Voe
@affableeffable.bsky.social
Just out here trying my blessed. Amateur Microscopy.
Pinned
Voe
@affableeffable.bsky.social
· May 12
Say what you will but this place is intensely beautiful.
(Dead Leaf)
(Dead Leaf)
Top Side of the Deer Tick
Did you know that the deer tick is actually blind? Those two spots on the gasmask-esque "face" that you might mistake for eyes are, in fact, porous areas. From what I've gathered I *think* their function is to secrete a waxy substance to cover their eggs
Did you know that the deer tick is actually blind? Those two spots on the gasmask-esque "face" that you might mistake for eyes are, in fact, porous areas. From what I've gathered I *think* their function is to secrete a waxy substance to cover their eggs
February 2, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Top Side of the Deer Tick
Did you know that the deer tick is actually blind? Those two spots on the gasmask-esque "face" that you might mistake for eyes are, in fact, porous areas. From what I've gathered I *think* their function is to secrete a waxy substance to cover their eggs
Did you know that the deer tick is actually blind? Those two spots on the gasmask-esque "face" that you might mistake for eyes are, in fact, porous areas. From what I've gathered I *think* their function is to secrete a waxy substance to cover their eggs
Deer Tick, Under the Microscope
Take a look at the end of the legs to see little translucent pads. These are "Pulvilli" and they help stick to surfaces. The bubble-wrap bit on the side is the "Spiracular Plate" for respiration, and the bit in the middle is the female genitalia.
Take a look at the end of the legs to see little translucent pads. These are "Pulvilli" and they help stick to surfaces. The bubble-wrap bit on the side is the "Spiracular Plate" for respiration, and the bit in the middle is the female genitalia.
February 1, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Deer Tick, Under the Microscope
Take a look at the end of the legs to see little translucent pads. These are "Pulvilli" and they help stick to surfaces. The bubble-wrap bit on the side is the "Spiracular Plate" for respiration, and the bit in the middle is the female genitalia.
Take a look at the end of the legs to see little translucent pads. These are "Pulvilli" and they help stick to surfaces. The bubble-wrap bit on the side is the "Spiracular Plate" for respiration, and the bit in the middle is the female genitalia.
Clothes Tag with Plastic T Tag
January 30, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Clothes Tag with Plastic T Tag
Nail Buffer That Is Also Poland for Some Reason
January 28, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Nail Buffer That Is Also Poland for Some Reason
Little Scratch on the Reverse Side of a Nickel
January 27, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Little Scratch on the Reverse Side of a Nickel
Put a Nickel under the microscope and found this tiny little signature that I might otherwise never have noticed. From a little googling, it's because the design of Jefferson for that particular nickel was done by an artist named Jamie Franki. Neat!
January 27, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Put a Nickel under the microscope and found this tiny little signature that I might otherwise never have noticed. From a little googling, it's because the design of Jefferson for that particular nickel was done by an artist named Jamie Franki. Neat!
Nail File, Before and After Use
January 26, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Nail File, Before and After Use
Orange Pine Leaf with Some Sort of Silk On It
January 25, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Orange Pine Leaf with Some Sort of Silk On It
Cross Section of the Petiole of a Yellow Norway Maple Tree Leaf, with the overhead light. A little overexposed unfortunately, but still neat I think.
January 24, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Cross Section of the Petiole of a Yellow Norway Maple Tree Leaf, with the overhead light. A little overexposed unfortunately, but still neat I think.
The Petiole of a Yellow Norway Maple Tree Leaf, Including a Cross Section
In the cross section, do you see those slinky-shaped bits near the upper middle? I come across these all the time when looking at plant matter that I've cut but I don't know what they are!
In the cross section, do you see those slinky-shaped bits near the upper middle? I come across these all the time when looking at plant matter that I've cut but I don't know what they are!
January 23, 2026 at 3:56 PM
The Petiole of a Yellow Norway Maple Tree Leaf, Including a Cross Section
In the cross section, do you see those slinky-shaped bits near the upper middle? I come across these all the time when looking at plant matter that I've cut but I don't know what they are!
In the cross section, do you see those slinky-shaped bits near the upper middle? I come across these all the time when looking at plant matter that I've cut but I don't know what they are!
Yellow Norway Maple Tree Leaf
This is from earlier in the Fall. Very pretty and vibrant shade of yellow with the backlight.
This is from earlier in the Fall. Very pretty and vibrant shade of yellow with the backlight.
January 21, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Yellow Norway Maple Tree Leaf
This is from earlier in the Fall. Very pretty and vibrant shade of yellow with the backlight.
This is from earlier in the Fall. Very pretty and vibrant shade of yellow with the backlight.
On a leaf I found, there was this tiny little structure. A cocoon?
January 21, 2026 at 3:27 PM
On a leaf I found, there was this tiny little structure. A cocoon?
