Colorado hairstreak butterfly scales
Hypaurotis crysalus, Colorado state insect, collected in 1957
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33011/cuhj20253549Keywords:
butterfly, wings, scales, microscopyAbstract
Insects hold vital roles in ecosystems. Pollinators, parasites, predators, herbivores, and decomposers are just a few examples of typical specialties. The photographs in this series represent each of these groups, with an attention to close-up, sometimes even microscopic details that would otherwise go unnoticed. In a world of unprecedented change, insects are becoming more important than ever as we try to solve complex ecological problems.
These CU Museum of Natural History Entomology Collection specimen photographs are stacks of many images. At this level of magnification, only a small plane is in focus, so ~100-200 images are taken from front to back to encompass the entire plane of the insect. As the magnification increases, sometimes only a few micrometers of a specimen are in focus at any given time, and many images are required to create a fully focused image.
With these images, I hope to provide a new perspective on insects and their stunning features. Compound eyes, eloquent wing scales, hairs that carry pollen, and incredible mimicking structures depict the epic level of biodiversity and specialization in the insect world. My goal is that someday, with the help of photographs, more people will value insects for their beauty, biodiversity, and necessary ecological importance.
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11-August-2014
