is more the result of usiong point and shoot cameras with limited dynamic range and using white backgrounds for pictures.

I don't really do any post processing other than alignment and cropping. I'm working on getting a better camera but can't decide on what to purchase. Any suggestions for this type of work?

Do you use a diffusor?

Can you adjust the flash level? Something less than 100% might help. My camera only has ON or OFF, but some allow more fine-tuning.

I use coffee filters for a diffusor AND to adjust the amount of flash. I normally use 2 to 4 layers to knock the flash level down.

Can you change the exposure compensation? -1 or -2 might be better. I pick the number of layers of coffee filter that get me close to where I want to be, then I use something between -1 and +1 to get even closer. Then less image processing is needed.

My camera only has a flash on/off option. I will give the coffee filter a try. I guess I need to buy some bleached filters! I can change the exposure compensation so I'll give it a try. I'll just need to keep better track of the settings for the individual pictures so I'll know what settings worked the best. Thanks for your tips.

Once you practice for a while it gets easier. You start to learn what works for dark bugs, light bugs, big bugs, little bugs, etc. You might want to expose a large all black bug more to bring up some detail (so it isn't ALL one shade of BLACK), but a small tan or white bug might be prone to becoming washed out so less exposure is better. This helps you get close so you don't have to make too many changes while the bug is trying to escape, BUT it really helps to take a test shot and see if you have the settings correct - and if not fix them. Everyone tries to get "something" before it gets away, but useless images are often just as bad as no images, but a single good image is probably better than ten bad ones. Practice = test, change, test, change, test, change, test, change. In the end you do the same, but with fewer test/change cycles per bug.

Using a grey background, diffuse lighting and a tripod (if you aren't already) will get you better results. Cropping away all the white space will give a bigger image to work with. You can provide one version with the antennae cropped off to give an even larger image of the beast. Careful post processing for contrast, etc. can be helpful