An Early Screening Tool for Exotic Scarab Pests to Australia
Imaging
Photographs were produced by Pia Scanlon (Copyright © Western Australian Agricultural Authority (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) 2019-2020) using a Leica M205C stereo microscope with Leica DMC5400 and Leica DFC500 cameras for specimens smaller than 1cm in size or to capture more detailed diagnostic features of certain species.
For specimens larger than 1cm in size, a Nikon D4s DSLR with a dedicated AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens, Nikon flash system lens in combination with a Cognisys macro rail stackshot system was used to acquire image stacks horizontally.
Images were created using the focus stacking technique whereby multiple images are captured at different focus points and later combined with specialised software to achieve a final image with greater depth of field (DOF) than would be possible with a single exposure.
Software, such as the ‘LAS Montage (Leica) V4.13’ and ‘Zerene Stacker V1.04’ which apply a filtering algorithm that removes out-of-focus portions of each exposure, was then used to combine only the in-focus portions into a single image.
Each final fully focused image was then cleaned up using ‘Creative Cloud Adobe Photoshop V21.1.2’ software.
Sources of other photographs are acknowledged within the text.
Equipment
Specimens smaller than 1 cm and diagnostic features
- Leica M205 C stereomicroscope with motor drive.
- Leica DFC500 (12MP) and Leica DMC5400 (20MP) cameras.
- Leica LAS V4.13 software for image acquisition.
Specimens larger than 1 cm
- Nikon D4s DSLR camera.
- AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED.
- Nikon flash system.
- Cognisys macro rail stackshot system with custom built adjustable stage for specimens.
- Light tent with diffused LED lighting.
- Custom built light diffuser half cylinder to place specimens in to avoid direct flash light.
Imaging Software
- Leica LAS V4.13 software for image acquisition and image montage.
- Zerene Stacker V1.04 software for image montage where LAS was inadequate or images were acquired with the DSLR camera.
- Creative Cloud Adobe Photoshop V21 for image editing.
Caption: Leica LAS software screenshot
Caption: Zerene Stacker software screenshot
Caption: Adobe Photoshop software screenshot
Version
Specimens smaller than 1 cm and diagnostic features
- Leica M205 C stereomicroscope with motor drive.
- Leica DFC500 (12MP) and Leica DMC5400 (20MP) cameras.
- Leica LAS V4.13 software for image acquisition.
Specimens larger than 1 cm
- Nikon D4s DSLR camera.
- AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED.
- Nikon flash system.
- Cognisys macro rail stackshot system with custom built adjustable stage for specimens.
- Light tent with diffused LED lighting.
- Custom built light diffuser half cylinder to place specimens in to avoid direct flash light.
Imaging Software
- Leica LAS V4.13 software for image acquisition and image montage.
- Zerene Stacker V1.04 software for image montage where LAS was inadequate or images were acquired with the DSLR camera.
- Creative Cloud Adobe Photoshop V21 for image editing.
Version
June 2020
