Gallery: 'Mini-Monsters' App Infests iPads With Bug Close-Ups
01zebra-jumping-spider-head
Insects, spiders and other tiny monsters that scurry across floors or fly through the air are frightening enough. Under an electron microscope, however, they balloon into terrifying yet beautiful spectacles. For a few bucks, starting September 12, iPad owners can zoom in on such nightmarish electron-powered portraits using a paid application called “[Mini-Monsters](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mini-monsters/id460061725).” [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2011/09/mini-monsters-ipad-screenshot.jpg)'Mini Monsters' allows iPad users to sort creepy crawlers by eating habits, number of legs and even the threat level posed to humans. Science Photo Library Each of the app’s 567 images of more than 200 unique species is zoomable and comes equipped with a caption. The detailed information covers everything from the monsters’ eating habits to favorite hiding spots. [Science Photo Library](http://www.sciencephoto.com/), a science-centric stock imagery company that hosts some 300,000 images and 20,000 videos, says Mini Monsters will cost $2.99 in the U.S., £1.99 in the UK and €1.99 elsewhere in Europe. “We supply these images mostly to publications and advertisers, but wanted to get them out to the public in another way,” said Gary Evans, who helped launch the app as the manager of scientific relations at Science Photo Library. “The first person I’m going to show this to is my grandson.” Three sets of contributors (Steve Gschmeissner, Cheryl Power and Andrew Syred, and Oliver Meckes and Nicole Ottawa) created images for the app using their own scanning electron microscopes, which are hundreds of times more powerful than optical microscopes. We preview some of the best [mini monsters](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/06/bugeyes-gallery/) in this gallery. *Captions adapted from text provided by Science Photo Library* __Above:__ Zebra Jumping Spider Head ------------------------- Six of *Salticus scenicus*'s eight eyes are seen: one large pair at the front, and smaller eyes on the side. Below the eyes are the two large chelicerae which carry teeth for biting prey. Jumping spiders have acute vision which helps them stalk prey. *Image: Power and Syred/Science Photo Library*
02dust-mite
Dust Mite --------- Six of this *Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus*' eight legs are visible at bottom. Dust mites are relatives of spiders and scorpions but invisible to the naked eye. Millions live inside furniture and fabric in the average home. *Image: Eye of Science/Science Photo Library*
03blue-bottle-fly-maggot
Blue Bottle Fly Maggot ---------------------- The maggots, or larvae, of *Protophormia sp.* are used medicinally to clean wounds. Their saliva contains anti-bacterial chemicals which maintain sterility in the site. *Image: Eye of Science/Science Photo Library*
04seven-spot-ladybug-flying
Seven-Spot Ladybug Flying ------------------------- *Coccinella septempunctata*'s flight wings (blue) are protected by the hardened outer red wings (elytra). The red coloring is a warning to predators that it can squirt a distasteful liquid from its limb joints. *Image: Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library*
05hornet-head
Hornet Head ----------- Compound eyes are on either side of *Vespa crabro*'s head, with two antennae branching off to left and right. This hornet has a reputation for being aggressive, though it only stings if provoked. *Image: Eye of Science/Science Photo Library*
06mosquito-head
Mosquito Head ------------- Only female *Aedes aegypti* suck blood and therefore transmit diseases such as filariasis, yellow fever and dengue fever to humans. *Image: Eye of Science/Science Photo Library*
07brown-ant-on-grass-stalk
Brown Ant on Grass Stalk ------------------------ A parasitic *Dicrocoelium dendriticum* fluke has infected this *Formica* ant. The parasite causes cramping in the ant’s mandibles, clamping it to a grass blade for many hours. During this time the ant may be consumed when the grass is eaten by a grazing animal. The fluke will then infect its new host’s gall bladder and bile duct. *Image: Eye of Science/Science Photo Library*
08tropical-black-ants
Tropical Black Ants ------------------- *Lasius* ants are common to a wide variety of habitats in northern temperate regions in both the old and the new world, although some also live in tropical regions. *Image: Power and Syred/Science Photo Library*
09wolf-spider-stalking-prey
Wolf Spider Stalking Prey ------------------------- A *Euophrys*spider stalks a fly. *Image: Power and Syred/Science Photo Library*
10termites
Termites -------- Like other termites, *Coptotermes niger* feeds on wood. *Image: Eye of Science/Science Photo Library*
11house-fly
House Fly --------- *Musca domestica*'s head is dominated by a pair of large compound eyes, each composed of about 4,000 image-forming facets called ommatidia. *Image: Eye of Science/Science Photo Library*
12fruit-fly-head
Fruit Fly Head -------------- Two compound eyes are seen on either side of *Drosophila*'s head. This fly is widely used in genetic experiments as it breeds rapidly and has a small, well-understood genome. *Image: Eye of Science/Science Photo Library*
13ground-beetle-head
Ground Beetle Head ------------------ This *Carabidae* beetle’s large jaws can be seen at upper right. *Image: Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library*
14vine-weevil
Vine Weevil ----------- All *Otiorhynchus sulcatus* adults are female and reproduce by parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction. Its feet possess a pair of hairy pads used for walking on smooth surfaces, and a pair of claws used for walking on rough surfaces. *Image: Power and Syred/Science Photo Library*
