For Peter Stoeckl

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For Peter Stoeckl
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3082 W: 231 N: 5811] (19540)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-27
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Penang
Theme(s): Dedications at TrekNature Part Two, 40 - 49 Points (Chapter 11) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-14 11:25
Viewed: 1449
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This post is dedicated to my friend Peter Stoeckl,
in appreciation for his vast collection of gorgeous butterfly images,
and for his kindness in sharing his amazing body of knowledge of these beautiful insects.
Thank you, Peter. : )

This photo was taken at the Penang Butterfly Sanctuary.

Thanks to all who provided help with the ID.
You guys are just awesome!

My Malaysia Travelogue

Blue Moon Butterfly (Male)
Also known as Great Eggfly or Common Eggfly
Hypolimnas bolina

Appearance
The Great Eggfly is a black-bodied butterfly with a wingspan of about 7–8½ cm. The species has a high degree of sexual dimorphism. The female is mimetic with multiple morphs.
Male
The upper side of the wings are jet black, offset with three pairs of white spots – two on the forewing and one on the hind. These white spots are suffused with purple. In addition, the upper side of the hind wing bears a series of small white dots.
Female
The upper side of the wings of the female is a brownish black and does not have any spots like those of the male. The edges bear white markings which are similar to those of the Common Indian Crow.


Distribution
Great Eggflies are found in Madagascar in the west, through to South and Southeast Asia, South Pacific islands (French Polynesia, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu) and occurs in parts of Australia, Japan and New Zealand.


Habitat
The Great Eggfly is a fairly common butterfly found in lightly wooded country, deciduous forests, thick and moist scrub and the greener parts of human habitation.

Mimicry
To the west the female is monomorphic, mimicking species of the oriental and Australasian danaid genus Euploea. Eastwards H. bolina is frequently polymorphic and most forms are then non-mimetic. In areas where it resembles Euploea the butterfly has usually been designated a Batesian mimic.

Life Cycle
Great Eggflies are known for maternal care, with the females guarding leaves where eggs have been laid. Males are also very territorial. The female hovers over a plant to check for ants which will eat her eggs. After selecting a plant which has no ants on it, she lays at least one but often two to five eggs on the undersides of the leaves.
Eggs
The eggs are a pale, glassy green with longitudinal ridges except on the top.
Caterpillar
After about four days the eggs hatch. The caterpillars immediately disperse. They are black with an orange head. The last segment is also orange. The head bears a pair of long branched black horns. The body surface is also covered with long, branched, orangish black spines. These spines look whitish and transparent immediately after moulting, but soon become the usual orange. In later instars the spiracles are surrounded by thin, dirty orange rings. Infection by Wolbachia bacteria is known to exclusively kill male specimens.
Pupa
The pupa is suspended by just one point. It is brown with a grey tinge on the wings. The abdominal segments have distinct tubercles. The surface of the pupa is rough. The butterfly emerges after seven to eight days as pupae (female development is always a bit longer).

Source
nglen, peter_stoeckl, Proframe, Christopher_PL, kjpweb, MMM, Silke, jmp, jrobertop has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pankajbajpai: Eggfliesmanyee 2 08-15 06:38
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2007-08-14 11:29]

Hi Manyee. A very nice dedication to Peter. You have captured the butterfly with good detail and colour. the markings stand out very well. .A nice POV/DOF. very well done TFs.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • nimou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 153 W: 1 N: 679] (3145)
  • [2007-08-14 11:42]

Ones wonderful colors. My bests regards.

Hi Manyee,
anyway how the name is - this is such a beautiful butterfly and opened his wings so wide for you. I love the spots with the brilliant blue colour, thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hello Manyee,

gee, what a nice surprise in the evening after a long day downtown - thank you for your very kind words!

A pleasure to see this butterfly clearly and generously presented, sitting with wings spread, head down and diagonally filling the frame in dynamic composition. I also like the background of ferns that offer a pleasant contrast, and tell us of a densely growing tropical rainforest habitat.

