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Small and Busy Beauty


Small and Busy Beauty
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter Roos (batu) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 985 W: 282 N: 3194] (10562)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-29
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus E1, Zuiko Digital 35mm f/3.5-22, Macro
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/80 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Butterflies of middle America [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-06 12:07
Viewed: 974
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In a mountainous region of Costa Rica close to the border of Panama, I could observe these small butterflies. They were very busy, resting on a flower a few seconds only and then started to find the next one. Because they were also very shy, in addition, it was nearly impossible to get really close to them. Therefore, this picture was taken from a larger distance und cropped subsequently. However, this is the best picture which I was able to obtain, although I spent a lot of time to get a better one.

The species is probably
- Charis iris
- family: Riodinidae
or according to other authors:
subfamily Riodininae of the family Lycaenidae.

It is noted that more than 250 species of Riodinidae occur in Costa Rica. Some of them are not easy to identify, such as the species of the genus Charis and of closely related genera. The small butterflies draw attention by their nice blue metal marks on the wings.

Charis iris occurs in Central and northern South America, from Guatemala in the north to Colombia in the south. Habitats are rain forests from sea level up to 1000 m. They can be found as single specimens or in small populations in the rich vegetation along small rivers and rivulets. The immature stages and the hostplants are not known thus far.

- wing span: about 17mm, only

- natural light
- ISO 200
- handheld
- much patience necessary

REFERENCE
* DeVries P.J. (1997) The Butterflies of Costa Rica and their Natural History. Vol. II, Riodinidae. - Princeton University Press, New Jersey.
* D'Abrera B. (1994) Butterflies of the Neotropical Region. Part VI, Riodinidae. Hill House, Victoria.
shaharbv, uleko, JoseMiguel, cataclysta, JORAPAVI, horia, phlr, peter_stoeckl, cicindela, jmp has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Peter,
Excellent composition, point of view and depth of field. Good details of the butterfly.

Regards,
Shahar.

hi peter,
beautiful shot,
the dark butterfly looks lovely resting on yellow flower,
nice point of view,
good dof,
lovely bg,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 347 W: 0 N: 281] (2170)
  • [2007-02-06 12:16]

Peter,exelente foto,eu tambem colhir algumas fotos de borboleta e sei quanto é dificil focar a mesma de perto,muito boa esta imagem,parabéns.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2345 W: 164 N: 7036] (22268)
  • [2007-02-06 12:37]

Hello Peter,
You obviously still have a hidden archive somewhere as you suddenly present us with such a beauty from Costa Rica! I've never seen this butterfly before and it is very beautiful. I don't think you need to apologize about this capture, it is quite sharp enough to show the pattern and colours very nicely. I really like the gently blurred flower and background too.
Very nice indeed!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

bonjour peter
le jaune de la fleur est presque un peu trop voyant,mais le papillon est net,le POV bon.
le BG bien flou.
bien vu.
laurent

Hi Peter,
Excellent capture of this shy butterfly!
You bring us a nice presentation of this specimen, with enough good details on it to appreciate their wing's patterns and colors.
The background may be a little over PP, but the main thing here is the subject.
Well done, congratulations for the effort put on this capture, and thank you very much for share it with us.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2461 W: 132 N: 7011] (21899)
  • [2007-02-06 12:59]

Hello Peter,
Despite the heavy cropping, this is a fantastic shot, not only because of the sharpness, comp. and contrasting BG, but because we don't see many rhiodinidae on TN and for my part this species is new to me.
Thank you for sharing this with us!
Best wishes, Ivan

Hello Peter
Very nice shot. Good sharpnes, very nice colors and very informative note
Best wishes
Krzysztof

Hola Peter.
Muy bella imagen de esa mariposa y de la flor,bonitos colores.Un saludo.
martinmena

bonsoir
bonne composition et ces deux couleurs sont un parfait duo, bons détails et super BG
bravo
edith

Hola Peter,
Preciosa y elegante composición, excelentes detalles y colores muy bellos. Saludos

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2038 W: 212 N: 3625] (12076)
  • [2007-02-06 16:28]

Hi Peter

What a splendid strong contrast!
This darker butterfly looks simply terrific on this bright yellow flower! Really a great catch!
The details here are very nice and sharp, as usual, and i must say that i like the DOF here very much, blurring everything outside the flower superbly.
The pattern on the b-fly's wings is gorgeous and very nicely presented from this excellent POV.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hi Peter,
Beautiful butterfly.
Very neat image.
Very nice shot.

Ben Lakitan

Hallo Peter,
eine kleine Kostbarkeit aus Costa Rica, sehr wirkungsvoll, klar und präzise in ihrer vornehm dunklen Tracht auf leuchtend gelber Blüte vor sanftem, fernem Grün präsentiert.
Schön sind die silbrigen Bänder auf den Flügeln zu sehen, die wohl bei vielen der Unterfamilie zu finden, die in englischer Literatur auch unter dem Namen "Metalmarks" bekannt ist.
Mit Dank und besten Grüßen,
Peter

Hello Peter!
This is a very nice composition with good contrast and nice colours :)
I also like the note which is very interesting and informative.
Best greetings,
Radomir

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2338] (8400)
  • [2007-02-14 16:39]

Hi Peter,
I like the drawing in the wing of this butterfly. Its shape is really smart.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • OzBY Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 180 W: 2 N: 299] (1027)
  • [2007-02-20 16:59]

Hi Peter.
Great picture of this butterfly.
Great color and sharpness.
I like the contrast between the blue and the brown wings.

Oz

Hi Peter real great colours on that one,magnificent compo real like the contrast between yellow and dark brown with the light blue.Good DOF.And thanks a lot for the name of the spicies not very good in butterfly.Alain

Hi Peter,
Nice colors and sharness, good compo, wonderfull butterfly
Jean-Michel

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