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Thymelicus sylvestris


Thymelicus sylvestris
Photo Information
Copyright: Milos Koudelka (mikou) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 840 W: 67 N: 1311] (5269)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-19
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon PowerShot S2 IS, Mora Close-up 58mm +4
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): The Skippers / Hesperiidae Europe [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-26 7:22
Viewed: 805
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Superfamily: Hesperioidea
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Genus: Thymelicus
Species: sylvestris
Wingspan:27 - 34mm

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
/Soumračník metlicový/

Habitat
This species inhabits rough grassland, where tall grasses grow, and may occur on roadside verges, beside hedgerows, on overgrown downland, in woodland clearings and along woodland rides.
Ovum
As many as 8 eggs are laid in a row inside a leaf sheath of the foodplant. They are white when first laid, but gradually turn pale yellow. Eggs hatch in 20-25 days.
Larva
The larva eats its eggshell on hatching, and subsequently spins a dense silken cocoon around itself, still inside the grass sheath. It is within this cocoon, within the grass sheath, that the larva hibernates, alongside other cocoons formed by its siblings.
In the spring, the larva emerges from the cocoon to live a solitary existence. It forms a tube by spinning together the edges of a leaf and, in early instars, feeds within the tube. In later instars the larva feeds outside the tube, leaving characteristics notches in the grass blade. The larva will move to new leaves, creating new suitably-sized tubes, as needed. The fully-grown larva is 20-25mm in length.
Pupa
When fully-grown, the 5th instar larva spins a tent of leaves at the base of the foodplant within which it pupates. The pupa is attached to a grass blade within the tent, attached by a silken girdle and the cremaster. The pupa is 16-20mm in length. This stage lasts 12-18 days.
Imago
The male Small Skipper is territorial, and can be found on suitable perches from which it intercepts any passing butterfly and chases them away. The male is the more active of the two sexes; females are more sedentary than males, and exhibit unusual behaviour when egg-laying. The female will alight on a blade of Yorkshire-fog, and then move backwards down the stem, probing the sheath as she moves. When a suitable opening in the furled sheath has been found, she will lay several eggs inside.
Both sexes are nectar-loving, and can be found visiting flowers such as Thistles and Red Clover.
(source:www.ukbutterflies.co.uk)
Argus, Alex99, uleko, SkyF, Ken52, Luis52, anel, haraprasan, jmirah, lawhill, jeanpaul, pablominto has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3819 W: 190 N: 11368] (35041)
  • [2007-06-26 7:47]

Hello Milos,
Nice capture of a male Small Skipper: interesting POV showing all the features including the light tips of the antennae to confirm that this is T. sylvestris.
Good sharpness, fine DOF and BG and well composed.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2007-06-26 8:09]

Hi Milos.
hat a cute butterfly you have pictured. Amazing DOF and sharpness of the insect. Very interesting back POV, superb scenery and lighting. I like your technique so much (equipment and exposure parameters). Excellent job. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.

hi milos, lovely capture of the samll skipper, the pov is nice giving food idea about the insect, sharp image, lovely colours, liked the contrast between the bg & the insect,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2993 W: 162 N: 961] (2823)
  • [2007-06-26 10:17]

Hello Milos,
Unusual and very nice view of this Skipper. I like the way it shows how they hold their front wings up, not like other butterflies. Excellent sharpness and fine colours. I like your composition very much too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 604 W: 11 N: 1631] (5995)
  • [2007-06-26 10:38]

Hello Milos, amazing capture and macro work, great POV and composition, the small butterfly is very sharp and colorful, the BG is very beautiful..well done..

bonjour milos
avant de me pationner pour la photo je n'avais jamais remarqué ce papillon mais depuis que je passe du temps sur TN
je l'ai aussi renconté a plusieur reprises.
la photo est tres bien reussie,nette e tdetaillée.
laurent

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 555 W: 0 N: 1134] (5196)
  • [2007-06-26 15:30]

selam milos; excellent macro shot of this lovely skipper, very good details presented nice POV well captured with splendid colours TFS
regards
ridvan

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2007-06-26 15:41]

Hi Milos,
gorgeous shot, the little skipper on this beautiful neutral BG showing off very well.
Excellent sharpness and the colors are wonderful.
Lovely composition, great placing of the main subject.
Sky

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 640 W: 98 N: 1241] (4189)
  • [2007-06-26 16:53]

Nice little skipper, well captured. Great rich colors, nice DOF. Excellent detail and pleasing background. I like the way the blade of grass arches across the frame. Composition perfect!

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2007-06-26 21:59]

Hola Milos. Me agradan los colores que lograste en este Macro. La pose y el fondo son exlentes. Saludos Luis52.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-26 22:41]

Hello Milos

The colours are outstanding.The orange of the skipper against the lush ,deep greens of a beautiful OOF BG.Excellent DOF and POV.The shot is well focused with sharp details.Nicely done.TFS

Rob

Hi Milos, sharp photo of splendid Hesperiidae with great details, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-06-27 11:19]

Hi Milos,

A beautiful butterfly and a beautiful composition. You captured it in a perfect pose - an unusual pov. Wonderful colors - fine details - settled on a lovely curved leaf - wonderful background.

Jane

Hello Milos,
I have photographed a very similar specie recently but never that close! This is wonderful with great colors, beautiful composition, details and exposure. Colors are really stunning!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1723 W: 0 N: 3919] (15742)
  • [2007-06-28 5:32]

Hello Milos,
Unusual point of view to show this cute Skipper. It looks like an acrobat on its rope. Pleasant colour combination and excellent composition.
Thank's and best regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2007-06-28 8:42]

Hi Milos,
Splendid shot of this skipper. Rich colours, sharp details, fine focus and perfect natural lighting. Excellent POV and the green BG looks superb and it nicely highlights the subject. Wonderfully composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Milos,
Excellent composition. POV should have been a little better. Very well focused shot. Lovely BG. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • jmirah Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 5 N: 1135] (4665)
  • [2007-06-28 11:07]

Really amazing detail...Composition is great with the butterfly perched on the blade of grass...Excellent BG color to enhance the subject...TFS
Jim

Hello Milos,
Great macro showing this skiper, nice POV
natural colors, well done, TFS. Best regards/Lawhill

Hi Milos
C'est un très belle présentation ,les couleurs et la nettetée sont très bonnes belle composition
J'apprécie les beaux détails sur le papillons .
Au revoir et a la prochaine....JP

Hello Milos,
A lovely colour combination!
The butterfly is captured with excellent details, a velvety appearance and great colours...
A simple but attractive composition!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2262 W: 10 N: 2630] (15567)
  • [2007-07-02 4:44]

Hola Milos,
sensacional captura,
bello pov,
tonos y magnífica nitidez,
excelente trabajo,
saludos

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