On 15th March, I found this wonderful moth pupa in my garden shed.   The case had a reflective waxy-like coating (not too dissimilar to a ladybird elytra) a good subject for which to experiment with stacking, studio flash and diffusion. I used the obligatory tripod and micro-rail with two heavily diffused flashes. The flashes were set to manual as I found this gave me better control. First off, I used the Sigma 150mm and then the Canon MPE 65mm. The pupa was kept in a container with daily doses of my breath to help moisten it while I patiently waited for the moth to emerge.

When they are ready to pupate caterpillars look for a suitable place to complete this part of their life cycle which may be on a plant or tree, under leaf and other litter on the ground or in this case in the garden shed.

The pictures that follow show the areas where significant parts of the adult insect will form. The 3 pairs of legs (the true legs) are attached to the thorax of the adult insect and from the front to the back of the head are named as follows:- The Prothoracic, the Mesothoracic and the Metathoracic legs.

Sigma 150mm macro – 4 shot focus stack using Zerene Stacker

Sigma 150mm macro – 10 shot focus stack using Zerene Stacker

Canon MPE 65mm macro – 2x magnification – 12 shot focus stack using Zerene Stacker

Canon MPE 65mm macro – 2x magnification – 22 shot focus stack using Zerene Stacker

From this foreshortened viewpoint the eyes are at the front with the antenna stretching down to the wing area. Notice the tiny holes running along the abdominal segments. These are the ‘spiracles’, breathing ports that provide both the caterpillar and moth with oxygen.

Canon MPE 65mm macro – 2x magnification – 10 shot focus stack using Zerene Stacker

Canon MPE 65mm macro – 2x magnification – 6 shot focus stack using Zerene Stacker

The hook like projection seen at the end of the abdomen is the ‘cremaster’ which is used to attach the hind end of the moth’s pupa to a twig or other structure. The cremaster can be a series of hooks or just a single larger hook.

Canon MPE 65mm macro – 2x magnification – 8 shot focus stack using Zerene Stacker

Canon MPE 65mm macro – 2x magnification – 9 shot focus stack using Zerene Stacker

The slit below the cremaster (the hook-like spike at the end of the abdomen) is the anus.

Canon MPE 65mm macro – 3x magnification – 4 shot focus stack using Zerene Stacker

The three little holes seen at the top of each abdominal section are the ‘spiracles’: oval breathing vents used to receive oxygen. You can see them on the sides of the abdominal sections of caterpillars and pupai, all these dots are breathing ports.

It was then a question of waiting patiently to see what species of moth would emerge. That, however, will be the subject of my next post.

What species of moth do you think emerged?

To find out CLICK HERE