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female "Common Blue"


female
Photo Information
Copyright: Paras Bhalla (parasbhalla) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 324 W: 0 N: 826] (3258)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-02
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC P150
Exposure: f/5.2, 1/80 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-14 9:14
Viewed: 202
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
General Information on "Common Blue" from WiKiPedia:

The Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.

Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Tribe: Polyommatini
Genus: Polyommatus
Species: P. icarus

Binomial name Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775)


Appearance, behaviour and distribution:

Male uppersides are an iridescent lilac blue with a thin black border. Females are brown with a row of red spots along the edges. They usually have some blue at the base of the wings and, especially in Ireland and Scotland, are mostly blue but always have the red spots. Undersides have a greyish ground colour in the males and more brownish in the females. Both sexes have a row of red spots along the edge of the hindwings (extending onto the forewings though generally fainter, particularly in the males where they are sometimes missing altogether). There are about a dozen black centered white spots on the hind wings, nine on the forwings. The white fringe on the outer edge of the wings is not crossed with black lines as it is in the Chalkhill and Adonis Blues, an important difference when separating these species, particularly the females.

It is Britain's (and probably Europe's) most common and most widespread blue, found as far north as Orkney and on most of the Outer Hebrides. Males are often very obvious as they defend territories against rivals and search out the more reclusive females. A range of grassland habitats are used: meadows, coastal dunes, woodland clearings and also many man made habitats, anywhere where their food plants are found.
It is widespread in Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia.

Recently, Polyommatus icarus was discovered in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada by Ara Sarafian. An amateur entomologist, he had been observing the butterfly from 2005 to 2008. He contacted the Canadian National Collection of Insects in Ottawa where the butterfly was identified as P. icarus, a new alien butterfly to Canada and North America. The butterfly seems to be well established and is extending its range from year to year (Source: http://www.entsocont.com/Newsletter_Dec_2007.pdf).

Lifecycle and food plants:

The main food plant on most sites is Bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Others used include Black Medick Medicago lupulina, Common Restharrow Ononis repens, White Clover Trifolium repens and Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium. Eggs are laid singly on young shoots of their food plants.

The caterpillar is small, pale green with yellow stripes and as usual with lycid larvae rather slug-like. Hibernation occurs as a half grown larvae. They are attractive to ants but not as much as some other species of blues. The chrysalis is olive green/brown and formed on the ground where it is attended by ants which will often take it into their nests. The larvae creates a substance called honey dew, which the ants eat while the butterfly lives in the ant hill. In the south of Britain there are two broods a year flying in May and June and again in August and September. Northern England has one brood flying between June and September. In a long warm year there is sometimes a partial third brood in the south flying into October.

(Source of above mentioned information: WiKiPedia)
siggi, roges, nglen, cirano, Gert-Paassen, mamabear, boreocypriensis, bahadir, maurydv, horias has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1382 W: 56 N: 4768] (16394)
  • [2009-10-14 9:51]

Hello Paras.
Tiny butterfly and lila flowers - it always work very well together. Good macro. Sunny picture.
Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 614 W: 0 N: 557] (3214)
  • [2009-10-14 9:57]

Hi Para,
What superb macro. Very beautiful colors with exceptional detail.
Have a pleasant evening,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2921 W: 34 N: 8658] (32266)
  • [2009-10-14 10:10]

Hi Paras. This is a very colourful picture which show up the blue in the butterfly so well. Which you have taken with fine detai land natural colours. i like the side POV so we can see the wing markings. well taken TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 656 W: 0 N: 228] (4952)
  • [2009-10-14 10:13]

Slav Paras,
Very nice macro of the female common blue on the beautiful flowers.Beutiful colors and great details.Thanks for sharing and regards my friend.
Dūrzan

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 414 W: 0 N: 1030] (5550)
  • [2009-10-14 11:07]

Hello Paras!
Excellent macro of this smole butterfly, great details and colors, very good sharpness! I live my country for some days, by!

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-10-14 11:09]

Woow Paras,colors like that in the shadow are very difficult! What a class work,and what a impressive sharpness,not easy too whit the butterfly in this position.A great pic from a great photographer,colors always fantastics!!Have a good night,LUCIANO

Hi Paras,
Wonderful macro shot with amazing colors and nice details. Gorgeous composition!
Best wishes,
Alina

Hello Paras,

a nice composition from this butterfly with good pov and dof.
Fine colours.

Gert

Namastay Bhaijaan Paras,

Stunningly beautiful and impeccable close-up capture of this a bit worn-out but still beautiful common blue from great POV with delightful composition.
TFS and have a nice night MF!
Cheers,

Bayram
ps.sorry i finished my daily reserved pnts! Hope you do not mind this! However i can give freely so many smiles to this impeccable shot:):):):):) -i am sure you know my heartfelty!

Hello Paras, excellent macro of this common butterfly.
Nice composition, details and colours.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

Hello Paras,
a very beautiful picture of the Common Blue, superb sharpness and good colours, a very pleasing composition with marvellous light.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Ciao Paras. Indeed an interesting and well done work of light. Beautiful bright natural colours and nice compo.

Roberto

Paras
Wonderful common blue in the light of autumn!
Great details and colors.
Congratulation!
Horia

Ciao Paras, wonderful composition with lovely little butterfly on a beautiful flower, excellent sharpness, good natural colors and splendid details, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Paras,

Excellent details in this little beauty!
The silky-crisp texture in the wings is very attractive, as is the sharp fine details in the pattern...
Accurate DoF isolates the subject well!

Greetings,
Pablo -

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