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Darth Vader


Darth Vader
Photo Information
Copyright: Catherine Dijon (CatherineD) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 429 W: 15 N: 1867] (6733)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-29
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 100 mm F2.8 Macro USM
Exposure: f/4, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-07-15 13:14
Viewed: 467
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Mylabris syriaca (Klug, 1845)

This beetle from the family Meloidae is spreaded in Mediterrranean region, mostly in Middle East. It can be found on flowers during the spring.
Length: 30mm.
Adult feeds on grasses and plants.

Blister beetles of the family Meloidae, so called for their defensive secretion of a blistering agent, cantharidin. There are approximately 2,500 known species worldwide. Many are conspicuous and some aposematically colored, announcing their toxicity to would-be predators.
Cantharidin is a poisonous chemical causing blistering of the skin. Cantharidin is used medically to remove warts.
Blister beetles are hypermetamorphic, going through several larval stages, the first of which is typically a mobile triungulin. The larvae are insectivorous, mainly attacking bees, though a few feed on grasshopper eggs; while sometimes considered parasitoids, it appears that in general, the meloid larva consumes the immature host along with its provisions, and can often survive on the provisions alone. The adults sometimes feed on flowers and leaves of plants of such diverse families like Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae. (Wikipedia)

Pressing, rubbing, or squashing adult blister beetles may cause them to exude their hemolymph (“blood”), which contains cantharidin. This compound causes blistering of the skin, thus the name blister beetle. Accidental or intentional ingestion of these insects can be fatal (Bugguide).

Lost somewhere in the mountains of Samos Island, I came across some specimens of this big beetle. Something told me that it may be toxic. I kept my distances. I just took a few shot (without tripod) before continuing on a dirty path and finally found my way!
Juyona, cloud, ramthakur, nasokoun, sandpiper2, briGG, jlinaresp, amanengone, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2921 W: 34 N: 8658] (32266)
  • [2009-07-15 13:17]

Hi Catherine. You have named this picture so well. Once again you have taken a first class close up with fine detail and sharp focusing. I like the pose with the beetle at the end of the grass.Your use of the light has given bright colours against the plain BG. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2267 W: 10 N: 2646] (15625)
  • [2009-07-15 13:43]

Sorprendente captura amiga,
detalles y definición magníficas.
saludos Cath.

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 656 W: 0 N: 228] (4952)
  • [2009-07-15 13:50]

Slav Catherine,
Very good close up with excellent sharp and details.Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 71 N: 758] (4689)
  • [2009-07-15 14:33]

Hello Catherine,
You chose very good POV. This beetle is sharp and even look sinisterly.
Regards, Pawel

Besides being an excellent macro picture technically, it is an amusing sight too, Catherine. These Blister Beetles are voracious eaters when the food is available in plenty and they keep on re-cycling it continuously, like in this picture. I shot simiar pictures last year of two of these feeding on rose flowers.
The POV too is daringly different in this shot. We get to see the face and the under-belly of the insect in immaculate detail and also enjoy the colours on its hard outer wings as seen from this perspective.
Overall, this is a first rate nature picture with everything in its right place.
Regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • NotArt (23)
  • [2009-07-15 23:10]

Fun picture

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 440 W: 10 N: 504] (2372)
  • [2009-07-15 23:42]

une tres belle macro image ici!
j'aime la composition de cette photo.
les couleurs sont tres naturelles.
aussi le focus et les detailles sont tres bonnes.

merci.

hello Catherine
a particularly beautiful vertical composition with enjoyable colours, very good output of black,veru fine pose POV and clarity
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 94 N: 5564] (17694)
  • [2009-07-16 0:39]

Hello Catherine,
Fantastic sharp detailed close macro. Beautiful light and colours and an excellent POV and composition. Great OOF BG.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Catherine

Fine shot of this brightly coloured blister beetle. Good sharpness and DOF. Excellent background.

Chris

Cool shot, love the way you managed to get details in the all black face

Well done

  • Great 
  • briGG Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 171 W: 2 N: 272] (1383)
  • [2009-07-16 6:17]

Salut Catherine,

Excellente netteté! Cet insecte se détache très bien sur ton BG uniforme! C'est de toute beauté.
Bravo pour ta photo et merci pour les commentaires y attenant!

brigitte

Ciao Catherine, really like the bad darth Vader of Star Wars, splendid macro with fine details, fantastic colors, excellent sharpness and wonderful blurry BG, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Catherine,

ha, ha ... made me laugh the title of the photo. It is right! this insect imitates perfection Lord Vader!

Excellent level of detail, very good composition.

The color of the insect is superb, with a precise ligth.

Beautiful DOF!

Regards & TFS!

Jesús

Bonsoir Catherine.

C'est toujours un plaisir de voir vos publications photographiques accompagnées de notes pleines de vie et de connaissance.

Bravo pour cette réalisation de Mylabris syriaca. Très belles netteté et profondeur de champs nous offrant une multitude de détails, avec des couleurs réalistes et des contrastes agréables. Composition montante, "dynamique", donnant tout son mouvement à la photographie et belle mise en page.

Bravo et merci. Bonne soirée.

A bientôt.

Philippe

Good one!

Hallo Catherine
Stunning capture of this beetle against broken stem of some kind of plant. Focus, sharpness and composition is great. The black of the body and the body hairs is brought across beautifully. It was a great pleasure to look at this lovely beetle with its clear and prominent features. The neutral background highlights the detail to a great extent. Thanks for sharing. Best regards
Anna

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