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Queen of Spain Fritillary


Queen of Spain Fritillary
Photo Information
Copyright: Paras Bhalla (parasbhalla) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 317 W: 0 N: 814] (3182)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-15
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC P150
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-01 1:33
Viewed: 182
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Undermentioned information on "Queen of Spain Fritillary" from http://www.eurobutterflies.com/species_pages/lathonia.htm


Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Issoria
Species: I. lathonia

Binomial name
Issoria lathonia (Linnaeus, 1758)


Distribution

North Africa and Europe, absent from the UK and central and northern Scandinavia. A very rare immigrant to S England but in some "years of abundance" records may total 30 or 40. Becoming temporarily resident occasionally, a colony may last several years (e.g. Minesmere, SE England in the early 2000s).

Identification

The large dominating silvery spots on the underside hindwing are distinctive. Similar spots also appear on the forewing apex, a unique feature. Spring brood butterflies are said to have greenish dusting around the wing edges and basally. They are also smaller than the summer brood. The butterfly can often be differentiated on the wing by the distinctive wing shape - there is a bulge at the apex which gives a kink in the outer margin unlike any of the other fritillaries which are smoothly curving.

Flight time

Effectively all year in the right places and with the right temperatures. The 2007 season has started very early with sightings in early February in warmish (8°C) but sunny conditions. Certainly these temperatures are not normal in Switzerland at this time of year, but the butterflies were ready to fly in good numbers.

Habitat

Hot dry places, often amongst cultivation. In Switzerland it is associated strongly, but by no means exclusively, with vineyards at low levels in the Valais.

Behaviour

A migrant, more northerly populations being reinforced annually by migration from the south.
Mikolaj, siggi, maurydv, boreocypriensis, horias, cirano, goldyrs, Noisette, anel has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Paras! Nice picture, very nice colours, good contrast and sharp. Very good capture. Ideal frame. Very interesting info. Well done!

Ciao Paras. Special light and playing of coluors in trasparency. Nice compo.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 409 W: 0 N: 1022] (5492)
  • [2009-10-01 4:17]

Very nice colors and details!

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1376 W: 56 N: 4736] (16296)
  • [2009-10-01 4:22]

Hello Paras,
The colors are outstanding in this light. Some fairly strong sunlight that you handled well in tour exposure. The detail and DOF are superb.
Best regards Siggi

Hello Paras,
a wonderful capture of the Queen of Spain Fritillary, very good sharpness and brilliant colours, excellent POV and composition
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

hello Paras
very nice composition with great sharpness and beautiful colours
greeting lou

Namastay Paras,

An expertly taken macro of a pretty Queen of Spain Fritillary from fine POV with nice composition and details.
TFS and cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 387 W: 59 N: 854] (3948)
  • [2009-10-01 11:15]

Waw...Paras...wonderful colors, great capture this Queen of Spain Fritillary !!!
Congratulation my friend!
Horia

Ciao Paras, superb macro with splendid latonia, fantastic colors, fine details, great light and superb sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 656 W: 0 N: 228] (4946)
  • [2009-10-01 15:51]

Slav Paras,
A nice capture of this butterfly in high light.Nice colors and POV.TFS.
Regards
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2575] (9083)
  • [2009-10-02 0:04]

Hi Paras,
you have been capturing wonderful butterflies in its beautiful details, colours and glow. such an exciting view seeing this one in its pose and great light.

regards,
Foozi

A superb shot, Paras...YOu've outdone yourself with this one!
Simply mind blowing!
Cheers!
Goldy

Hello Paras
great shot, very illuminated and with fantastic colors, i like the pose of this Queen of Spain Fritillary taken with superb sharpness and nice environment
Have a great WE
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1723 W: 0 N: 3919] (15742)
  • [2009-10-03 5:55]

Hello Paras,
Very vivid and well composed picture of this interesting butterfly. I like the pose of Issoria lathonia on these contrasting yellow flowers. I also like the natural background.
I wish you a nice weekend
Kind regards
Anne

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