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Holly blue


Holly blue
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1217 W: 2 N: 4593] (13888)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-09
Categories: Insects
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-07-03 21:25
Viewed: 641
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
Today another butterfly.its a female from the Holly blue.

Latin name - Celastrina argiolus

Holly Blue
Celastrina argiolus

Distribution: North Africa and Europe except N UK and N Scandinavia. Currently expanding northwards, in the UK at least.

Identification: Fairly distinctive with small blue points on an shiny silvery blue underside ground colour. Resembles the Small and Short Tailed Blues but the silver- blue underside is unique to C. argiolus. The silvery blue undersides are noticeable distinct in flight. Its habit of flying around bushes is also an aid to identification.

There is marked sexual dimorphism. The male has a fine black border on the upperside, in the female this is very broad. Broadness in the female varies from location to location and is generally greater in the summer broods. These broad borders are clearly visible in flight.

Flight time: Flies in two or three broods. One of the first butterflies to emerge in spring it can be found in April/early June, July/August and then, in lower numbers, September/October. Amazingly I found a perfect male on 20th January 2007 in Switzerland following exceptionally warm December and January. I don't think he would have had much chance of finding a mate so far out of season.

Habitat: Diverse but usually bushy or woodland areas. Often in gardens. Larvae are polyphagous taking diverse plants, usually bushes. The larvae eat the developing flowers or seeds. In the UK at least there is seasonal preference for larval food plant - Holly being preferred in spring and Ivy in the summer.

Behaviour: Unusually for the blues, it is typically seen flying around shrubs, bushes and trees, rather than around grass and flowers. It rarely opens its wings when at rest, being slightly more likely to do so in cooler conditions.
gracious, Jamesp, PaulH, Miss_Piggy, haraprasan, jaycee, nglen, siggi, boreocypriensis, zulfu, xTauruSx, SelenE, goldyrs has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To gerbilratz: ThanksGert-Paassen 1 07-04 15:52
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Gert,
I compliment for this wonderful posting of Holly Blue!
you got the best exposure and focus in this image and the soft and gentle lighting makes it looks so beautiful with the flowers!
the image is sharp with good colour and details
I loved it a lot
cheers
tony

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16524)
  • [2008-07-03 23:28]

Hi Gert

A lovely composition - the detail is superb throughout and I really like the lighting here.

James

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 71 N: 758] (4689)
  • [2008-07-03 23:44]

Hello Gert,
Good shot, maybe colour BG don't suit to colour of this butterfly however lowers are very nice.
Regards, Pawel

Hi Gert,
lucky to get this one with fully open wings, you got all the details there to see. wish it could have been little closure to reduce the dark background. the flowers are very beautiful. a vertical frame would have been better here. did workshop to make the blue more prominent. hope you don't mind.TFS.
nagraj.v

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1112 W: 23 N: 3660] (13089)
  • [2008-07-04 3:36]

Hi Gert,
excellent DOF nad a fine, sharp focus. Details are very good and the setting beautiful. Have a great wekend my friend,
Paul

Hello Gert,

Sorry no time, only marking.
Mariki

Hallo Gert
This is one of those images that have that certain attraction to the eye. This is in my opinion also a PPPP- Pretty perfect picture photo. The type that one would like to print, frame and hang onto your wall. The flower as your background is super, and it highlight the dark colour of this lovely butterfly to a great extent. I enjoyed this one. Thanks for this contribution.
Best Regards
Anna

Hi Gert,
A lovely capture of this beautiful blue butterfly with open wings. Superb details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-07-04 9:23]

Hi Gert,

This is beautiful! The shape and colors of this Holly Blue are so unusual and lovely especially against those gorgeous flowers. The butterfly is in a perfect position and you show it off in fine detail. An absolute delight for the eye.

Jane

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2921 W: 34 N: 8658] (32266)
  • [2008-07-04 13:24]

Hi gert. This to me is a vey good close up of his beautiful butterfly. I like its clours and markings which you have captured so well. with fine detail a good top view. well done tFs.
Nick..
Have a nice Weekend.

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1382 W: 56 N: 4768] (16394)
  • [2008-07-04 14:57]

Hello Gerd,
Wonderful and interesting shot for this superb butterfly ! Composition, colors, details and sharpness are great !
Siggi

Hi Gert

She is indeed another Dutch beauty
Excellent sharpness
Excellent composition on the flower
Good DOF

Chris

Hi Gert, this is your best yet... just a perfect image..... wonderful and a favourite... regards h

Ha Gert,

Prachtige opname van deze Celastrina argiolus
scherpte, kleur, POV en DOF zijn perfect
uitstekende belichting
mooie centrale compo

TFS Thijs

Hi Big Bro Gert,
perfectly focused and detailed macro capture of this holly blue! TFS. Cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1066 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2008-07-05 2:12]

Hi Gert
Perfect close-up shot in all aspects. TFS. G's,
Mehmet

Hello Gert, another perfect macro shot. TFS. Regards,
Deniz

  • Great 
  • pvb Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 376 W: 16 N: 495] (1861)
  • [2008-07-05 7:51]

Hi Gert,
Mijn complimenten voor deze foto. Ik weet niet precies wat het is of waar het door komt, maar voor mij gaat er van deze foto een bepaalde rust uit. Prachtige scherpte en mooie kleuren
Paula

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2008-07-05 8:31]

Hi Gert,
The butterfly looks very good on that flower. Good POV, details and composition.
TFS
Greetings,
Selen

Superb shot, Gert!I love the exposure and the lighting!Very well done!
Goldy

Hello Gert,
well composed....nice capture with
great details and BG

best sERGIO

Gee... this one is gorgeous too. I really like your work, Gert.

TFS
Evelynn : )

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