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COMMON LIME


COMMON LIME
Photo Information
Copyright: Sumon Sinha (Mana) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5578] (18516)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-23
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-H2
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-01 1:26
Viewed: 885
Points: 86
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Common Lime or the Lemon Butterfly (Papilio demoleus) is a common and widespread Swallowtail butterfly. It gets its name from its host plants which are usually citrus species such as the lime. It is also sometimes called the Chequered Swallowtail. Unlike most swallowtail butterflies it does not have a prominent tail.

Wingspan 80-90mm. A large tailless swallowtail that is mostly creamy yellow and black. Sexes alike. In freshly emerged specimens, the cream yellow is almost fluorescent, but this lovely brightness gradually changes into a dull rusty orange with age.

It is widely distributed except in the highest hills. Individuals are seen throughout the year but their populations peak before the onset of the heavy monsoon rains. It is a butterfly of the open spaces and prefers full sun to partial shade. It is found wherever its larval host plant, citrus, grows. It is not a butterfly of the high canopy and is more likely to be seen on low bushes and shrubs. It flies very fast around noon, being somewhat sluggish in the early morning hours. The male frequently settles on wet soil, often keeping his wings in motion, ready to fly away if disturbed. Both sexes visit flowers with delight where they will spend a few fleeting seconds before moving on to the next flower. While feeding, they keep their wings in rapid motion, only occasionally keeping them still, particularly the older specimens that are probably tired and weary. They rarely visit Eupatorium odoratum, which is popular with many other species of swallowtails.

It is very common. It is perhaps the most widely distributed swallowtail in the world. It is particularly abundant during and after the monsoons. As the butterfly ages, the yellow markings on the wings deepen to orange. Its range indicates the butterfly's tolerance and adaptation to diverse habitats. It is to be found in savannahs, fallow lands, gardens, evergreen and semi-evergreen forests and shows a preference for stream and riverbeds. In India it is mostly found in the plains but can be found on the hills of peninsular India and up to 7000 feet in the Himalayas. It is common in urban gardens and may also be encountered in wooded country.

This butterfly is an avid mud-puddler and visitor of flowers. It basks with its wings held wide open on tufts of grass, herbs and generally keeps within a metre above the ground, even on cloudy days. It relies on its quick flight for escape.

It is an interesting butterfly in that it has a number of modes of flight. In the cool of the morning, the flight is slow considering that it is an edible and unprotected swallowtail. As the day progresses, it flies fast, straight and low. In the hotter part of the day, it may be found settling on damp patches where it will remain motionless, except for an occasional flutter of wings, if not disturbed.

It is also a frequent visitor of flowers in gardens, where it shows a preference for flowers of smaller herbs rather than larger plants such as the ubiquitous Lantana with its plentiful blooms. It can be found swarming in the groves of its foodplants. While resting, the butterfly closes its wing over its back and draws the forewings between the hindwings.

Scientific classification -
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Genus: Papilio
Species: P. demoleus
mariki, ramthakur, PaulH, JPlumb, Proframe, xTauruSx, sandpiper2, boreocypriensis, Ena, Argus, eqshannon, Alex99, jaycee, matatur, SelenE, rousettus, nglen, Juyona, jrobertop, maurydv, Luis52, kmr13777, Adanac, gracious, Amadeo, fartash, cataclysta, haraprasan, Hil, uleko, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Sumon,

Excellent picture of this beautiful butterfly. Nice composition. Good sharpness. Beautiful colours. Beautiful reproduction of the rain dropplets on the leaf.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Neighbour!
How you doing? :-)
I have never seen this magnificent butterfly with its wings spread so wide, Sumon.
You have shown it in its full glory in this shot captured last autumn.
What an unusually crisp shot! I like the spot of blue and orange colours with a black dot in the middle at the junction of its wings.
Couldn't think of a better POV too.
Thanks for sharing it and warm regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 23 N: 3656] (13083)
  • [2008-04-01 2:12]

Hi Sumon,
lovely combination of butterfly and water droplets! As always super fine detail and excellent DOF, well done!
Paul

Hi Sumon, very nice sharp shot of this Common Lime. Colour in the shot is very good. He's given you a great pose. I like the setting you have him in with the wet leaves under him, and greenery in front. Him holding his antennae up like that was a great addition for you. Nice capture.