The Leaf of Vinca Minor, also known as Lesser Periwinkle or Creeping Myrtle.
January 20, 2026 at 4:32 PM
The Leaf of Vinca Minor, also known as Lesser Periwinkle or Creeping Myrtle.
The maple tree samara also had these tiny white dots on it. Not sure what these are - some sort of fungus?
January 19, 2026 at 4:33 PM
The maple tree samara also had these tiny white dots on it. Not sure what these are - some sort of fungus?
More of the silk on the maple tree samara.
January 18, 2026 at 3:31 PM
More of the silk on the maple tree samara.
Maple Tree Samara, also popularly known as a "helicopter", with some sort of silk (an old cocoon?) on it.
January 17, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Maple Tree Samara, also popularly known as a "helicopter", with some sort of silk (an old cocoon?) on it.
Attempted Cross Section of Pine Needle
I think I did a poor job cutting it, so it didn't really turn out well as a cross section per se, but I like the texture and look of it aesthetically.
I think I did a poor job cutting it, so it didn't really turn out well as a cross section per se, but I like the texture and look of it aesthetically.
January 17, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Attempted Cross Section of Pine Needle
I think I did a poor job cutting it, so it didn't really turn out well as a cross section per se, but I like the texture and look of it aesthetically.
I think I did a poor job cutting it, so it didn't really turn out well as a cross section per se, but I like the texture and look of it aesthetically.
Pine Needle, with backlight and with overhead light.
January 16, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Pine Needle, with backlight and with overhead light.
The "Samara" of a Tulip Tree. If you have such a tree you've probably noticed tons of these things around. They start in a cluster and each individual samara that breaks off and flutters down contains one seed.
January 13, 2026 at 5:10 PM
The "Samara" of a Tulip Tree. If you have such a tree you've probably noticed tons of these things around. They start in a cluster and each individual samara that breaks off and flutters down contains one seed.
Ozophora Picturata, a species of "Dirt-Colored Seed Bug" under the microscope.
January 12, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Ozophora Picturata, a species of "Dirt-Colored Seed Bug" under the microscope.
One of my favorite subjects yet. This is a "catkin" full of pollen. I remember being fascinated by them as a kid, weird little cylinders that would leave a residue of greenish-yellow powder on anything they touched. Was amazing to see the mass of pollen up close like this.
January 11, 2026 at 6:27 PM
One of my favorite subjects yet. This is a "catkin" full of pollen. I remember being fascinated by them as a kid, weird little cylinders that would leave a residue of greenish-yellow powder on anything they touched. Was amazing to see the mass of pollen up close like this.
Soldier Beetle Larva, Under the Microscope
Some trouble putting it together - as you can imagine with live insects it can be difficult to get uninterrupted shots across the whole body without them moving and I don't want to delay them too much before I let them back on their way.
Some trouble putting it together - as you can imagine with live insects it can be difficult to get uninterrupted shots across the whole body without them moving and I don't want to delay them too much before I let them back on their way.
January 10, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Soldier Beetle Larva, Under the Microscope
Some trouble putting it together - as you can imagine with live insects it can be difficult to get uninterrupted shots across the whole body without them moving and I don't want to delay them too much before I let them back on their way.
Some trouble putting it together - as you can imagine with live insects it can be difficult to get uninterrupted shots across the whole body without them moving and I don't want to delay them too much before I let them back on their way.
A Fruit Fly, Under the Microscope
Typically I try to remove as many of the artifacts from focus stacking (combining multiple pictures at different focus points into one) as I reasonably can, but this time I left some. I just thought they sort of fit the vibe of this odd creature.
Typically I try to remove as many of the artifacts from focus stacking (combining multiple pictures at different focus points into one) as I reasonably can, but this time I left some. I just thought they sort of fit the vibe of this odd creature.
November 27, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A Fruit Fly, Under the Microscope
Typically I try to remove as many of the artifacts from focus stacking (combining multiple pictures at different focus points into one) as I reasonably can, but this time I left some. I just thought they sort of fit the vibe of this odd creature.
Typically I try to remove as many of the artifacts from focus stacking (combining multiple pictures at different focus points into one) as I reasonably can, but this time I left some. I just thought they sort of fit the vibe of this odd creature.
A Little (~0.3mm) Mite (Possibly a Dust Mite) I Found in Mucky Flower Vase Water
And
An Exoskeleton (Molted or Dead?) of Possibly the Same Type of Mite
And
An Exoskeleton (Molted or Dead?) of Possibly the Same Type of Mite
November 26, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A Little (~0.3mm) Mite (Possibly a Dust Mite) I Found in Mucky Flower Vase Water
And
An Exoskeleton (Molted or Dead?) of Possibly the Same Type of Mite
And
An Exoskeleton (Molted or Dead?) of Possibly the Same Type of Mite