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Painted Lady


Painted Lady
Photo Information
Copyright: Heinz Koloska (wallhalla15) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1767 W: 58 N: 3350] (13829)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix S7000, Raynox DCR 150 macro lens
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-07-26 10:13
Viewed: 1030
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Painted Lady

The Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is a well-known colourful butterfly, known in North America as the Cosmopolite.

It is one of the most widespread of all butterflies, found on every continent except Antarctica. In Australia, V. cardui has a limited range around Bunbury, Fremantle and Rottnest Island. However, its close relative, the Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi, sometimes considered a subspecies) ranges over half the continent. Other closely related species are the American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), and the West Coast Lady (Vanessa anabella).

The Painted Lady occurs in any temperate zone, including mountains in the tropics. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates in spring, and sometimes again in autumn. For example, it migrates from North Africa and the Mediterranean to Britain in May and June, but offspring produced there die in the Autumn.

The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of host plants of the families Compositae (especially thistle), Boraginaceae, Malvaceae (especially hollyhocks and dwarf mallow (Malva neglecta), and a number of legumes. The adults drink nectar from a variety of wildflowers and cultivars, more commonly the favored thistle, butterfly bush (Buddleia), asters, Tickseed sunflowers (Bidens) and zinnias.

Distinguishing features
In general, the Painted Lady is a large butterfly (wing span can range from 2 - 2 7/8 inches long) identified by the black and white corners of its mainly orange wings.

The American Painted Lady (V. virginiensis) is most easily distinguishable by its two large eyespots on the ventral side, whereas cardui has four small eyespots. virginiensis also features a small white dot within the orange subapical field. which shows on both the dorsal and ventral sides. A less reliable indicator is the row of spots on the submarginal hindwing; while cardui typically has a row of small black spots, virginiensis often has two larger outer spots with blue pupils. In its summer form, however, cardui also sometimes has small blue pupils, so it is the two larger spots which best distinguish virginiensis.

The West Coast Lady (V. anabella) does not have obvious ventral eyespots. On the dorsal side, anabella lacks the distinctive white dot of virginiensis, and is a deeper, more consistent orange than both virginiensis and cardui; anabella has a fully orange subapical band and leading edge on the forewing, while in the other species these areas are often pale or tinged with white. The submarginal row of hindwing spots in anabella features three or four blue pupils. The two larger pupils in anabella are the inner spots, rather than the outer spots as in virginiensis.

The Australian Painted Lady (V. kershawi) is similar to V. cardui. However, its four ventral eyespots are less clearly defined, and it always sports at least three (often four) blue pupil spots on its dorsal hindwing. A major food plant is Ammobium alatum.

Info from wikipedia.com
peter_stoeckl, horia, carper, elefantino, ellis49, Kaszek, jchemas, Alex99, TAZ, scottevers7, SkyF, coasties, limier, marhowie, RAP, Silke, Christopher_PL has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To wishnugaruda: Danke Sabinewallhalla15 1 07-26 15:06
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2006-07-26 10:40]

Hi Heinz,

Perfect capture of this painted lady against the blue sky,I like this low POV,well done,

Paul

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2173 W: 220 N: 4384] (14904)
  • [2006-07-26 11:01]

Very beautiful shot, Heinz!
I like the low POV...gives a great blue BG to the picture. Also lovely colors and sharpness, with a good lighting and exposure.
Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hallo Heinz,
sehr gelungene Aufnahme aus perfekt gewähltem tiefem Blickwinkel.
Sehr gute Details und lichtdurchflutete Farben,
dynamische Pose, Bild elegant komponiert!
Himmel als Hintergrund ist fast immer die beste Alternative.
Wir Fotografen sollten öfter in die Knie gehen. :)
Herrliches Bild des Sommers!
Mit Dank und besten Grüßen,
Peter

Very good picture and twins with my post earlier this week! Only yours is sharper. Great DOF. I think it could be a bit tighter crop, but that is just my opinion

TFS Greetz Kristies

Hi Heinz, nice close up rich in details and colors.
Good composition and excellent informative note.
10+

Andrea

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2006-07-26 11:22]

ah Heinz a painted lady,
a very nice one of yours, a very good composition,
a nice pov and a good contrast with the blue sky, very nice job.
gr. jaap

Incredible Macro very sharp and good perspective.

hi heinz
c'est tres bien vu de nous proposer ce papillon sur fond de ciel bleu,cela a pour effet de le faire ressortir en couleurs et details.felicitation.
laurent

Hi Heinz,
a very nice POV and composition.
The DOF abd details are good. The butterfly looks a it brigh, but it could be my monitor.
Well done, mf.