Thanks, John

Hi Sumon,

Very nice image of this lovely butterfly.
Love the colors and patterns.
Very good sharpnes, note and clarity and the BG, against wich the butterfly does stand out very well, is nice to.
Well done. TFS!!!

Best wishes,Harry

Hello Sumon,
Wonderfull macro shot of this beautiful butterfly. TFS. Regards,
Deniz

Hi Summon

Another excellent butterful specimen and captured superbly.
Great pattern and brilliant sharpness and POV. I like the water drops.
Good work my friend.

Chris

Hello Sumon,
Wonderful and beautifull executed close-up shot of this beautifully coloured butterfly friend. Superb in all aspects. TFS.
Regards,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2008-04-01 4:46]

Hello Sumon,
great shot, with excellent lighting that brings out the colors and detail so well. Very nice POV to enjoy the entire wingspan of this butterfly.
TFS..Sky

Ciao Sumon,
bellissima questa Papilio e ottima la tua foto.
Messa a fuoco perfetta sulle ali e appropriato sfondo verde scuro.
Egregio lavoro.
Saluti dalla Sicilia,
Marcello

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 61 N: 591] (2458)
  • [2008-04-01 6:19]

Hi Sumon,
Very nice capture of this colorful butterfly!
Very good details!
TFS
Ena

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2008-04-01 7:33]

Hello Sumon,
An attractive image of the Common Lime swallowtail well worth taking from your archives presented with good sharpness against a contrasting OOF leafy BG in a fine composition showing the outspread wings.
Common, but beautiful and I thanks you fior sharing this,
Ivan

Well seen. These are very big right? I know the one and only swallowtail I have seen and imaged was huge. I thought it was a small bird at first. And now that I think I can recognize them in flight, perhaps I will have a chance to see them alight as well...Nice ID image and something which I may be coming back to one day!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3584 W: 143 N: 5669] (18531)
  • [2008-04-01 8:41]

Hi Sumon.
Once more very beautiful butterfly. How many species you have. Excellent POV and wingspread of the butterfly, great details and colour reproduction. Nearest and remote leaves create an amazing, very pleasant BG. My best wishes and TFS. Well done.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-04-01 9:02]

Hi Sumon,

Your pictures are always something special. A beautiful close-up of this Common Lime in a perfect position on the green leaf. You show off the markings in fine detail and wonderful colors. The water droplets are a bonus!

Jane

A fine swallowtail specimen with soo wide wings and no tail, captured expertly from above in good focus and high color definition Sumon, the water droplets on the lime leaves enhances an already fine composition my friend.
Cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2008-04-01 11:12]

Hi Sumon,
Focus,sharpness, POV, details on the wings and composition are very nice. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

Another fine butterfly speciment. Well captured and well presented. Color, DOF, content and composition are all very good.

hello Sumon,
there are some Papilio species in Turkiye. I have seen several one, they are very beautiful butterflies. Your species also very beautiful as like its macro shot. Nicely composed and framed. Sharp details, POV and lighting great. Splendid colors. Thanks for sharing. best wishes my friend
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-04-01 13:14]

Hello Sumon,
striking image of this striking butterfly.
The water droplets add a sparkle to the photo and what I find interesting is that the patterns on the wings almost resemble droplets themselves!
You've composed this very well and you've chosen a parallel POV to the wings which is excellent.
Sharp with impeccable clarity.
Very well done,

Joe

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1977 W: 6 N: 5525] (19661)
  • [2008-04-01 14:12]

Hi Sumon,it's fantastic this too,wonderfull quality of this impressive macro,perfect under all corners of view,very very great! My best compliments,Luciano

