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Very young Small Copper

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 4:17 pm
by Tony Moore
Caught this one about to hatch...
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Tony M.

Re: Very young Small Copper

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 5:49 pm
by David M
Amazing moment. Are you rearing them or was that a 'wild' find?

Re: Very young Small Copper

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:59 pm
by Tony Moore
It was found this afternoon along with several others. When I set it up to photograph, I noticed a tiny hole. It took about 45 mins for the larva to make a big enough hole to escape. Unfortunately, the egg was set up for a focus stack (with a microscope objective) and the dof was almost non-existent. Below were the best that I could manage given these restrictions (the larva was never still enough for a stack).
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Tony M.

Re: Very young Small Copper

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:25 pm
by David M
Fair play for finding that in the wild, Tony.

Re: Very young Small Copper

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:15 pm
by Vince Massimo
Never seen that before. Keep them coming :D

Vince

Re: Very young Small Copper

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:26 pm
by Tony Moore
Thanks, Guys,

David - eggs are very easy to find at this time of the year. In any area where you have seen the adults, look for tiny, young sorrel plants. The eggs show up very well. I collected a small bunch of plants today to grow on as food for the new larvae, and found three more eggs when I got them home!

Tony M.

Re: Very young Small Copper

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:09 pm
by Tony Moore
Managed to catch this little chap during a pause in feeding. It seems to be covered in a milky secretion - protective? - ant food? Anyone know?
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Tony M.