Ant Pupa - 7.5x - Canon EOS RP - Nikon CFI 10x

[Thomas]

Ant pupa. Live. Size ~0.83mm.

Canon EOS RP + Sigma 150mm macro + Nikon CFI 10x MRL00102.

f/2.8; ISO 640; 1/200s.

Lighting: 2x 15W COB LEDs through white foam wrap diffuser.

Stack of 200.

Pixels on 1:1 crop: 0.768μm/px

Questions:

Tech: In general, with near-white subjects I have problems with white halos after stacking. How can I remedy this?

Bio: Would an ant egg/larva grow to completion in an isolated environment or do they need ant-support?

(edit: change title larva > pupa; thanks Jittebug)

[Jittebug]

Tech: In general, with near-white subjects I have problems with white halos after stacking. How can I remedy this?

Perhaps slabbing/substacking could help?

Bio: Would an ant egg/larva grow to completion in an isolated environment or do they need ant-support?

What you have here is the ant pupa, she will develop on her own from now on. If you'd actually start with an egg or a larva, she would need care from her sisters.

[Thomas]

Perhaps slabbing/substacking could help?

Thanks. I'll give it a go.