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Can’t make heads nor tails of it ...


Can’t make heads nor tails of it ...
Photo Information
Copyright: Gabi Klemm (klemmg) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-12-01
Categories: Humorous
Camera: Sony DSC-F717
Exposure: f/2.5, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2005-07-25 19:40
Viewed: 1483
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Danaus plexippus (Monarch or Wanderer) caterpillar on African “milkweed”/Calotrope (Calotropis procera)

What you have before you here is the TAIL end of our little friend. Heard somewhere that the pseudo-head end is supposed to protect the real head from being attacked by birds instead (works 50% of times for statistical reasons). Doesn’t really convince me, but I think it may well confuse a predator as to the direction of flight the caterpillar may take.

Enlarged quite a bit, with resulting noise unfortunately (A "How to reduce noise" would be most welcome, I hereby out myself as PS novice!). Still I think it has a good fun-factor, enjoy!
Next post with head follows, watch this space.
PP: Crop, levels, USM, resize.

Here its bio (Edited, from this source: http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/butterflies/monarch/):

Scientific genus and species: Danaus plexippus
Class: Insecta (insects)
Order: Lepidoptera (butterflies)
Family: Danaidae (Milkweed butterfly family)
Genus: Danaus
Species: plexippus

It took the photo in the Caribbean, but it could have been almost anywhere else in the world, as this bug really gets around. Related species in the family are found on all continents except the polar regions, wherever milkweed and related plants are found. African milkweed by-the-by is distributed widely throughout the Caribbean, in case you were wondering. It also provides the Monarch with an intriguing form of protection, since the milkweed juices assimilated by the Monarch make it poisonous to predatory birds. The beautiful orange color of the Monarch butterfly serves to teach predators that their intended meal might be toxic. Not all milkweeds produce cardiac glycosides, therefore not all Monarchs are poisonous. However, the warning orange color serves to disguise poisonous from the non-toxic Monarch.

The Monarchs (or Wanderers!) migrate, traveling great distances to over winter in a temperate climate. Amazingly enough, not one butterfly makes the entire round-trip journey. Winter butterflies are sluggish and do not reproduce. In spring they return to summer homes and breed along the way. Their offspring return to the starting point.
ellis49, Janice, TAZ, extramundi, rosana, Luc has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ellis49: Thank you for your help with noiseklemmg 1 07-26 01:41
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Critiques [Translate]

You start with a nice macro, Gabi.
It's a great POV (Point Of View) and very nice colours.
I like the composition too. But its a lot af of noise, especially in thye BG but you can fix it with Neat Image or another noise reduce application.
I did a ws to show.
Well done.

Welcome to TN.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 615 W: 11 N: 625] (3352)
  • [2005-07-26 4:26]

Nice first pics.Welcome to TN.Nice Macro.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3453 W: 144 N: 5902] (17490)
  • [2005-07-26 6:25]

Hi Gabi, I wish you a warm welcome to TN. This is a good first posting, the caterpillar's face or tail looks so good on the plant. And very interesting notes too. Well done.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3073 W: 232 N: 5866] (19730)
  • [2005-07-26 9:59]

Hello Gabi. What a fun picture. Rather unusual point of view. Interesting value despite noise factor. Well done and thanks for sharing. A warm welcome to TN. : )

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2005-08-01 7:16]

What a nice caterpillar that you have well captured ! Its head is funny with horn ;-) Few noise in BG... A great note ! Thanks for sharing Gabi.

All I was going to say was said "and done" by Gert.
I like the POV and specially the perch of this one.
The contrast between the monster and the delicate flower makes a strong composition.
Well done.

Hi Gabi Super Macro, really well executed like a modern "Batman" a comic series that we have here in north america. Ops welcome and read twice your note.
Ciao
Ros

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2005-12-12 20:20]

A very good first performance, Gabi.
Nice composition and point of view.

I wish you the most cordial welcome on TrekNature ;-)In the pleasure to admire your next posts and to read your notes and critics.
Thank you for sharing.

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