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For Marie (mariki)

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For Marie (mariki)
Photo Information
Copyright: Haraprasan Nayak (haraprasan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 91 N: 3068] (11593)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-21
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix E5600
Exposure: f/3.4, 1/52 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Dedications at Trek Nature part Four [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-14 3:57
Viewed: 409
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today I dedicate this to Marie (mariki).

Diaphania hyalinata (Melonworm moth)
The moth's wingspan is about 2.5 cm. The wings are pearly white centrally, and slightly iridescent, but are edged with a broad band of dark brown. Moths frequently display brushy hairpencils at the tip of the abdomen when at rest. Melonworm moths remain in the crop during the daylight hours. While they are generally inactive during the day, they will fly short distances when disturbed.

Melonworm feeds principally on foliage, especially if foliage of a favored host plant such as summer or winter squash is available. Usually the leaf veins are left intact, resulting in lace-like plant remains. However, if the available foliage is exhausted, or the plant is a less preferred species such as cantaloupe, then the larva may feed on the surface of the fruit, or even burrow into the fruit. Growers sometimes refer to these insects as "rindworms" because they cause scars on the surface of melons. In a study of melonworm damage potential to summer squash conducted in south Florida, melonworm caused a 23 % yield loss due to foliage damage (indirect loss) and a 9 to 10% yield reduction due to fruit damage (direct loss).

Among the common natural enemies of melonworm are Apanteles sp., Hypomicrogaster diaphaniae (Muesebeck), Pristomerus spinator (Fabricius) (all Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Casinaria infesta (Cresson), Temelucha sp. (both Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), and undetermined trichogrammatids (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) (Pena et al. 1987b, Capinera 1994). However, additional species parasitized melonworm, including Gambrus ultimus (Cresson), Agathis texana (Cresson) (both Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and an undetermined fly (Hymenoptera: Tachinidae). The tachinids known from melonworm are Nemorilla pyste (Walker) and Stomatodexia cothurnata (Wiedemann). Studies conducted in Puerto Rico (Medina-Gaud et al. 1989) reported levels of parasitism reaching 24%. Generalist predators such as Calosoma spp. and Harpalus (both Coleoptera: Carabidae), the soldier beetle Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus DeGeer (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), and the red imported fire ant Solanopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have also been reported to be mortality factors.

The melonworm can complete its life cycle in about 30 days. It is present throughout the year in southern Florida, where it is limited mostly by availability of host plants. It disperses northward annually, usually arriving in northern Florida in June and other southeastern states in July, where no more than three generations normally occur before cold weather kills the host plants.

Hope you will like. Thanks a lot for viewing.
mariki, fartash, ramthakur, smitha, marhowie, jaycee, eqshannon, Gert-Paassen, boreocypriensis, maurydv, jusninasirun, gannu has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Haraprasan,

Very nice picture of this amazing butterfly with orange brush at the end of its abdomen. Good POV, very nice detail. Very good light and beautiful colours.
Thank you a lot for the dedication.
Regards,
Mariki

Hello Haraprasan
Very intersting spieces to shoot,
Perfect exposure,composition and BG.Welldone my friend. Nice dedication.

Regards
Fartash

I am sure Marie would be delighted at this dedication to her, HP.
This is a unique species of Moths. I happened to see and review another Moth picture today with some similar features such as the bushy tail-end.
Very good image in which the subject looks very beautiful against the green BG of a leaf.
TFS and regards,
Ram

Hello HP,
A nice dedication for Mariki and a new species for me. :)
looking at the pictures in your gallery I wonder how you mange to picture all these uncommon species.excellent POV, colours and details. Nice composition too.
Thanks for the share,
Smitha.

Nice shot HP,
As moths go, one of the most interesting out there..
I got a shot of this species last year, never did ID it.
I remember as I watched it feed, those pom-poms for a tail were constantly moving. A survival technique I believe.
Thanks!
Howard

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2008-05-14 9:36]

Hi Haraprasan,

What a beautiful and unusual looking moth. Colors are wonderful - I love the wide brown bordering the white. A wonderful pose showing off the wings. Excellent details. It looks so nice on the green leaf.

Jane

...interesting notes....very much so...and yet it does damage to my favorite fruits! Ouch1 ?The melon is very nice with my digestion. I even like melon flavoured Jelly Belly beans:-) Very well done sir!
Bob

Hello Haraprasan,

Nice dedication and a beautiful Moth.
Lots of details.

Gert

Hi Haraprasan, my dear friend
What a beautiful butterlfy with wonderful abdomen end my friend. Like a rose:). Splendid shot and nice dedication our joint friend Marie. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

Splendida cattura, bellissima composizione, molto buona la nitidezza, molto belli i colori e lo sfondo con i diversi piani creati dalle foglie. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao maurizio

Hello Haraprasan. Super sharp image for a fine dedication. I like the full spread wings contrasting well with the green leaf. Thanks for sharing and very well done. Regards. Jusni

Hi Hara,a fantastic butterfly taken very very perfectly,excellent quality in sharpenss and colours and very interestings note too,my best compliments,Luciano

Hi Haraprasan, splendid dedication to our friend Mariki, lovely little moth with great colors, wonderful details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 4 N: 1811] (8608)
  • [2008-05-15 5:51]

Hello HP, Nice shot and I like the wing pattern. Excellently captured eyes and great look. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-05-15 7:11]

Hi Haraprasan,
Great shot of this tiny moth with nice colours and markings on its wings. The tail details are very interesting and I have seen it dance in another species. Very impressive sharpness and perfect lighting. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

A nice picture with perfect details.

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