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Silver-washed Fritillary


Silver-washed Fritillary
Photo Information
Copyright: Catherine Dijon (CatherineD) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 426 W: 15 N: 1852] (6689)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-15
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 100 mm F2.8 Macro USM
Exposure: f/8, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-08-17 12:59
Viewed: 310
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
The Silver-washed Fritillary became a rare species in Belgium. It is the second time I saw it this year, on 2 different places. The first time, it was flying very fast, as it can, and it was impossible to take a photo. But on last Saturday, thanks to the Zinnia flowers planted by my mother, it make a long stop and let me take some photos.

Argynnis paphia (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae

The Silver-washed Fritillary is a European species of butterfly, which was in decline for much of the 1970s and 1980s but seems to be coming back to many of its old territories.
The Silver-washed fritillary butterfly is deep orange with black spots on the upper side of its wings and has a wingspan of 54-70 mm, with the male being smaller and paler than the female. The underside is green and unlike other fritillaries has silver streaks instead of silver spots, hence the name silver-washed. The caterpillar is black-brown with two yellow lines along its back and long reddish-brown spines. Adults feed on the nectar of bramble, thistles and knapweeds and also on aphid honeydew. The silver-washed is a strong flier and more mobile than other fritillaries and as such can be seen gliding above the tree canopy at high speed. It preferred habitat is thin, sunny deciduous woodland especially oaks but has been known to live in coniferous woodland.
The male possesses scent scales on the upper side of the forewing that run along veins one to four. The scent produced from these scales attracts females and helps to distinguish it from other species. Unusually for a butterfly, the female does not lay her eggs on the leaves or stem of the caterpillar's food source (in this case violets) but instead one or two meters above the woodland floor in the crevices of tree bark close to clumps of violets.
When the egg hatches in August, the caterpillar immediately goes into hibernation until spring. Upon awakening it will drop to the ground and feeds on violets close to the base of the tree. The caterpillar usually feeds at night and usually conceals itself during the day away from its food source but during cool weather will bask in the sunny spots on the forest floor on dry, dead leaves. It will make its chrysalis amongst the ground vegetation and the adults will emerge in June. (Wikipedia)
oanaotilia, boreocypriensis, jlinaresp, cirano, goldyrs, maurydv, horias, Juyona has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hy Catherine
Beautiful picture of this butterfly, sharp to see the pattern of the wings, natural colors, luckly with the Zinnia flowers for this vistors.
Cheers, Oana

Hi Catherine, a superb close-up capture of this fritillary. Great usage of the side-lighting providing 3-D effect. Immaculate details and fine composition too.
Have a nice night MF!
Bayram

Bien captado el motivo y muy potenciado por esa oportuna base de un color extraordinario.
Bonito trabajo Catherine: Josep Ignasi.

Hi Catherine,

A primor of picture, that light!... superb details in the wings of the insect, great approach accuracy. Excellent eye which you have to capture this butterfly between a colourful contrasting set and cheerful. Is a very nice set in sight. Congratulations. Compound good, beautiful maco and I magnify fund.

TFS!

Jesús

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 411 W: 0 N: 1022] (5516)
  • [2009-08-17 20:15]

Great colors and sharpness!

Slav Catherîne,
Very beautiful image of this butterfly with excellent sharpness and details.Colors and Pov are very nice.Thanks for sharing.
Dűrzan

If I said something about this shot, Catherine, it would be, what we Indians say, showing light to the sun.
So I'll just say thanks for the share and leave it at that!
Respect!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 94 N: 5542] (17634)
  • [2009-08-18 4:30]

Hello Catherine,
Another very beautiful photo. Flower and butterfly are both very nice to see. Excellent sharp details and well saturated colours. Good OOF BG, composition and POV.
Regards,
Peter

Ciao Catherine,
une trčs belle prise de ce merveilleux papillon avec un bon cadrage serré qui montre parfaitement les détails et les nuances des couleurs, trčs jolie composition.
Merci et félicitations
Amicalement
Maurizio

hello Catherine
super colored composition
great details and the flowers is also super
greeting lou

Catherine,
Lovely capture this Silver-washed Fritillary, very sharp, light and flower is wonderful.
In Roumania we have a lot of this........IS A INVITATION...
hAVE A GOOD DAY!
hORIA

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2632] (15573)
  • [2009-08-18 9:38]

Hola amiga,
preciosa captura,
buen encuadre iluminación y atractivo colorido...
saludos Cath.

Indeed an excellent shapr and amazing natuiral vivid colours. Great macro. Well done dear Catherine!

Roberto

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