Treehopper. Note, it is not THE treehopper but one of 91 known species in Maryland and thousands world wide. Which one is a great question, have a side and a top shot coming so maybe we can work that out. In the mean time realize that these crazy architectural beings are common and you kill or brush them aside in your yard all the time (if you haven't sprayed it down for mosquitoes that is). This one found on the research lands of USDA now identified as a possible private rail yard for the MAGLEV. When speaking about global insect Apocalypse, this is the real cause...taking rich natural areas and turning them to concrete. You only need to measure the "before" the after is already known. Try taking concrete and turning it to biodiversity if you don't think this rachets one way. Snapping back to happy thoughts, this minibeast treehopper was captured by entomologist in training Danie Phan and photographed by biology college boy Anders Croft. maybe this landscape will be there for them when they get to be my age. Or, ... not.

~~~~~~~~~~{{{{{{0}}}}}}~~~~~~~~~~

All photographs are public domain, feel free to download and use as you wish.

Photography Information:
Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

We Are Made One with What We Touch and See

We are resolved into the supreme air,
We are made one with what we touch and see,
With our heart's blood each crimson sun is fair,

With our young lives each spring impassioned tree
Flames into green, the wildest beasts that range
The moor our kinsmen are, all life is one, and all is change.
- Oscar Wilde

You can also follow us on Instagram - account = USGSBIML

Want some Useful Links to the Techniques We Use? Well now here you go Citizen:

Best over all technical resource for photo stacking:
www.extreme-macro.co.uk/

Free Field Guide to Bee Genera of Maryland:

bio2.elmira.edu/fieldbio/beesofmarylandbookversion1.pdf

Basic USGSBIML set up:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY

USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4

Bees of Maryland Organized by Taxa with information on each Genus
www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/collections

PDF of Basic USGSBIML Photography Set Up:

ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/How%20to%20Take%20MacroPhotographs%20of%20Insects%20BIML%20Lab2.pdf

Google Hangout Demonstration of Techniques:
plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo
or
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU

Excellent Technical Form on Stacking:
www.photomacrography.net/

Contact information:

Sam Droege

sdroege@usgs.gov

301 497 5840