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Ariadne merione (Mating)


Ariadne merione (Mating)
Photo Information
Copyright: Haraprasan Nayak (haraprasan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1319 W: 96 N: 3556] (13068)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-31
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix E5600
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-07 2:15
Viewed: 417
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
COMMON CASTOR (Ariadne merione)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Ariadne
Species: A. merione

Ariadne merione, also known as the Common Castor, is an orange butterfly with brown lines whose larvae feed almost exclusively on Castor Ricinus communis.

This species is found in south-eastern Asia. Their wingspan ranges between 30-35mm. Like others in the Nymphalidae family, their front two legs are small and unused, effectively making them four-legged. These smaller appendages are covered with long hairs, giving them the characteristic brush look.

Wet-season form

Male: Upper side brownish ochraceous. Fore and hind wings crossed by slender, somewhat obscure, very sinuous or zigzag dark basal, two subbasal and two discal lines disposed in pairs, followed by a single, sometimes double, postdiscal and a single subterminal slender line. All these lines more or less interrupted anteriorly on the hind wing, which has a smooth unmarked uniform appearance from costa to subcostal vein and vein 5. On the fore wing there is in addition a series of obscure spots between the postdiscal and subterminal markings, arid a small white subcostal spot before the apex. Underside much as in Ariadne ariadne, but the transverse chestnut bands broader, more diffuse. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen brownish ochraceous. Sex-mark on the underside of the fore wing as in A. ariadne no sex-mark on upper side of hind wing;

Female: Similar; but on the upperside the transverse lines broader, more diffuse, with a greater tendency to form bands; the postdiscal line always double, forming a band traversed by a series of dark ochraceous spots in the interspaces; these lines and bands continuous, not interrupted anteriorly on the hind wing as they are in the male. Underside: except for the sex-mark, as in the male.

Dry-season form

Upperside : ground-colour much paler, the transverse lines more distinctly in pairs, forming bands, the ground-colour between each pair more dusky brown. Underside similar to that in the wet-season form, but the ground-colour paler, the bands more diffuse.

Expanse: 52-62 mm

Distribution

All over India, Simla to Sikhim in the Himalayas, and recorded from Rajputana and Bengal; Assam; Burma; Tenasserim; Malayan Subregion. The Tenasserim specimens are darker and often without the white subcostal spot in the fore wing, approximating thus to the Southern Indian and Ceylon race.

Larva

"Cylindrical, slender; segments armed with two dorsal and two lateral rows of short branched-spines; head with a pair of long, straight branched-spines. Colour green with dorsal longitudinal dark brown lines." (Moore) Caterpillars of the genus are protected from predators by their long spinous bristles. Their chrysalids are pale green and angular in shape.

Pupa

"Similar to that of A. ariadne." (Moore)

Source : Wikipedia
LordPotty, martic, uleko, Kathleen, marhowie, fartash, angybone, earthtraveler, gracious, go2stones, jrobertop, jmirah, gannu has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To LordPotty: Thanksharaprasan 1 09-07 06:22
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Critiques [Translate]

Great capture of these two colourful specimens Hara.
Is the Castor plant the source of Castor oil we often hear of ?
Composition and colour here are beautiful.
Nice job.
Steve

Hi Haraprasan ,

Fantastic shot of this two butterfly, great composition with good DOF and colors
TFS
Friendly
Jean-Michel

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1691 W: 242 N: 5580] (19801)
  • [2007-09-07 2:52]

Hi Haraprasan,
a great shot of these bredding butterflies.
Good POV.
Great colours and BG.
Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2465 W: 168 N: 7448] (23526)
  • [2007-09-07 3:27]

Hello Haraprasan,
Excellent capture of these two lovers. Unusual to see them both with open wings - it looks very beautiful! SHarp details and fine colours that stand out against the greeen background. Very well composed too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Haraprasan.
Excellent capture of these two mating. Great colour and detail.
Wonderful

Well composed, a beautiful shot of this mating pair Haraprasan. Good colors and detail, all nicely wrapped in green :)
TFS!
Howard

Hello Haraprasan
Excellent mating shot of these Common Castors,
Perfect details,composition and BG,Welldone.

Regards
Fartash

hello haraprasan,
very nice shot of the mating common castor, very suitable pov, lovely composition,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Maravilla de imagen y mezcla de colores. Buenos contrastes.
Abrazo Hara.

Great composition - it looks like a butterfly bow. :)
Wonderful colors and great details.

Hi Haraprasan,
Beautiful capture in beautiful light.
lovely composition, fine focus detail,POV and DOF.
Well done
Richard

Hello prasan,
Absolutely beautiful captured with two in a pair!
perfect sharpness, awesome colour and details
very well composed and well seen
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2606 W: 133 N: 7480] (23317)
  • [2007-09-07 9:52]

Hello Haraprasan,
Fine capture of these two mating nymphalids. Interesting that the larval host plant should be the castor oil plant, that I believe is poisonous. With this in mind one would expect the butterflies to be warning coloured.
Excellent composition and nice contrast with the green natural BG.
Well done and TFS!
Ivan

Excellent capture of these two. Good color combination with the strong greens and oranges. Good clarity and detail. Well done.

TFS!
Reid

Hi Haraprasan, lovely composition with beautiful butterflies in love, excellent sharpness and great details, very well done, have a nice week end, ciao Silvio

Hi Haraprasan,
Great capture of this exuberant butterflies!
Excellent contrast and alive colors.
Very good sharpness and POV.
Congratulations for the excellent work!
Friendly,
José Roberto

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-09-07 20:16]

Hello Haraprasan

A lovely capture of this encounter.The colours are bright and vivid.The POV and DOF are well done.Nicely focused with excellent definition.TFS

Rob

Hi Haraprasan,

Excellent capture of the mating pair. Beautiful color and fine detail. Very well done. Thanks for sharing.

Have a great weekend,
Jim

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 4 N: 2302] (10736)
  • [2007-09-08 8:41]

Hara from where on the earth you are catching such mating scenes. I am coming to calcutta and from there coming to your place this month. Will let u know. The shot as usual Superb and lovely. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2007-09-09 1:10]

Hi Haraprasan,
Fantastic shot of these mating Castors with amazing patterns on their wings and sharp details. The colour contrasts of the orange and green are awesome with great lighting. Excellent POV and a tender moment freezed perfectly. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

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