Hello Heinz,
The details are nice, clear and sharp.
Good colours, lighting and exposure. DOF is spot on and the POV is good.
Well composed and nicely framed.
Thanks for posting, have a great week

  • Great 
  • Kaszek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 246 W: 58 N: 390] (1451)
  • [2006-07-26 14:03]

Hello Heinz!
Very good macro! Full of details, fantastic colours and great POV.
TFS!

Bist Du für diesen Schuß auf dem Boden gelegen, Heinz? Sieht echt so aus, der Prachtfalter ist so hoch oben und ist so hübsch. Wußte gar nicht, daß die so schöne Punkte an den unteren Flügeln haben.
Vielen Dank für diesen Augenschmauß
Sabien - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2006-07-26 17:51]

Wow, love the low POV, it brings out the large sail of the wing dramatically. Colours are wonderful too. The light was a bit bright (noontime?) but the sun does not come with a built-in dimmer switch, so nothing that could be done about it. Great work!
Gabi

Hi Heinz
Superb picture of this beautiful butterfly.
Great colors, details and great focus.
Excellent DOF and very good BG.
Very good exposure and lighting.
Regards
JC

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3586 W: 143 N: 5690] (18601)
  • [2006-07-27 0:18]

Hi Heinz.
Exclusively excellent close-up shot. You managed to select point of view extremely successfully. Colours and details of this picture are outstanding. BRAVO.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-07-27 1:34]

Wow ! What a lovely Vanessa that you have very well captured ! Composition, colors, exposure, POV, DOF and sharpness are very good. I also appreciate the sky in background. Congratulations my friend and thanks for sharing.

Hi Heinz,
WOW! I love the low POV and the blue sky backround on this shot. Excellent colors and detail in this. VERY NICE!
Scott

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2006-07-27 8:39]

Hallo Heinz,
Den hast Du aber schöne Augen gemacht
damit sie so fotogen Platz genommen hat.
Ein wunderschönes Foto zeigst Du hier,
gefällt mir sehr gut. Die Perspektive ist himmlich ;-).
Sky

Hi Heinz

Have been out of range for internet connection over the last few days. Been in a remote area of New Zealand called The Catlins, so now it is time for me to catch up on what has been happening.

Excellent shot. Well done on everything here. Thanks. :-)

  • Great 
  • limier Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 259 W: 14 N: 235] (1031)
  • [2006-07-27 10:46]

Hi Heinz
Shots to the sky are wonderful because butterflies are more and more beautiful with their natural environment as BG.
Excellent macro and wonderful colors

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2006-07-27 20:29]

Hi Heinz,
Beautiful capture! very nice colours and excellent details, very well composed with great POV.
Thanks for sharing!

Hello Heinz,
Great shot, I like it.
Very sharp and detailed, and you managed the bright sunlight well. Great color and BG also.
Really like the low POV, that shows both the thistle and b-fly nicely :) Excellent note,
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 755 W: 31 N: 20] (5032)
  • [2006-07-29 2:51]

Hi Heinz,
excellent shot, beautiful b-fly, good composition, colours and DOF. I like this work.
Rgs, Aleksander

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-07-29 7:03]

Limpia, clara y armoniosa macro Heinz.
Una nitidez asombrosa del insecto, realzado por el contraste con el fondo celeste.
Adecuado POV y encuadre, conforman una excelente presentación.

Clean, clear and harmonious macro Heinz.
An amazing sharpness of the insect, enhance by the contrast with the celestial sky.
Appropriate POV and frame, they conform an excellent presentation.

Composition: *****
Sharpness: *****
Color: *****
DOF: ****
POV: ****
Note: ****

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
  • [2006-07-31 15:35]

A perfect POV and superb handling of the dof. I love the textures that are revealed through the technical excellence of your capture. TFS
Silke (in unseemly and apologetic haste)

Hi
Very nice shot. I like non usual POV ;-)
TFS

Chris

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