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Speckled wood


Speckled wood
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1206 W: 2 N: 4555] (13780)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-14
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/8, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-17 22:31
Viewed: 550
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
Today a native butterfly from europe.

Latin name - Pararge aegeria

The Speckled Wood is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland throughout much of Europe. In Northern and Eastern Europe where subspecies P. a. tircis occurs it is brown with pale yellow or cream spots and darker upperwing eyespots. In southwestern Europe the subspecies P. a. aegeria has a colour which is more orange in the background; the hindwing underside eyespots are reddish brown rather than black or dark gray. The two forms gradually intergrade into each other. The speckled wood also occurs in North Africa and on the Atlantic island of Madeira. Molecular studies (Weingarter, Wahlberg & Nylin, 2006) suggest that the African and Madeiran populations are closely related and distinct from European populations of both subspecies, suggesting that Madeira was colonized from Africa and that the African population has a long history of isolation from European populations.

Females have brighter and more distinct markings than males. The wingspan of both males and females is 4 - 4.5 cm, although males tend to be slightly smaller than females. Males are highly territorial and will defend their territory against intruding males. For finding females, there exist 2 basic strategies: Some males will vigorously defend a perch and the immediate surroundings, waiting for females to pass by. Others will patrol a larger territory.

Males have either 3 or 4 upper hindwing eyespots. The fourth spot shows only in flight. It appears that the 4-spotted morph tends towards patrolling behaviour to finds mates. This agrees with the probable function of the eyespots to entice predators like birds to aim for the wing margin (which may be damaged without much affecting the butterfly) father than the body. On the other hand, habitat is apparently a major factor influencing mate-finding strategy: perching behavior is more common in males of conifer woodland, whereas males of meadows tend towards patrolling behavior.

The caterpillar is green with a short, forked tail and feeds on various species of grass including Yorkshire Fog. The chrysalis (pupa) is green or dark brown. The species is unique in its ability to overwinter in two totally separated developmental stages, as pupae or as half-grown larvae. This leads to a complicated pattern of several adult flights per year.
Jamesp, haraprasan, eqshannon, jaycee, Juyona, Miss_Piggy, uleko has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-07-17 22:36]

Hi Gert

A lovely composition - great sharp details and great isolation from the BG. Good colour too. Well seen and captured.

James

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4716] (16222)
  • [2008-07-17 22:52]

Hello Gerd,
Excellent exposure and focus on capturing this beautiful butterfly!
total sharpness, perfect details and wonderful colour
very well composed and presented with a good notes
Regards Siggi
cheers
Tony

Hello Gert

This is a very 'natural' picture. The colors are subdued and realistic and you have a nice POV on this one.

TFS
Ravi

Hi Gert,
A lovely capture of this beautiful speckled wood. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

It almost makes me dizzy looking at it...seriously it does... so many lines that appear to overlap and come back on each other. Patterns in organic energy! Wu-Li in Chinese! Very good!
bob

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 71 N: 758] (4689)
  • [2008-07-18 6:00]

Hi Gert,
I think that this picture is too piebald. There is to much place for flowers. Species is interesting and good present.
Regards, Pawel

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-07-18 9:42]

Hi Gert,

Another beautiful butterfly with wonderful rich colors and exquisite markings. As always the details are superb. I love those pink flowers - they create a busy settting but a beautiful one. A perfect composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2262 W: 10 N: 2630] (15565)
  • [2008-07-18 13:36]

Hola Gert,
interesante trabajo,
precioso pov. y color...
buen encuadre.
saludos

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-07-18 19:48]

Hello Gert

A super open wing capture of this little Speckled Wood Butterfly.
The shot is well composed ,the focus is very good with excellent detail.
Very good POV and DOF.
Well done.
TFS

Rob

Hallo Gert
Lately you have placed some great butterfly images and this Speckled Wood is no exception. The colours of the butterfly strongly remind me of the autumn. The circled patterns on the wings are really eye-catching and the combination of brown, yellow, black and white is a great and a lovely match. I like the furry body, which it is well displayed.
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 162 N: 949] (2787)
  • [2008-07-19 22:30]

Hello Gert,
I like the Speckled Wood that is not very common here. You've got an excellent capture showing its beautiful wing details very clearly. A nice flower too. I think I would have shown it diagonally myself but this looks quite nice and 'different'!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

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