Macroscopic Creepy Crawlies

The delicate strands of hair on a miniscule jumping spider can be seen in these detailed macroscopic images.

They show the pearlescent wings of an ant and the bulging eyes of a housefly - illuminating the hidden features of common bugs that are too small to see.

The Macropod, a portable 3D high-resolution device, captures the stunning details through automated photo stacking.

The technique takes multiple images and is then processed in a software program to create a detailed image that cannot be seen with the human eye.

It allows the glowing casing of a dog bane beetle to be seen with extraordinary precision.

And the flecks of colour and blood in a human eye are revealed with remarkable detail.

The Macropod, which was built by professional photographers with degrees in Biology and Geology from top universities in America, can be used for scientific and educational purposes and can even be used on blood.

American Mark Smith, the co-founder of Macroscopic Solutions said: “I’ve been a macro photographer since I was 16 years old and I’m surprised by my own discoveries.

“I was given a caterpillar chrysalis which had been parasitized by a wasp and was filled with larvae. These larvae live in the chrysalis and feed from the un-developed butterfly.

“I was asked to image the larvae and I just about gagged; however, to my astonishment, these creatures are so much more impressive than I previously realised.

“No matter how gross we think something is, it’s always fascinating from an alternate perspective."

The Macropod is intended for scientific researchers who are looking for portable, easy-to-use, high-resolution, high-magnification, 3D imaging devices.

As part of its business plan, Macroscopic Solutions donates one Macropod for every ten it sells to a high-school or non-profit organisation.”

For more information about the Macropod visit: http://www.macroscopicsolutions.com/