subject between each photo, thus obtaining a series of images, each with a different part of the subject in focus.


The camera I use is a digital SLR fited with extension tubes or bellows to achieve the magnification required. I use a range of objectives from a 50mm camera lens down to a x10 microscope objective. The extreme macro rig is capable of moving the camera towards the subject in steps as small as 2.5 microns. To take a composite photo, the rig controller is programmed with the number of images required and the distance to move between each image.


The sequence starts with the controller moving the camera, waiting for any vibration to stop, taking a photo and then repeating the sequence the required number of times. The camera is linked through its data port to a PC so that the images are saved directly onto the hard disk, ready for processing by the stacking soſtware.


What you can’t deduce from the finished images is the time spent mounting the mite on a needle, combing its hair and removing dust particles before it was ready to be photographed … and the dozens of failed atempts, but that is another story!


Bee Craſt April 2020


MAIN IMAGE Varroa destructor – composite image of the varroa mite


TOP RIGHT Single image of mite showing extremely shallow depth of field before multiple images are combined


LOWER RIGHT Macro rig 1 – close-up showing the mounted mite and the microscope objective


25


Photos: Graham Royle


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