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Speckled wood


Speckled wood
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 509 W: 2 N: 2049] (6428)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-12
Categories: Insects
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-08 21:04
Viewed: 362
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
Today a native butterfly in 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.

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.(Stevens 2005)

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.
boreocypriensis, Jamesp, jusninasirun, haraprasan, eqshannon, jaycee, goutham_ramesh, zulfu, Hil, nglen, gracious, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To gracious: ThanksGert-Paassen 1 07-09 13:26
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1303 W: 0 N: 5097] (15194)
  • [2008-07-08 22:44]

Hi Gert

This is a wonderful shot - great POV, with really good light against a dark OFF BG. Great work.

JAmes

Good Morning Big Bro Gert,
Wonderful capture of this beautiful Speckled wood with superb clarity and framing. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram
PS. Today resting time:)

Hello Gert. This is really good shot at the butterfly. The quality of the detail and sharpness that is flawless. I like the perch and the way the background is being silenced is rather pleasing. Well done and thanks for sharing. Jusni

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 475 W: 11 N: 1334] (4670)
  • [2008-07-09 0:53]

Hello Gerd.
Great light and colours,very clean photo.Very nice butterfly.Bravo.
regards,
Siggi

Hi Gert,
A lovely capture of this beautiful speckled wood butterfly. Lovely composition and very good details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

A fine sharp image and the slight diagonal gives it some look-ability. Very nicely done Gert. Great notes. Worthy post!
Bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1909 W: 8 N: 4974] (16081)
  • [2008-07-09 9:39]

Hi Gert,

This Speckled Wood is beautiful. Wonderful colors and excellent details of the pretty wing markings. I love the pose on the leaves - wonderful composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 0 N: 117] (669)
  • [2008-07-09 11:25]

Hello Gert, great macro shot of a butterfly. TFS. Regards,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 750 W: 13 N: 1442] (4951)
  • [2008-07-09 11:32]

Hi Gert,

Fabulous shot of the speckled Wood Butterfly.
Nicely composed with a great POV and a fine pose.
Nice sharp details and wonderful colours.

Hil

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5959] (22526)
  • [2008-07-09 11:47]

Hi Gert. A good close up of the Speckled Wood. Which you have captured with fine detail and natural colours. a nice pose on the leaf against the dark BG.
TFS.
Nick..

Hello Gert,
You are doing real good in plant and flower shots, so as your butterfly and Damsalfly shots! my compliment for your great contribution in this wonderful site of nature!
a great shot indeed on this one, the darker bg makes the pose of this butterful so outstanding in total sharpness, very good colour and superb details
many thanks
greeting
Tony

Hi Gert, very good, the details are excellent, sharp and well focused. regards h

hello Gert

excellent shot of this butterfly, fine POV, DOF and framing,
i love the shadowed background and the highlighted subject,
excellent sharpness and details of the wonderful patterns, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-07-10 9:34]

Hello Gert

A very good pov and composition.
The details are excellent.
I like the diagonal flow of the shot with excellent dof.The butterfly is wellisolated from the lovely oof bg.
Good colour contrast and lighting.
TFS

Rob

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