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Leopard Lacewing


Leopard Lacewing
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3069 W: 231 N: 5859] (19702)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-27
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Penang
Date Submitted: 2007-09-02 23:14
Viewed: 1116
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This shot was taken at the Penang Butterfly Sanctuary.

Thanks to Ang Hwee Yong (Meerkat), an ID:

My Malaysia Travelogue

Leopard Lacewing
Cethosia cyane cyane

Adult leopard lacewings gather energy for flight and reproduction from the nectar of various flower species, such as lantana. Frequently observed in tropical and subtropical forests, during the rainy season leopard lacewing numbers increase dramatically. Hundreds of the butterflies may fly en masse, creating an amazing spectacle.


Sometimes alternatively referred to as the red or Malay lacewing butterfly, this dazzling insect exhibits strong sexual dimorphism. Females feature wing patterns with a gray or white background, whereas the upper surfaces of the males are a bright orange, yellow, or red. Both sexes are sprinkled with blackish-blue spots and lining veins. The butterflies are somewhat camouflaged when at rest because duller earth tones are featured on the undersurfaces of their wings.

The leopard lacewing butterfly, which is scientifically known as Cethosia cyane, ranges from India, throughout Southeast Asia, into the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia, and south to Papua New Guinea. Two subspecies are described, one from India, Bhutan and Burma, and the other from northern Thailand and Indo-China. Somewhat adaptable to human disturbance, leopard lacewing butterflies are sometimes found in gardens and along road right-of-ways in populated areas.

The caterpillars of the lacewing butterfly feed on the leaves of flowering vines in the genus Passiflora. Similar to many other butterflies that feed on passion vines, leopard lacewing larvae ingest and sequester defensive phytochemicals from the plant. Consequently, the larvae and adult butterflies display a distinct warning coloration that advertises their unpalatable nature to potential predators. When handled, these tropical lepidopterans often exude a noxious odor generated from the ingested passion vine organic compounds.

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earthtraveler, Evelynn, marhowie, Patleboss, hester has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Manyee,
This is wonderful capture, composition and colors unusual.
Black background fits well, too.
Thanks
Ugur

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3446 W: 144 N: 5883] (17434)
  • [2007-09-03 1:45]

Hi Manyee, wonderful capture and those colours are so vibrant together. It's a beautiful butterfly, nice and sharp too. Well done
Janice

Hi Manyee
Very nice shot. Butterfly in red chamber. Great vivid set of colors and good composition. Sharpnes is pretty good
Best wishes
Krzysztof

Wow - that is a beauty! And gorgeous on the reds! Wonderful! Cheers, Klaus

  • Great 
  • Helio Silver Star Critiquer [C: 21 W: 0 N: 4] (277)
  • [2007-09-03 7:31]

Wowww ..it's a wonderful capture, nice colors.

nomatter what her name, she is look so ellegant and sexy indeed, really nice angle of shot with diagonal looks of the object, excellent DOF, I just wonder how you can get the dark black background which make the picture look so artistic, TFS

Hi Manyee;

Very nice captured of the butterfly!
It's a Leopard Lacewing.
Scientific Name: Cethosia cyane cyane

Hello Res.Madam,
.In INDIA we call it as TAMIL LACEWING.Its scientific name is (Cethosia nietneri mahratta).A good picture.TFS
Akshay

Beautiful color composition Manyee.
The black, red and white together with the Bf wing patterns are gorgeous.
Well done.
Richard... see you later.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-09-04 20:39]

Hello Manyee

Wow those colours are outstanding.

Just marking the post for now.

Rob

What amazing color you captured here. It is a beautiful butterfly and the flash set it off nicely from the dark background.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hi ManYee,
What a color combo! I think this beautiful lacewing butterfly framed in red, along with the dark BG makes this one very special. Really like the complimentary color scheme here :)
Well done!
Howard

Helo Manyee,
superbe composition, le papillon est très bien assortit avec le background, les couleurs sont exceptionnelles et les contraste sont superbes,
un grand bravo,
Pat

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2007-09-06 14:10]

Spectacular red-black colour combi that rocks. Maybe try out portrait format?

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2007-09-08 13:04]

Hi Manyee

Wonderful vibrant colours. The flash was used well here with the dark BG setting the butterfly off. Lovely framing and POV

TFS

Karan

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