Friday Beetle Blogging: Leconte's Jewel Scarab

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Chrysina lecontei, Arizona.

Jewel scarabs emerge during Arizona's summer monsoon, and collectors from around the world descend on the region with their blacklights and mercury vapor lamps to attract the beetles. Chrysina lecontei is the smallest and rarest of the three Arizona species.

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Chrysina leconte, Arizona.

photo details (both photos): Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens on a Canon EOS 20D

ISO 100, 1/250 sec, f/18, indirect strobe in white box

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The pictures are absolutely beautiful. What is a"white box" that you used an indirect strobe in?

By Henry W. Robison (not verified) on 20 Feb 2009 #permalink

Thanks, Henry. A white box is a big cardboard box, open on one side, that is colored white on the inside. It serves as a miniature studio for insects. An off-camera flash pointed to the top of the box and away from the insect produces an even white lighting when the light bounces off the walls of the box.

this has been a great help

By Anonymous (not verified) on 03 Sep 2009 #permalink