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Deilephila porcellus.


Deilephila porcellus.
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter Stoeckl (peter_stoeckl) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1629 W: 287 N: 3646] (10219)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2000-05-01
Categories: Insects
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-01-17 10:39
Viewed: 1167
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Deilephila porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Small Elephant Hawkmoth, Kleiner Weinschwärmer

Family: Sphingidae

Wingspan 40 – 45 mm

D. porcellus is a small hawkmoth that can be observed all over Europe and the UK, with the exception of northern Scandinavia. In the Alpine mountains, it goes up to approx. 1600m above sea level. This hawkmoth can be encountered in May and June, higher up in the mountains in mid summer. Its time of activity is late evening and dark night, visiting blossoms open at night such as Lonicera. Caterpillars feed on Gallium and Epilobium.

The colour and pattern of the wings and the body is a variable mixture of greenish ochre and bright crimson, similar but even stronger than its larger relative, the large Elephant Hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor).
http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Europe/Portugal/photo24853.htm

Why has evolution made these species so colourful? For night active moths, the mechanism of attracting partners through showy colours cannot be taken into consideration. Some moths show bright warning colours, but only when disturbed, by presenting showy hindwings that are usually hidden at rest (e.g. Smerinthus ocellata of the Sphingidae family, various Catocala species of the Noctuidae family).

But the night active D. porcellus shows unusually gay and showy colours all the time, even at rest. When I found the pictured individual sitting in the deep grass, I was attracted from quite a distance by its striking colours. This raises the question to me: How can these hawkmoths afford to stay without camouflage at rest when they are so easily discovered and therefore in constant danger of being swallowed? The answer may be: They pretend to be blossoms, a strategy that can well work in spring with many flowers around. In fact, when resting next to Epilobium, their other feeding plant, even bright crimson bodies are a good camouflage. Insect eaters are not interested in flowers, and animals interested in flowers usually do not eat animals.


The picture was taken on a rocky and dry grassy hill called “Hundsheimer Berg” in the Pannonian region east to Vienna, next to the small town of Hainburg, in the late afternoon of May 1, 2000.

Camera: Minolta SRT 101b, 150mm tele, with macro lens +3, no flash, no tripod. Film: Kodacolor 100. The picture is a combination of two scans from colour prints. Photoshop cropping, sharpening, scratch and dust removed.

Hope you enjoy the colours.
phlr, ErEs2, moemf, livios, Active has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To wishnugaruda: österreichische flattermännerpeter_stoeckl 1 01-17 12:45
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Peter!
This is very interesting shot! Amazing colours and interesting mirrir efect. I never saw it before - beautiful and unusual insect!

Hallo Peter,
erzähl' mir doch bitte wo Du solch tolle Flattermänner findest. Gibt es in Österreich wirklich noch solche Raritäten? Jeder Schuß ist noch ausgefallener als der andere. Diese Motte hier ist wundervoll. Bin ganz begeistert.
Vielen Dank für's Zeigen, servus und Gruß
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3065 W: 231 N: 6160] (21048)
  • [2006-01-17 23:19]

Another wonderful addition to your already impressive butterflies/moths portfolio. The colors of these two are really amazing, almost unreal. Sharp details and great composition, Peter. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2006-01-18 3:52]

WOW!
Two wonderful moths at the same time!
Great capture!
Very good POV!
Beautiful BG!
TFS!

  • Great 
  • ErEs2 Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 31 W: 0 N: 15] (582)
  • [2006-01-19 5:16]

Hi
interesting insect and composition, nice colors :)
regards
Rafal

  • Great 
  • moemf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 0 N: 160] (701)
  • [2006-01-19 6:27]

Hi Peter

Beautiful and well composed. The colours are strange, but very nice. Good POV and BG. TFS

Reinier

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2006-01-19 22:57]

Peter, maybe, I'd try to add some sharpness, but it's just an opinion.

Apart from that, lovely image.

I do enjoy contrast and composition.

Lovely montage to show us this very beautiful insect.

  • Great 
  • Active Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 113 W: 6 N: 19] (1231)
  • [2006-01-21 13:38]

I think the same as Joanna 'Cafercem" wrote :) nothing to add:)
TFS:)
Barbara

très interressant et très belle couleures.

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