Sumon, eres el Rey (King) de las mariposas jajaja. Tu galería nos permite conocer grandes bellezas y como de costumbre muy bien captada. Veo que te pasaste unos milímetros en el enfoque pero ya se sabe... hay que aprovechar.
Un abrazo: J. Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2261 W: 10 N: 2629] (15559)
  • [2008-04-01 14:57]

Hola amigo,
hermoso trabajo, bella macro,
color, foco, y pov,
saludos Sumon

Hello Sumon.
Wonderful butterfly with magnificent coloration!
Excellent contrast and sharpness; perfect framing.
Very well detailed.
Congratulations for the beautiful work!
Regards,
José Roberto

Bellissima immagine di una splendida farfalla, ottima composizione, molto buoni i dettagli e magnifici i colori e i riflessi delle gocce d'acqua. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2008-04-01 16:37]

Hi Sumon,
Great capture of this beautiful butterfly, nice colours and very good detail.
Chi

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2008-04-01 16:53]

Hola Sr. Sumon.
Wow. This is the first time I have seen this Buterfly, it has a bautiful colors, and looks like she wanted to show in this photo.
Great work done here,
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 51 N: 519] (2238)
  • [2008-04-01 17:29]

Hello,

Just marking for now!
be back later. :)

Very beautiful capture Sumon. Great colors, detail and a fantastic BG. I love the water droplets on the leaves captured with great detail.

Very nice composition!

TFS
Kirti

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2008-04-01 19:54]

Hello Sumon,
This maybe a common lime, but your image is anything but common. Splendid camera work results in splendid image, great notes make this a great posting, thank you Sir.
Rick

Hello my friend Sumon,
Another fine and beautiful image of the Lime butterfly!
good close up in perfect sharpness, vivid colour and superb details
always the best posting
cheers
Tony

Hi Sumon, elegant butterfly with splendid details and wonderful sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hola Sumon, una fotografia con agradable composición, muy buna luz y bien enfocada, el fondo muy agradable, las gotos de rocio creo que le da mas valor a esta excelente toma. Un saludo

Hello Sumon
Excellent shot of this Common Lime,
Great focusing,exposure and BG.Superb shot my friend.

Regards
Fartash

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2907 W: 34 N: 8619] (32124)
  • [2008-04-02 9:55]

Hi Sumon. Why do we call somthing so beautiful common. it has some beautiful markings which you have captured so well with fine detail and colours. a nice top POV. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hi Sumon Da,
A nice capture of this beautiful lime swallowtail. Excellent sharp details and a fine composition. Hope you are getting enough time for experimenting the new gear and eager to see some beautiful works from that new gear. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 705 W: 13 N: 1405] (5027)
  • [2008-04-02 14:15]

Hi Sumon,

Superb shot of the Common Lime, nicely composed and I like the wide open wing pose, the details are very nice even the water droplets on the leaf are lovely and sharp, very good well saturated colours and nice light too.

Hil

Hello Sumon,

Very beautiful butterfly with very beautiful colors
and patterns on the wings

Everton

Hi Sumon
Very nice sharp image of beautigul buttefly. Good contrast nice OOF background. Maybe you coude reduce highlights a little bit here (yellow spots on wings).
Best wishes
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-04-03 8:44]

Hello Sumon

A very beautiful butterfly.
The focus is sharp revealing wonderful sharp detail and vibrant colours.
Good use of lighting.
The butterfly fills the frame well.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-04-03 8:47]

Sumon, Very nice shot with superb colors. Excellent wing shot showing the colors and the view. Good work Ganesh

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2989 W: 162 N: 941] (2769)
  • [2008-04-05 5:02]

Hello Sumon,
Lovely shot with a fine DOF and sharp details of this beautiful Swallowtail taken after the rain. Lovely colours and a fine natural background. Well done!
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Sumon,
Nice open wing view with great DOF & detail. Very good color & exposure, and I like the composition with space above the b-fly :)
The water droplets I see add well also..
Well done mf,
Howard

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