The butterfly definitely seems to be the "Great Eggfly" as Sumon has already stated. A male, to be precise, as the species shows significant sexual dimorphism - males and females look quite different. Its scientific name is

Hypolimnas bolina (Linneaus, 1758)

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypolimnas_bolina

Another beautiful memory from an exciting trip you seem to have enjoyed very much. Thank you for sharing!

My best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 971 W: 281 N: 3030] (10080)
  • [2007-08-14 12:04]
  • [2]

Hello Manyee,
this is a nice picture of a male Hypolimnas bolina. As Peter Stoeckl stated, there are clear differences in colour pattern between males and females. The latter are not so often observed and have an even more interesting wing pattern.
The butterfly on your picture is well focused and shows the blue iridescence very well.
Best wishes, Peter

Hi Manyee,nice picture with good composition and colours.Cheer
Frindly,Mich

Hello Manyee,
What a great present for Peter.
Beautiful color contrast and diagonall lines of the body and wings of the butterfly.
Excellent lighting and wonderful details.
The way the Blue Moon does stand out against the green tones of the leaf is great.
Thanks for sharing and the perfect note.
Best wishes and good night.
Harry

Hi Manyee,
Excellent shot!
Splendid colors and definition.
Perfect composition and POV.
Well done!
Congratulations!
José Roberto

Hello Manyee
Beautiful image. Great colours and sharpness. Very good POV and nice dedication. I think Peter is the best butterfly lover on TN ;-)

Chris

Well done, Manyee! A beauty - and yet another, I have never seen before! Excellent presentation! Cheers, Klaus

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 0 N: 1457] (6594)
  • [2007-08-15 5:44]

Hi Manyee
Excellent capture with great POV and BG.Lovely colors and nice details.
TFS Michel

Great shot Manyee, I've heard the Penang BS is quite good and this shot suggests it is.
Well composed and excellent sharpness.
I saw this species in Thailand, they are indeed very beautiful and you've illustrated it very well here.

Chris

hello manyyee,
nice capture, the pov to shoot the butterfly with the open wings is perfect, nice colours, lovely composition,liked the framing too, peter must be pleased to see this nice dedication,
btw do you have any idea what is the difference in the wing patterns of great eggfly & danaid eggfly(hypolimnas missipus)?
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi Manyee,
Nice shot of this Great Eggfly. Sharp with good color clarity. POV and composition are great. Very well done.
JC

I wish your husband had taken a photo of you taking photos in this butterfly haven. It would be fun to see the setting. It is a nice sharp image with great saturated color. Another presentation option might be to rotate the image 180º. It must have something to do with my vertigo. It just feels more comfortable to me. : )

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 745 W: 107 N: 1694] (5302)
  • [2007-08-15 14:18]

superb colours and outstanding diagonal composition! A wonderful posting
TFs
silke

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-08-15 20:09]

Hello Manyee

What a beautiful butterfly,with excellent lighting and colour saturation.The POV and DOF is very good.The crop works very well ,I really like the composition.The fern it is perched on makes a wonderful setting.Very well done.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2007-08-16 10:55]

Hi Manyee,
'GREAT EGGFLY'
Beautiful butterfly and you have captured it in all its glory. Among the greens it stands out perfectly and the open-winged pose looks so elegant. Superb lighting and focus. Excellent POV to portray it and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1898 W: 94 N: 2375] (8394)
  • [2007-08-16 13:18]

Hi Manyee,
A really smart black & blue butterfly. Perfect pof, pose, exposure and compo.
TFS, José M.

Hi again Manyee,
Very nice image of this blue moon butterfly, this would be a first time I have ever seen one, although it does look similiar to some other species that are close in comparison.
It looks like you had a lot of fun in Malaysia and also lots of opportunity to photograph some real interesting finds. :)

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