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Killer Flower?


Killer Flower?
Photo Information
Copyright: Nigel Deacon (Merlin) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 381 W: 223 N: 306] (958)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4500
Exposure: f/8, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Crab spiders with prey [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-09-16 7:28
Viewed: 1098
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Look very carefully..

The butterfly is (was?) a Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia). In the UK it is virtually restricted to coastal landslips on the southern half of the Isle of Wight and on the Channel Islands. This was photographed on an Alpine meadow in southern France.

It was named after Lady Eleanor Glanville who was the first to capture British specimens in Lincolnshire (where it has long been extinct) during the 1690s.

Widespread and common through much of Europe to 61ºN in Scandinavia and eastwards to Asia. Severe declines reported in many European countries.

The spider? One of the Crab Spiders, this is Thomisus onustus. It can change colour both in the visible and UV spectra to suit it's "flower of the day" in a way that makes chameleons look amateurish. There's another nice shot of this spider, showing a very different camouflage scheme, by Jean Louis Sabia at:

http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Europe/France/South/Provence-Alpes-Cote-dAzur/photo21420.htm
phlr, peter_stoeckl, livios, sily has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
Thanks!Merlin 1 09-18 18:54
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Critiques [Translate]

O my dear - poor butterfly!
You catched the right moment, Nigel, a wonderful shot. Very good sharpness and colours. I like it, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Great shot Nigel,
Excellent detail, sharpness and composition. The colours and exposure are very good. Good POV. The spider is well camouflaged in the flower.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1276 W: 133 N: 874] (2804)
  • [2005-10-16 4:41]

Great capture of this moment!
The specie is a Melitaea cinxia.
Unlucky guy...just traped by a spider.
Specie very rare in Portugal too.

Hello Nigel,
just discovered your dramatic documentary picture of Melitaea xinxia getting kissed to death by a crab spider. An impressive document.
Noticed you did not get as many smileys on that picture as to my opinion you deserve to receive. Our friends at TN seem to prefer the bright side of life but not a spider doing her job. (I've made the same experience with my crab spider portraits ;)).
Thanks for your fine note, too. What a pity our screens do not show the UV spectra as good as RGB ;).
Regards, Peter

Cool capture. These crab spiders are well camouflaged. Dramatic shot with quite a nice composition.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2006-04-24 22:31]

Nigel, very nice warm colors. I like composition too.

Great pov and composition.

I like the blurred bg too.

  • Great 
  • lybil Silver Star Critiquer [C: 15 W: 5 N: 13] (4)
  • [2006-05-07 4:51]

Nigel,
Great moment, nice picture and finally poor butterfly
TFS
Lybil

PS: You have a very huge nice collection of butterflies pictures. Bravo. Sincèrement! Bravo (FR :-)

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