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colours of nature


colours of nature
Photo Information
Copyright: Franco Degani (degani) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 0 N: 286] (2148)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-25
Categories: Insects, Flowers
Camera: Nikon D 80, Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS
Exposure: f/6.0, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-05 0:14
Viewed: 434
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The flower:
Cistus is a genus of flowering plants in the rockrose family Cistaceae, containing about 20 species (Ellul et al. 2002). They are perennial shrubs found on dry or rocky soils throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal through to the Middle East, and also on the Canary Islands. The leaves are evergreen, opposite, simple, usually slightly rough-surfaced, 2-8 cm long; in a few species (notably C. ladanifer), the leaves are coated with a highly aromatic resin called labdanum. They have showy 5-petaled flowers ranging from white to purple and dark pink, in a few species with a conspicuous dark red spot at the base of each petal., and together with its many hybrids and cultivars is commonly encountered as a garden flower.
The common name rockrose is applied to the species, a name also shared by the related genera Halimium, Helianthemum and Tuberaria, all in the family Cistaceae.
Ecology
They are thermophilous plants, which require open, sunny places. As with many other Cistaceae, the species of Cistus have the ability to form mycorrhizal associations with truffles (Tuber) and are thus able to thrive on poor sandy soils or rocks.
Cistus are the only host of Cytinus hypocistis, a small parasitic plant that lives on the roots and is noticeable only for a short period of time when in flower. The presence of the parasite does not seem to hurt the host population.
Cistus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora confluella and Coleophora helianthemella, the latter recorded on Cistus monspeliensis.
Medical Use
Several research groups have a special extract of the rockrose (C. incanus ssp. Tauricus) can show that the propagation of the virus flu viruses (influenza) significantly inhibits in vitro without resistance. Possibly, this research to a new treatment for the flu virus, including bird flu. [1] [2] The effectiveness in humans, however, with scientific studies have not yet been established.

The insect
Cetonia aurata, known as the rose chafer, or more rarely as the green rose chafer, is a reasonably large beetle, 20 mm (¾ in) long, that has metallic green coloration (but can be bronze, copper, violet, blue/black or grey) with a distinct V shaped scutellum, the small triangular area between the wing cases just below the thorax, and having several other irregular small white lines and marks. The underside is a coppery colour. Rose chafers are capable of very fast flight; they do it with their wing cases down thus resembling a bumble bee, see photos below clearly illustrating it. They feed on flowers, nectar and pollen, in particular roses (from where they get their name); which is where they can be found on warm sunny days, between May and June/July, occasionally to September.
The larvae are C–shaped, have a very firm wrinkled hairy body, a very small head and tiny legs; they move on their backs, which is a very quick way to identify them. Larvae overwinter wherever they have been feeding, that is in compost, manure, leafmould or rotting wood, and they pupate in June/July. Some adult beetles might emerge in the autumn, but the main emergence is in the spring when they mate. Following mating, the females lay their eggs in decaying organic matter, and then die. Larvae grow very fast, and before the end of autumn they would all have moulted twice. They have a two year life cycle.

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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To xTauruSx: than youdegani 1 05-07 13:45
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Critiques [Translate]

Good mornin My dear friend Franco,
Splendid capture of a Cistus (I think) and a chafer (Cetonia cuprae) with superb clarity. Many thanks for sharing this great composition.
Have a nice day my friend!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Franco,

Very beautiful composition. Sharp capture of this green chafer on this beautiful purple flower. Good exposure and splendid colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Franco. Great composition of nature colours. TFS. Regards,
Deniz

spettacoloari i colori (che già nelel tue foto sono sempre perfetti. nitidsssima e poi cosa vuoi che ti dica , io adoro il viola....l'insetto cosìe una cetonia? silvio.....luciano.........help!!

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1004 W: 6 N: 2717] (10087)
  • [2008-05-05 8:45]

Ciao Franco,una foto eccellente,mamma mia che combinazione di colori,sono stupito dalla perfezione di quel maledetto coleottero metalizzato che di solito provoca riflessi difficilmente gestibili,davvero un lavoro perfetto,complimenti,Luciano.

You've got here a characteristically wrinkly looking Cistus flower in fine colours Franco, and that greenish beetle is a good bonus indeed! TFS my friend.
Mehmet

Si Franco! Una rapsodia di colori. Se fosse possibile come sfondo musicale metterei la meravigliosa "The golden bug" di Alan Parson perchè ancora un po' e i riflessi dello scarabeo sarebbero diventati d'oro.

Roberto

Ciao Franco, splendida composizione con l'insetto metalizzato nel cuore della primula, fantastica macro con splendidi colori, bravo, ciao Silvio

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