My, what big eyes you have!
During the arachnologist field trip to Toft Point in Wisconsin a couple weeks back, I was in the field collecting with opilionologist Jeff Shultz and arachnid photographer Joe Warfel. Jeff collected Caddo pepperella, a rare species of harvestman. Previously this species has only been collected in pitfall traps so this was the first time anyone has ever collected and photographed this species alive! I thank Jeff and Joe for giving me a chance to photograph the specimen.
Caddo pepperella is a tiny litter dwelling harvestman that very few people will ever observe out in the wild! The length of its body is less than ONE millimeter!!! And its legs are not much longer than a couple millimeters. But small as it is, relative to its body size, the eyes are huge!
Caddo pepperella (Caddidae), from Wisconsin
Caddo pepperella (Caddidae), from Wisconsin
Updated on 4/2/13 – species is Caddo pepperella, ID by J. Shultz.
danielproud 
Incredibly cool. Congratulations!
August 8, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Thanks Scott! I enjoyed your recent post on harvestmen as well. Keep an eye out for more! I know there are several species up in your area!
August 8, 2012 at 11:10 pm
I certainly will … identifying them, however, will be a much bigger challenge. What a variety!
August 8, 2012 at 11:12 pm
What an opportunity to see (and photograph) something unique. Love your photos (and I find the eyes to be awesome!).
August 8, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Yes it truly was great to see this little gal. But shooting this specimen made me wish I had that 5x macro lens that Canon makes!
August 8, 2012 at 11:12 pm
What a wonderful post. I was just being introduced to the harvestmen on another post and here you are!
On another note I have to tell you my late husband was working with an ichthyologist in Virginia Tech. who was working on fish that reproduce asexually.
Glad you stopped by my blog so I could find your blog here. Very interesting indeed.
August 9, 2012 at 12:07 am
Yes fish have some fascinating behaviors too. Thanks again! Glad I found your blog as well!
August 9, 2012 at 12:42 am