Having taken a week off work, I've had a little more time to poke about in the undergrowth of my garden to see what I can find. I'm constantly amazed by what's in there. Here are the best of my latest efforts, some of which I've identified and some I haven't. I'd welcome any pointers for identification, and as always any comments on the photos themselves.
I've been chasing these tiny little springtails for weeks. They're very small (less than 1mm) and move quite fast. At last my patience paid off and one stopped in a good place long enough for me to go all the way in to 5X with the MP-E 65mm. I believe it's Lepidocyrtus cyaneus, and they're especially hard to get a good shot of because their body seems metallic-looking and you can get specular highlights, depending on the lighting direction.
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While poking around I came across a very small web with tiny water droplets in it. At this size, surface tension is very strong and pulls the droplets into perfect spheres.
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These next two shots show mites. I assume they're different species, but I've not found a good source for identifying them.
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I've no idea what this next one is. It looks like a small fly, but its wings are embryonic. It had a distinctly metallic green appearance. The leaf it is on is about 20mm (3/4 inch) wide.
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Next is a young froghopper of the genus Delphacidae, possibly Delphacodes pellucida, but it has a strange growth on its back. I've seen one like this before too, but I've no idea what it is.
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And finally a tiny wingless insect that I think is probably one of the gall wasps, but don't know which.
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