<< Previous Next >>

Amata phegea.


Amata phegea.
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: 2004-07-03
Categories: Insects
Camera: Minolta Dimage 7Hi
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-02-01 8:42
Viewed: 1201
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Amata phegea (Linnaeus, 1758)
Nine Spotted, Weissfleckwidderchen, Beloskvrnac pampeliskovy.

Wingspan: approximately 35 – 40mm

A small but quite conspicuous day active moth. Both in appearance and behaviour it looks very similar to members of the Zygaenidae family. The German name “Weissfleckwidderchen” refers to that similarity, but the name is misleading. Amata phegea belongs to another family - the family of Syntomidae with many species in the tropics and very few in the Palaearctic region.

The conspicuous black, white and yellow pattern is definitely a warning signal that Syntomidae share with Zygaenidae. I do not know if Syntomids are as badly tasting and poisonous to predators as Zygaenids or if they are just pretending to be poisonous Zygaenidae - applying a sort of interspecies communication we call "mimicry".

Amata phegea is widely spread and quite common in southern Europe, and rather local at warmer parts of central Europe. It keeps to uncultivated and rather dry areas with a few trees or edges of forests. In Austria, the species is quite common in the river forests along the Danube. The moths can be seen in June and July, slowly flying at daytime in the sunshine as well as under a clouded sky.

Caterpillars are furry, and they hibernate. Foodplants: Plantago, Rumex, Galium, Gramineae, Taraxacum and other low plants.

The picture was taken at the edge of Rohrwald forest near the Danube in Lower Austria, on July 3, 2004, 17:44.
Camera: Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi, resolution: 2560x1920, 51mm, F/3.5, 1/180 sec, ISO-125, no flash. no tripod. Macro activated.
Postwork: Photoshop CS, picture cropped, sharpened, background selectively cleaned and softened, resized to 720x640.

Thank you for looking.
Have a good day.
emmari, petrudamsa, dew77, extramundi, phlr, TAZ, hummingbird24, Ninfa, coasties, momos, firelord, Alex99 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Nephrotome2: the way it grabs the branchpeter_stoeckl 1 11-21 15:20
To Ninfa: Saludos cordialespeter_stoeckl 1 02-07 04:27
To petrudamsa: Thank you.peter_stoeckl 1 02-03 07:13
To hummingbird24: hummingbird's visitpeter_stoeckl 1 02-03 06:53
To extramundi: textures on dark areaspeter_stoeckl 2 02-02 10:37
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • emmari Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 105 W: 0 N: 387] (3105)
  • [2006-02-01 10:07]

Hi Peter,
Nice butterfly, nice pic and very useful note !
Congratulations !
Emmanuel

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6160] (21052)
  • [2006-02-01 10:46]

What striking colors and markings on this butterfly. Unusual species captured with sharp details and excellent POV. WEll done, Peter, and TFS. : )

Beautiful photo and a good desctiption of the moth. I don't recall to see it in Romania but it is possible, for they should have the proper habitat in south and west parts of the country.

Regards, Petru

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2006-02-01 14:33]

Hi Peter,
Fantastic composition and great contrasting of this very beautiful image.
Excellent shot and thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-02-01 15:08]

Hello Peter!
Very nice close up.Colors,contrast,POV,simple BG,
lighting,sharpness and composition are wonderful.
TFS...:-)

I have never seen one of this in real. It is very fashion :) a very beautiful subject. The DOF is very good for a 3.5
Well done with the POV with nice fugue lines. Is a pity you did not get a better textures on the black wings, but always a pain with this colours.
Have you ever tryed diffuse flash? With very contrasted fungui shots I use sometimes a paper hankerchief and works quite well.
Thanks very much for sharing. Regards, Felipe.

Hallo Peter,
ach wie ist der schön. Hab' noch nie so einen Falter gesehen, vielen Dank daß Du uns stets so ausgefallene Flattermänner zeigst, gefällt mir ausgesprochen gut, tschüssi
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2006-02-01 16:38]

Very good photo!
Never saw this beauty!
Excellent details!
Very good colours!
Very good POV and BG!
Keep on going and TFS!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-02-02 1:30]

What a wonderful and interesting moth that you have very well captured ! Good photo and postwork. Instructive complementary note... Congratulations Peter and thanks for sharing.

Hello Peter,

Sorry, no time for a decent comment, but definitely worth a ;-)

Nicely captured and great ws!

TFS.

wow, lovely picture, diagonal composition, is looks good.

great hug

Very attractive moth and nice contrast. Diagonal positionis good and quite a sharp image.

  • Great 
  • Ninfa Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 112 W: 3 N: 204] (747)
  • [2006-02-07 3:22]
  • [+]

Hola Peter: Beautiful contrast, the illumination very well administered, I like the coloring and the harmony in the crossing of the lines. It is a very pleasant composition to look and to enjoy. Saludos Cordiales. *Ninfa Urania*

Hi Peter

Fantastic shot. Good POV and light. Lovely depth of colour. Tack sharp with crisp, clear details. Good work. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • momos Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 57 W: 55 N: 171] (705)
  • [2006-02-27 13:51]

Η φωτογραφία σου είναι όμορφη Peter!
Μια μικρή ένσταση για το ανεστίαστο κομμάτι κάτω αριστερά. Αποσπά την προσοχή από τον σκώρο. (gr)
Christos

Brilliant colors and composition.
I had to think to understand the way it grabs the branch.
[points tomorrow]
TFS.
JeanMarie

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2009-03-08 6:02]

Hi, dear Peter.
Many thanks for links on such beauty. Especially I like WS. It is really more suitable for ordinary monitor. I am very glad that both shots (mine and yours) are very similar. However, DOF of your picture is better and grass leaf pattern is very nice. Smoothness of the surroundings are amazing and very pleasant for eyes. Sharpness and exactness of moth colouration and other features are ultimate. My warm greetings and TFS.
Alexei.
P.S. I think that I'll share few shots of this species. You have changed my mind.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF