Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events


TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#379064
Pyrrhocoris apterus - Utah - Pyrrhocoris apterus

Pyrrhocoris apterus - Utah - Pyrrhocoris apterus
Salt Lake City (N40°46.285'W111°52.963'ele4385'), Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
March 21, 2010
Size: 9mm
Guessing Pyrrhocoridae. Any suggestions? Not sure if male or female. The other similar images are what this one isn't (reproduction behavior). Collected by J. B. Rosell.

Images of this individual: tag all
Pyrrhocoris apterus - Utah - Pyrrhocoris apterus Pyrrhocoris apterus - Utah - Pyrrhocoris apterus

Hi Kerry
Can you tell me what you use as a background for these types of photos? It seems to work very well!

 
Background.
This is a graphic arts product called "Color-Aid", comes in just about every color, shade, tint you could want. The surface is silk-screened on and is very durable, the matte finish prevents unwanted glare (the black paper seems to soak up light, better than black velvet).
The sheets are 18x24 inches, which are cut up and mounted (spray glue) on pieces of acrylic water color paper (although not water proof, illustration board will work with the white side out), 7x8" seems the most often used, a range of sizes is handy in the field and the white side is good for bounce lighting.
The Gray #2 (Gray 4.5) is the one I prefer (for now), is close to the Kodak 18% card without the "sparkle bits" seen in magnification. The other levels of gray could be used to adjust subject to background ratios for the camera's sensors.
If you find a source, stock up on the gray you like, supplies seem to be getting scarce.

 
Thanks Kerry.
I will definitely look into that.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.