. The protozoan natural history is a nice plus. I would wish for a bit more room at the bottom so it doesn't feel so tight against the greenery. I generally prefer more eye-level POVs (from front, side, or in between), but this works quite well as presented.
Stunning image Stephen, this certainly works for me, no lateral view could be this exciting and I would not want to miss seeing those golden dots on the back of the beetle. I love the detail and the colours are just superb, so well presented, sharp where it counts-I am truly envious of your macro images!
John: Yes, the plant is a bladderwort. Also, I have shots of a large Dytiscid beetle that has "things" attached/growing in various places on its exoskeleton - resembling a fungus. I'll post it. It seems that most aquatic macro-invertebrates that I photograph have other organisms attached to their bodies. Dragonfly nymphs, in particular, can become festooned with protozoan colonies. These do not appear to hinder the nymph in any way.
Predaceous Diving Beetle
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