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BLISTER BEETLE II


BLISTER BEETLE II
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3295 W: 167 N: 9912] (32154)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08
Categories: Insects
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-11-05 4:14
Viewed: 980
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
BLISTER BEETLE
Mylabris variabilis (Pallas, 1782)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Meloidae

Motivated by the impetus given by my friend Krzysztof yesterday, I spent considerable time investigating the Meloidae family of Coleoptera and was able to identify to the last detail this beetle I had shot in Shimla, India, this summer but had hesitated to post till now due to lack of information on this species. Perhaps it was destined that its identity would be tied up with that of my ‘Pole Vault Champion’ I posted yesterday.

Jerome Rabiniaux posted a fine sample of it on 19th June 2006 on TN, describing this species as ‘a Coleoptera of the Meloidae family. Several species look quite similar. It appears between June and September and can be found in meadows, edges or on flowers.’
Here is an abstract from Wikipedia on Blister Beetles:

‘Beetles in the Coleoptera family Meloidae are commonly known as Blister Beetles. There are approximately 2,500 known species worldwide.
‘They are known as "blister beetles" because they secrete cantharidin, a poisonous chemical causing blistering of the skin and painful swelling if consumed. Cantharidin is used medically to remove warts, and is collected for this purpose from species of the genera Mylabris and Lytta, especially Lytta vesicatoria, better known as Spanish fly.
‘Blister beetles are hypermetamorphic, going through several larval stages, the first of which is typically a planidium. The larvae are insectivorous, mainly attacking bees, though a few feed on grasshopper eggs; while sometimes considered parasitoids, it appears that in general, the meloid larva consumes the immature host along with its provisions, and can often survive on the provisions alone, thus they do not truly qualify (see Parasitoid for definition). The adults feed on flowers and leaves of plants in the families Amaranthaceae, Compositae, Leguminosae, and Solanaceae.’
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blister_beetle)

‘Mylabris variabilis is commonly found feeding on flowers in southern France, presumably eating pollen. British oil beetles do not share this striking coloration, which almost certainly advertises the distasteful nature of this beetle.’
(http://www.david.element.ukgateway.net/beetles10.htm)

Hand-held shot with camera in auto mode. The image was resized, sharpened, cropped and framed for TN. No other PP work was done.

TFL
wallhalla15, Argus, phlr, cataclysta, eruyanik, peter_stoeckl, marhowie, xuaxo, jeanpaul, pilonm, valy67, magal, livios, jcoowanitwong, dew77, pablominto, cedryk has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Very nice macro Ram. Good composition with very good sharpness, POV and good details. Very good job. Well done. Thank you for posting.
Gr.
Heinz

bonjour ram
le flash a surement rendu les couleurs un peu pales,mais la netteté est bonne ainsi que le point de vue.j'aime l'insecte qui se tient sur le bords de la feuille avec les bout de ses pattes.
bien fait.
laurent

Hello Ram
I am happy that you found the name of the beetle. I made some changes. I hope you like it.
Best wishes
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2006-11-05 5:25]

Hello Ram,
This a pretty good presentation of the solved mystery. Oil Beetles in Europe are generally black and not coloured with warning colours like this species, which presumably is more poisonous.
Thanks to both you and Krzysztof for your contributions.
Best wishes,
Ivan

Hi Ram,
i think that i saw one of them or a similar one in our city on last summer. They are really hard to photographing beautifully because of their hairy thorax. But i see that you took beautifully with soft colours. It's really interesting to me i saw photos of an adult prey another beetle also. Finally i like the upper pov and texture of the wings. Great use of flash also!
TFS!
Ersin

Hallo Ram,
nice presentation of this colourful beetle.
Colours, light and sharpness are petty good. Reduction of noise, in particular seen on the background and the black parts of the elytrae, may improve the picture (see workshop ... if you like).
Best wishes, Peter

Hello Ram,
well describing and aethetically pleasing capture of this beautiful blister beetle showing a distinct pattern of warning colours.
A pleasure also to read all the precisely investigated facts in your notes.
With thanks, and best regards to you,
Peter

Hi Ram,
Clean shot of your blister beetle, I like it.
You have very good detail, color, DOF, and exposure.
Excellent supporting notes as well mf.
Have a Great Day!

  •      
  • xuaxo Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 16] (110)
  • [2006-11-05 12:22]

Beautiful high contrast with the green environment.
F

Hi Ram,
Very good macro.Colours, details, sharpness, POV and light are beautiful.Very well composed.Best Regards.

hAyAti

Bonjour Ram
Elle est superbe cette prise de vue en Macro. Les couleurs sont merveilleuses,les détails et l'éclairage sont parfaits .Le fond vert rend bien la couleur de cet insecte.
Félicitations et merci pour l'envoie.....JP

  • Great 
  • pilonm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 548 W: 90 N: 871] (2919)
  • [2006-11-05 22:58]

Hello Ram,

Very nice picture of this meloidae! I like the way he is standing on the leaf! You got a good pov too! Great use of DOF and good use of the flash! The bg is maybe a little bit noisy... But it's minor! Great job and TFS,

Michel

Hello Ram !
Beautiful picture of a colorful beetle ! I saw somtehing similar in my garden, this summer, but was unable to give it a name, now I know better what it was. The picture is very beautiful, with excellent details, colors and composition, as always from you. Very well done !
Valerie.

  • Great 
  • magal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 224 W: 0 N: 313] (1241)
  • [2006-11-06 14:48]

Hi Ram,
Beautiful shot, with a very eye catching colour combination and excellent POV. One minor niggle is the noise in the BG but all in all it has very little effect on what in my opinion is a superb capture.
BTW - Special thanks and appreciation for the very comprehensive note,
tfs
Mark

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2006-11-06 21:21]

Ram, great macro to show us this very nice and colorful guy.

I like contrast and colors, as well as composition.

Congratulations on your note too.

Hallo Ram,
A nice beetle to see. Congratulations that with all effort you are able to identify the species. Well done and seen. TFS
JC

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-11-07 12:14]

Hello Ram,
Beautiful macro.Sharpness,details,colors and composition are excellent.
TFS..:-)

Hello Ram,
Good colours contrast!
Well composed presentation, good details in the bug...
Did you consider going a tad closer? Not a big deal however!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 966 W: 52 N: 1694] (5184)
  • [2006-11-09 17:55]

Hello Ram, no question it's a genus Mylabris but I'm not sure with the species. There are quite many smilar species in that genus and "variabilis" occurs in southern Europe, but it's really far from India. Anyway the pciture is nice with good details but slightly soft focus.
Best greetings,
Michal

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