Download high resolution image here.

These images follow first stage larva quiescent phase images in a series (linked below) documenting the development of a scale insect infesting the pinyon (Pinus edulis) tree in the southeast corner of the Federal Credit Union parking lot on the Corner of Sherman Ave. and Chanute St. (Albuquerque East 7.5 minute quadrangle), Kirtland AFB, Bernalillo Co. NM. The 0.86 mm length cited is of the lower of the touching pair in the upper left corner of the image.

The larvae have grown and encysted since the last stage (imaged September 23, 2014). The entire body (including legs) is now covered with a resinous shell. The second image is a dorsal-lateral close-up of the lower cyst of the pair in the upper left corner. One sees that the first stage covering has cracked into fragments due expansion of the underlying layer of the incipient second cyst stage. Fragments of the first stage layer remain bonded to the second stage layer throughout its subsequent developement, only pealing off at the edges due to the shear stress resulting from the underlying expansion. The process and pattern is similar to that of desiccation cracks in mud, but with the effect of brittle surface layer contraction being replaced by plastic substrate expansion.

This image is from a CombineZP processed stack of 160 images with a 5.6 µm step taken with a Mitutoyo M Plan APO 10X/0.28 ∞/0 mm microscope objective + Nikon 135 mm F2.8 AIS telephoto lens + Nikon D810 camera (magnification 6.75×; technique described here).

Phases of development: