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Orange tip


Orange tip
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1219 W: 2 N: 4605] (13922)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-02
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/8, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-09-04 23:51
Viewed: 275
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
Today an butterfly picture and tomorrow I place an flower in all her beauty.
I hope you like this one, also taken on the Veluwe nearby palace t'Loo on my first holiday this year.
Thanks for looking and critique.

Latin name - Anthocharis cardamines

The Orange-tip is a true sign of spring, being one of the first species seen that has not overwintered as an adult.

The male and female of this species are very different in appearance. The more-conspicuous male has orange tips to the forewings, that gives this butterfly its name. The orange tips are absent in the female and, as a result, the female is often mistaken for one of the other whites, especially the Green-veined White and Small White.

This butterfly is found throughout England, Wales and Ireland, but is somewhat-local further north and especially in Scotland. In most regions this butterfly does not form discrete colonies and wanders in every direction as it flies along hedgerows and woodland margins looking for a mate, nectar sources or foodplants. More northerly colonies are more compact and also more restricted in their movements.

There is a single brood each year, with adults flying from the beginning of April, through May and into June. In exceptionally early years a small second brood may appear.

Males are more-often encountered than females, largely due to the more-visible orange splashes seen as the male butterfly flits along. It is believed that the orange tips of the male are an example of warning colouration, indicating that the butterfly is not particularly palatable to predators – a result of mustard oils that have accumulated in the body from the larval foodplant. The male is also the more-active of the two sexes as it searches out a mate and can be seen flying for long periods without ever stopping to rest or nectar. The female, on the other hand, is usually more concerned with egg-laying and, as a consequence, is often found in the vicinity of foodplants. Her more-secretive behaviour may also explain why she does not exhibit the warning colouration present in the male.


Both sexes have an amazing underside pattern of green blotches formed by a combination of yellow and black scales. When at rest on a flowerhead of the foodplant this butterfly so well camouflaged that an adult resting just a few feet away can easily be missed.


When searching out suitable plants on which to lay, the female will initially locate a plant by sight before alighting on the plant and tasting it with her feet. If the plant is suitable, a single egg is laid on a flower stalk. Eggs are laid singly for good reason – the larvae are cannibalistic. As a result, it is uncommon to find more than one egg per plant and it is believed that the female is able to detect eggs that have already been laid.
rousettus, maurydv, cirano, roges, horias, goatman04, cicindela, nglen, anemone, boreocypriensis, CeltickRanger, jaycee has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

good morning Gert
what a great macro-shot for very beautiful Orange-tip on white flowers. exposure, sharp details, dark BG and composition wonderful.
the species present in Turkiye, but I have not captured it with a good shot. I hope next spring.
thanks for sharing this beauty with good notes
have a nice weekend
Ahmet

Hi Gert,

Beautiful macro capture of the butterfly 'in action'! Very well seen shot with great sharpness and from a well chosen POV. The shallow DOF works great here. The colors are very natural and the flowers being one of the highlight of the capture. I like the contrast between the light colored butterfly and the dark BG. Great work!

thanks and kind regards,
Paras Bhalla

Hello Gert,
what a wonderful macro shot of Anthocharis cardamines, excellent POV and DOF, superb sharpness, a great contrast and lighting with this dark BG, marvellous colours, i like this nice composition with the regal pose of the butterfly on this splendid white flower.
TFS
Have a good weekend
Maurizio

Hello Gert,

Wonderful macro shot with excellent contrast and sharpness. The DOF is also remarkable. The dark background played a important role too. Great capture !!!

Regards,
Partha.

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1343 W: 0 N: 2585] (9117)
  • [2009-09-05 3:08]

Hi Gert,
WOW...this is indeed a very splashing and wonderful shot of the orange tip. The dark background really make the butter and the flower very outstanding.Well composed in a very skillful manner.

Regards,
Foozi

Slav Gert,
A very nice macro shot of the butterfly on lovely little flower.TFS.
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 620 W: 0 N: 561] (3236)
  • [2009-09-05 3:25]

Hi Gert,
Prachtig beeld! Zeer succesvol met een aantal mooie kleuren. Een prachtige macro.
Ik stelde gisteren en ving ik mijn laatste vlinder.
Een leuke dag,
Adrian

Gert,
Lovely colored capture, very sharp, good POV,BG,
Horia

Hello Gert,

This is an excellent macro capture with brilliant colors, sharpness & details. Very well done with great POV, pose & BG.

TFS & regards

Umar

Hello Gert!
I mus say that your last macropicture are really great! Wonderful clarity, very good saturation, sharpness and DOF. It is really nice to watch pictures like this and these two with flowers presented by you last time.
Bravo, and I hope to see much more so beautiful photos from you soon :)
All the best,
Radomir

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2924 W: 34 N: 8671] (32310)
  • [2009-09-05 10:31]

Hi Gert. You are a master with the flowers but today we have both , a beautiful flower along with the orange tip butterfly. Taken with fine detail and pastel colours. Good use of the light on the orange tip. Well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Gert

Excellent close-up of this orange tip butterfly with nice composition.
TFS.
Özgür

  •      
  • Alutka Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 132 W: 42 N: 377] (1590)
  • [2009-09-05 11:18]

Witaj,
Very beautiful capture of this butterfly on the white flower. It stands out very nicely against the black background. An excellent piece of work, congratulations.
TFS
Alina

Hi Big Bro Gert,

A superb macro capture f this pretty orange tip perched on a tip of another beauty with neat details, great contrasting BG!
TFS and have a nice night!
Cheers,

Bayram

hello Gert

very beautiful photo with the luminous foreground
and the dark backround, with fine POV appropriate framing,
fine focus great sharpness and details, specially details
of the white colours of the flower petals, TFS

Asbed

Hello Gert
you have taken a very good shot of this Orange Tip, good lighting on the white flowers, great contrast with the black BG
excellent composition and POV
Have a nice sunday

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-09-05 17:27]

Hi Gert,

Not only a very beautiful Orange Tip but a very pretty flower as well. The combination is marvelous. The markings of the wing are so intricate and lovely. You show them with wonderful colors and sharp details. The subjects show off so well against the dark background. A beautiful vertical composition.

Jane

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