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Mating Skippers


Mating Skippers
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2975 W: 108 N: 7726] (25028)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-13
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 APO DG MACRO, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/250 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-16 0:39
Viewed: 391
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I saw mating Skippers for the first time this Sunday and was able to shoot the pair using fill flash since they were hidden behind thick foliage in the garden.
It is very difficult to ID skippers; there are so many of them!
Anyway, here is a general note on Skippers borrowed from Wikipedia:

A Skipper is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae (superfamily Hesperioidea), named after their quick, darting flight habits.

Skippers differ in several important ways from the remaining butterflies, which are classified in the superfamily Papilionoidea and the neotropical superfamily Hedyloidea. Collectively, these three groups of butterflies share several characteristics especially in the egg, larval and pupal stage (Ackery et al. 1999).
However, Skippers have the antennae clubs hooked backward like a crochet hook, whilst butterflies have club-like tips to their antennae and hedylids have feathered or pectinate antennae giving them an even more moth-like appearance than skippers. Skippers also have generally stockier bodies than the other two groups, with stronger wing muscles. Hesperioidea is very likely the sister group of Papilionoidea, and together with Hedyloidea constitute a natural group or clade.

There are about 3500 species of Skippers. They are usually classified in the following subfamilies:

Awls, Awlets and Policemen (Subfamily Coeliadinae, about 75 species)
Grass Skippers (Subfamily Hesperiinae, over 2000 species)
Skipperlings (Subfamily Heteropterinae, about 150 species)
Giant Skippers (Subfamily Megathyminae, about 100 species)
Spread-winged Skippers (Subfamily Pyrginae, about 1000 species)
Firetips (Subfamily Pyrrhopyginae, about 150 species)
Australian Skippers (Subfamily Trapezitinae, about 60 species)

Note: Some authorities treat the Giant Skippers as a separate family, the Megathymidae, but more modern classifications place them within the subfamily Hesperiinae in the family Hesperiidae.

Many species of skippers look frustratingly alike. For example, some species in the genera Erynnis, Hesperia, and Amblyscirtes cannot currently be distinguished in the field by experts, the only reliable method of telling them apart involving dissection and examination of the genitalia.

Thanks for your visit and have a nice day.
Alex99, Amadeo, Argus, mayuresh, haraprasan, Matt-Bird, JORAPAVI, rcrick, SelenE, maurydv, cataclysta, fartash, goldyrs, albert, anel, uleko has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To scshekar: Your suggestionramthakur 1 07-16 06:20
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3040 W: 148 N: 4529] (14629)
  • [2008-07-16 0:41]

Hi, dear Ram.
Have you used mirror? Wonderful scene and perfect its reproduction. Excellent fill flash, great details of the insects and main part of the leaf, nice POV and composition. I also like natural rich colours of the shot. Well done and my kind regards.
Alexei.

Hola Ram, excelente macro, buen momento captado, una toma nitida, con buena luz y color. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2606 W: 133 N: 7480] (23317)
  • [2008-07-16 1:22]

Excellent use of flash here, Ram!
The lighting used to capture these mating skippers is just right to give good colours and sharpness without producing the 'night-time' effect that day-flying insects are often shown with the use of flash and the catchlight in the compound eyes is attractive in this fine composition and POV.
Thanks for sharing this beauty,
Best wishes, Ivan

Hello Ram sir,
wonderful capture of mating skippers,superb lighting and sharpness,nice pov and composition,
very well done,
tfs

Hi Mr. Ram,
A nice capture of this beautiful skippers mating. Superb details and a lovely composition. Very well use of flash. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Sincerely
HP

Hey Ram,
It seems to be the season for this type of photo. Clear shot, I like the reflextion of the flash in both of the skippers eyes.
Best regards
Matt.

Hola Ram,
Magnífica y oportuna captura, con gran nitidez y detalle en una bonita composición, excelente iluminación con fondo agradable y colores naturales. Saludos
José Ramón

Hi Ram,

Congratulations on a stunning shot, the detail is superb, wonderful colours, excellent use of the fill flash, well spotted and captured,

All the best, Rick :)

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2348 W: 61 N: 3801] (12188)
  • [2008-07-16 3:30]

Hi Ram,
Focus, sharpness, rich colors, pose you captured, POV and composition are very good. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

Hi Ram,it seem a reflection on the mirror,incredible pic,a top quality for a great situation to take,my best best compliments,a pic for the National Geographic magazine!Have a nice day,Luciano

  • Great 
  • vral Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 59 W: 0 N: 159] (690)
  • [2008-07-16 4:52]

Hello Sir,
very well managed flash work of these mating skippers.Good sample image for gender ID. POV,DOFand composition are very good. Greeny BG is very attractive with flash casting absolutely nil shadow.

Thanks for sharing
vral

Hi Ram,

Very nice picture, the background really complements the pair, I felt you could have given little space either[LEFT] of the sides, felt little tight picture. TFS

Bellissima cattura, ottimi POV e composizione, buona definizione, perfetta esposizione e buona resa dei colori anche con luce flash: Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hello Ram
Very intersting shot ofthese indian Skippers while mating,
Great details,use of flash and composition.
Welldone.

Good Luck
Fartash

Hi Ram .
quite a good picture with nice Nice Bg and cool colrs. Looks slightly over exposed on my computer. Over all a nice picutre.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1691 W: 242 N: 5580] (19801)
  • [2008-07-16 13:38]

I've run out of time!

Will be back tomorrow.

Cheers,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-07-16 22:30]

Hi Ram

A well observed shot of these two skippers mating. They greate a symetrical - almost abstract image with excellent focus and colour.

James

Hello Ram,
Nice opportunity to photograph mating skippers!
Great light and excellent details
Well done
TFS
Albert

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 4 N: 2302] (10736)
  • [2008-07-17 3:57]

Hello Sir, I am so far not successfull in shooting the mating butterflies. You are lucky and did not waste even a second and utilised it better. Thanks for sharing this beauty. Ganesh

Hello Ram
A couple in a green. I like the colors and POV. Beautiful green. Sharpness is very good. I like it very much
Best wishes my friend
Krzysztof

Sir,
This is a wonderful shot, a mirro image!
Very well done!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1173 W: 0 N: 1968] (8355)
  • [2008-07-17 6:26]

Hello Ram,
It is true that it is very frustrating to identify skippers..but they are interesting species and so quick to disappear!
Excellent picture of these two fellows occupied to perpetuate the species..nice light,composition and sharpness.
Best regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2465 W: 168 N: 7448] (23526)
  • [2008-07-17 6:49]

Hello Ram,
Brilliant view of these two Skippers that stand out very nicely against the green leaf. Excellent use of flash - I love the way the eyes are lit up!! Excellent DOF too and beautiful colours. Well done!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

Hi Ram,
I´ve never see before a skippers mating couple and they do it in a differnt way as do butterfly rest. Good approaching and flash use.
Regards
Hernán

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