How to explain harsh lighting in words:) The harshness shows up in the fine detail, the texture. Look at the hairs on things, some are blown out. It may one be one pixel or two in width, but what that kind of thing is dusted all over the photo, it makes it look "harsh" or strong, kind of makes you want to squint. You are right, the lighting is strong enough and well distributed, but it is also to directional. Had the flash been off to the side and say above the subject a little, some of these tiny reflections would have fell away from the camera and therefore not been burned out. Then if you add the diffusion of the light by bouncing it off a white surface, it would also be less apt to reflect right back at the camera.
Yes, sharp lizard eyes are good things.
I would also disagree with cropping off the right side of the last spider.
Here is my Assassin bug, the body is fuzzy and very detailed, but the tips of the hairs are not all blown out.
Here was one that was tough to get because it is so fuzzy.
And this one, I was pushing the limits. The hairs on the tip are a little harsh. I may have oversharpened a little too.
