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Argynnis paphia male
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Argynnis paphia male on knautia arvensis / Keizersmantel mannetje op beemdkroon / Silver-washed Fritillary male on Field Scabious / Kaisermantel männchen auf Acker-Witwenblume / Tabac d'Espagne māle sūr Knautie des champs.
The Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) 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. It is also the larget species of fritillary.
The Silver-washed fritillary is deep orange with black spots on the upperside 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 necter 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 prfered habitat is thin, sunny deciduous woodland especially oaks but has been known to live in coniferous woodland.
The male possesses scent scales on the upperside 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 metres 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.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver-washed_Fritillary"
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver-washed_Fritillary
Harm |
SunToucher, vanderschelden, phlr has marked this note useful
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Hoi Harm,
Een erg mooie foto waar mij vooral de perfecte scherpte diepte opvalt. Zelfs de randen van de vleugels zijn erg scherp. Het mooie warme licht en het heerlijke contrast tussen de vlinder en bloem geven de gehele foto een prachtige uitstraling.
Groeten,
Niek
Hello Harm,
Good image; well composed.
Beautiful butterfly.
TFS
Annick
- Luis52
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1026 W: 5 N: 2887]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(10445) - [2007-12-15 7:59]
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Hola Harm. Bella foto. Exelente Maro, gran nitidez, pose, colores muy naturales y fondo.
Saludos Luis52.
Hello Harm,
Nice portrait with natural colours and a sharp image. The butterfly shows some signs of a long life! The lighting has shown up the swollen forewing veins that mark this as a male specimen, so that is an added bonus for identification.Thanks
Alan
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2227 W: 199 N: 2486]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(9082)