Focus stacks of two beetles shot at 10X

[papilio]

Dicranocephalus wallichi bourgoini, scarab






Acroncinus longimanus, Harlequin longhorn beetle
Tarsal claw




Antenna joint




What are these setae doing beneath the exoskeleton?

 

[Malhavoc's]

beetles molt o.0 since when?

 

[papilio]

beetles molt o.0 since when?

Hehe, Oops! I too was certain that they didn't but upon seeing those setae, just to be sure that I was correct I googled the matter, and all of the first few results I checked said yes. So I quickly assumed I'd been wrong all these years, though I'd never seen such a thing.

I wonder how then to explain the setae?

 

[Malhavoc's]

Hehe, Oops! I too was certain that they didn't but upon seeing those setae, just to be sure that I was correct I googled the matter, and all of the first few results I checked said yes. So I quickly assumed I'd been wrong all these years, though I'd never seen such a thing.

I wonder how then to explain the setae?

I was actually wondering that myself, I wonder if they still are receptive even beneath the exoskeleton? up till now I've never seen sub exo setae

 

[pannaking22]

Beautiful pictures and I didn't know they had setae like that either. Very interesting to see!

 

[papilio]

I was actually wondering that myself, I wonder if they still are receptive even beneath the exoskeleton? up till now I've never seen sub exo setae

I may have just a few minutes ago been given the answer on another forum, photomacrography.net -- The member stated that body grease can frequently leach out through the exoskeleton and create a covering over the exo such as we're seeing here. The complete lack of texture, as though the beetle had been lacquered, pretty much clinches it I'd say.

I was told to take my 30-yr-old specimens and submerse them in acetone for a few days ... yikes, but I guess it must work, those people know what they're talking about!

Beautiful pictures and I didn't know they had setae like that either. Very interesting to see!

Thank you very much pannaking!

 

[papilio]

Here's one more which I did yesterday,




Megasoma elephas, Elephant beetle, antenna by _papilio, on Flickr