Will, the second pics is sick! Anyway, the real reason I am responding is to ask whether or not you have checked out Dgrin.com?
I know there are some great photogs here, but there is an entire section on the dgrin forum dedicated to macro photography and several people are doing focus stacking regularly. You might be able to get some help/advice/tips there. The whole site is about photography and methods and critique. Much of the content of the macro section is of spiders and insects.
By the way, I have really been enjoying your bug shots. Thanks for taking us along on your journey. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Darrin