Strangely Metallic by Chipka
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Description
As I write this, I am inordinately happy; my back yard is crawling with woodlice, earwigs, and shiny, little millipedes of rare and exquisite pedigree. The millipedes are nearly impossible to photograph, the woodlice are mostly juveniles, and the earwigs are incredibly fast—more difficult to photograph than the millipedes. Ah, but I’ll keep trying for as long as my back yard continues to thrive with the sorts of life-forms I commonly associate with paradise. Okay, there are those who call Hawaii paradise, and I suppose it is…but right now, with all of the critters running around outside, a particular back yard in Chicago is a close second. (Unlike Hawaii, however, we don’t have giant land-dwelling planarians with blunt arrowhead-shaped heads and garish, almost acidic colors.)
Ah, but we have woodlice. Lots and Lots of woodlice. Young ones. And a few enormous, shiny adults.
There’s work being done in the basement and pieces of wood and other debris have been placed in the back yard. We’ve had rain, off and on; we’ve made use of lawn sprinklers…and so (as of this writing) the back yard is quite…um…moist. Moisture and wood are, of course, ideal environmental factors to utilize if you want to attract isopods. Because of other small, edible critters in the neighborhood, we have quite a number of earwigs: nature’s bottle openers, and I suspect that they come from the vacant property across the street. The building itself stands empty and boarded up, and its back yard looks…well…a bit more wildly green than anything else in the area. It’s kind of a good thing…but not really.
I took this picture a couple of days ago; as I was taking garbage out to the alley garbage bin. I passed a sheet of sodden wood, and—well, as would be expected of me—I decided to investigate, turn the wood over, and see what scurried out. I was a bit disappointed as there wasn’t very much scurrying. Urban wildlife is somewhat hard to startle; it takes a lot to make a woodlouse scurry around here. Gunfire does it, but gunfire makes everyone scurry…even battle hardened soldiers. And so, since there wasn’t very much scurrying going on, I decided to take advantage of the situation and snap what pictures I could. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, I carry my camera with me when emptying garbage. I have it on good authority that certain sorts of people like to lay eggs on the tree near the back border of the yard. Insect egg hunting has become one of my fruitless pastimes on Garbage Pickup Eve.
With no scurrying to investigate and no pre-larval insects to identify, I snapped pictures of woodlice. This is one of the many. Quite a large specimen as well. As I’m developing a new alien species, I’m quite fond of this image as I suspect the aliens in question (perhaps to be posted later?) are pseudo-isopods. They look like isopods, but they aren’t…quite simply because…well…they’re not even terrestrial creatures. Ah…semantics.
I have quite a number of woodlouse pictures still on my camera. I won’t subject you to all of them, bit I figured it’s been quite some time since I posted an image of my mascots…and well…one must always pay proper homage to ones mascots, lest they pack up and leave and display charming behavior for people far, far away…people who may not even recognize a charming isopod when they see one. And so, here is a charming isopod.
As always, thank you for viewing, and reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (25)
NefariousDrO
That's such a great shot, your postwork nicely emphasizes the metallic look to the chitinous shell. Being something of an amateur armorer I can't help but be fascinated by creatures like these. I do find it amusing that you literally do take your camera everywhere, don't you? As this shows, you never know when the next great photo-opportunity will show up.
mbz2662
I like that you take your camera with you when you take out the garbage :) You should have been in my back yard this summer. I had armies of these things marching across the patio and everywhere else. You couldn't go outside at night without a few casualties underfoot (sorry). Unfortunately, I had ants taking over my house and had to spray the yard, which I hate to do, but I hated the ants more. Back to your photo. It's really a cool shot. This guy looks like he donned his medieval armor and is ready to deflect any blows (or steps as the case may be)
MrsRatbag
It does look nearly metallic; it could be a kinetic trophy for some esoteric scientific academy! And perhaps those aliens you're dreaming about use a biological armor based on the woodlouse design to encase their fragile bodies? Sort of like the evil aliens in "Independence Day"? All those legs and the movable segments seem like they'd be really useful. (They could use the segment edges to grate carrots or cheese!) Oh well, I'm sure it will all come clear to you soon, and you can share your results with us :D
TomDart
Chip, I almost always have my camera with me, too. I like your story and can plant my self right there, small world for the moment and critters to meet. So many of the beetles and millipedes and others have wonderful metallic colors. I am amazed at the creation on this level. Thanks very much for the great photo and for bringing me down to earth a while.
alphalioness
Really cool image. And I love you take your camera EVERYWHERE. Happy shooting :D
NightGallery
They are tough to get a good shot of. You did very well here my friend!
beachzz
Only you could make this little critter look like a piece of jewelry I might wear. Though if it starts to crawl up my sleeve, things might get ugly!!
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend.
blinkings
I have a real love for these little guys. Harmless, rolly polly and fascinating!
helanker
Again you have capacity to take us into the "bench-biter" world and make it interesting. Again I had a cosy time reading about what you see and think. Chip you even show us the most excellent little, almost metallic, Woodlouse. After getting to know you, I never think of them the same way, as I did before. I happen right this morning to let a poor Woodlouse out to the free air. lol !
durleybeachbum
I think you might be secretly running a woodlice beauty parlor..a quick brush and polish and "will you be needing anything for the weekend, sir?" That is a VERY shiny creature..gorgeous. Of course you take your camera out with you to the bin, so do I. Just think what you'd miss.
whaleman
Sort of like the living version of Jules Verne's Nautilus. As an alternative to gunfire to promote scurrying, you might try a loud drum roll so the battle-hardened soldiers will line up by rank rather than take cover! I do hope you fed the poor little Metallica fan!
lick.a.witch
If there is any justice whatsoever in this universe, there is a planet out there aptly called 'Woodlicedom', where these amazing little beasts rule with alacrity! Absolutely fantastic image! ^=^
flavia49
fabulous capture!!
T.Rex
I see quite a few on sidewalks here in south Sweden, but they are a dull medium grey. They look like they can be related to trilobytes. I understand you like them, so do I (one of the few insects I like). Keep up the good work! :)
sandra46
while I have no idea of what races of insects you're speaking about, i like this shot very, very much! you're right, it has a metallic quality.
jmb007
superbe photo!!
Ionel
It really looks like a golden jewelry!
jocko500
cool post work. remind me of a alien tank . cool shot
danapommet
OMG - a woodlice - I am so surprised to see this in Chip's gallery. :>) What did you do to get that beautiful shine on him. Great macro. Dana
minos_6
Your macro photography is always perfectly focussed, with interesting subjects, but what always impresses me is the way you get nature's creatures to pose for you! The contrast between the carapace and its surroundings is incredible. I almost expected to see the photographer reflected back at me! I'm reminded of another favourite from your gallery, when you captured a mayfly on glass covered in condensation. This is exceptional photography, and your account of how it came about just adds to the enjoyment.
lucindawind
this shot is fantastic.. he looks like a metal bug !
Orinoor
While reading your discourse on the photo, I kept thinking, why is he calling a sow bug a woodlouse? I love regional differences and now I'm a little more knowledgeable regarding those differences. I love "woodlice", although not nearly as fond of earwigs, perhaps because of their large pincers and name, they make me nervous. It's a wonderful photo and I love thinking what your neighbors might think as they see you taking out the garbage, camera in hand.
praep
Very nice shot and postwork - well done my friend.
kasalin
Very great and beautiful macro :) Excellent done !!!!!!!!!!! 5***** Hugs Karin :)