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CAMOUFLAGED HUNTER


CAMOUFLAGED HUNTER
Photo Information
Copyright: Radomir Jaskula (cicindela) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1307 W: 0 N: 2925] (8635)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-26
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400, 35-105 mm 1:4,5-5,6, @ ISO 50
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Insects' World, Insects around the world, Tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) of Europe, Tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) of the world, Insects (Insecta) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-12 16:46
Viewed: 1340
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello my Friends!
The "season of practices with students" fortunatelly almost ended for me so it is a little more time to present some pictures from all these interesting regions I visited last weeks :>

Today another member of my favourite insect group - tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) - Cicindela (Cicindela) sylvatica sylvatica Linnaeus, 1758.

This is the biggest tiger beetle species of this genus known from Europe (15-22mm). It is known from great part of Europe except Balkan Peninsula (records from this region need to be confirmed), Russian Asia, and some regions of Turkey. Presently it is divided into 3 subspecies:
- rubsescens - Iberian Peninsula
- fasciatopinctata - Turkey
- sylvatica - from N and C Europe and Russia

It prefers forest areas, where it can be found mainly on sandy roads and other similar habitats. It can be easy recognized because of brown colouration and brown-black labrum (the only Cicindelidae species in Europe with such colour of labrum, in others labrum in white or yellow).

Because this is the fourth part of my "tiger beetle saga" (for the earlier 3 please see here) now some continuation about Cicindelidae in general :>

Why do tiger beetles need a camouflage?

Most tiger beetle species are active during day hours, and as active predators need to be "invisible" for their preys. On the other hand, like many other insects they are an importnat food sourse for different species of birds, lizards and other insects (like dragonflies of robberflies), so criptic colouration of their bodies is very helfull both in hunting for preys and evasion against predators.


Do Cicindelidae beetles use body colouration for something more?

The answer is really simple: no - except some cases observed in Neotropical species belonging to genus Oxygonia where sexual dimorphism in colouration can be found.


Is body colouration the only type of strategy against predators in these beetles?

The answer is of course: no. Many species use "chemical weapon" (like in bombardier beetles it is producing in beetle's abdomen), in some Batesian or Muellerian mimicry to different noxious species of insects was noted (mainly to beetles family Carabidae, but sometimes even to other tiger beetle species or - like in genus Peridexia - to pompilid wasp).
Arboreal tropical species from genera Pogonostoma and Tricondyla can rolling up and falling to the forest floor to espace againts predators. In others, like in South American Odontocheila aggregations up to 50-70 individuals is observed to reduce attacks of enemies in the night period. Some cases of stridulation as a "secret weapon" are also known in few species.

This specimen was "hunted" in Brudzenskie Jary Nature Reserve, Brudzenski Landscape Park.
Please believe me, it was not easy to see this specimen on the forest sandy road ;>
Kaszek, LordPotty, eqshannon, JoseMiguel, pvs, uleko, SkyF, JORAPAVI, ramthakur, ellis49, cataclysta, delic has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To delic: Flashcicindela 1 06-17 16:52
To romuszka: lampa blyskowacicindela 1 06-16 07:54
To ramthakur: pseudonymcicindela 2 06-14 09:06
To uleko: woodland tiger beetlecicindela 1 06-13 05:54
To jcoowanitwong: natural habitatscicindela 1 06-13 05:52
To pvs: uncommoncicindela 1 06-13 05:49
To JoseMiguel: black-white or brown-yellow :)cicindela 1 06-13 05:46
To eqshannon: many thankscicindela 1 06-13 05:44
To LordPotty: darker tiger beetlecicindela 1 06-12 19:02
To Kaszek: pseudonim :)cicindela 1 06-12 18:35
To batu: camouflagecicindela 1 06-12 17:00
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1059 W: 290 N: 3946] (13340)
  • [2007-06-12 16:55]
  • [+]

Hello Radomir,
really adapted to its environment, well camouflaged and hardly seen when passing by. Neverthelesss, you discovered the specimen and succeeded to take a sharp close-up picture. Besides sharpness of the picture its attractivity is that the beetle really does not attract the eye although it has beautiful colour patterns and nice iridescent surfaces.
Best wishes, Peter

Czesc Radek!
Czyzbys byl podobny do tego zwierza i stad Twoj pseudonim na TN? ;)
Ostro, czysto, wyraznie.
Swietna robota!
Pozdrawiam

Well spotted Radomir.
This is an excellent capture of the Tiger Beetle.
Tack sharp details and great exposure.
It looks a lot darker than the Tiger beetles we get here in New Zealand.
Good work.
Cheers,Steve

Now you have it down to a science in this presentation. Very informative and well though tout. I notice you take your time and do not post just any what-not. You really do some thinking before you post. Good Job.

Bob Pacific NW Wilderness

Hi Radomir,
An excellent capture of this tiger beetle!
I like so much the clar and sharp details got with the help of the fill flash used.
This may be almost a black and white insect, only the slight coloration on the thin part of the legs make it the difference.
A very well balanced composition.
Congatulations and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2007-06-13 1:53]
  • [+]

Hi Radomir,

A nice capture of this beetle unfamiliair to me,you can indeed say it is well camouflaged in the dark BG,anyway you captured it with good detail and colors,tfs

Paul

Hello Radomir,
Very nice macro picture. The image is very sharp and well exposed. Great that you spotted this Tiger Beetle in its natural habitat. TFS,
JC

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2007-06-13 4:57]
  • [+]

Hello Radomir,
Great capture of this very impressive Tiger Beetle. Very interesting and sharp details and nice colours. A very fine composition and thanks for the interesting note.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hola Radomir,
Interesante imagen, con gran definición mostrandonos todos los detalles, excelente la luz y bonito el encuadre, TFS. Saludos
José Ramón

So the pseudonym cicindela you have adopted for TN comes from the name of this Beetle, Radomir :-).
I can't say "How appropriate!" unless you tell me why you chose it.
Coming to the picture, I must admit that this is the finest beetle picture I have ever seen on TN. Firstly, because it is technically matchless. Couldn't think of a better picture than that in terms of whatever is valued of utmost importance in macro imaging.
Secondly, the picture actually proves how this insect gets really assimilated into the surroundings -- the master of camouflage, indeed.
As usual, it is always fun to read your interesting and informative notes.
Well done and TFS.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2007-06-14 7:38]

Hello Radomir,
looks like a fierce warrior, sure adapted well to its environment.
Great capture with an excellent DOF, the sharpness and details are very nice.
Sky

Hi Radomir,
a verty nice shot of this fast friend, I try to get a
decent shot of the Green Tiger beetle but they are too fast;-)
The details are very good and the DOF as well.
I really like the low POV.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • OzBY Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 182 W: 2 N: 312] (1085)
  • [2007-06-14 10:25]

Hello Radomir,

Great picture of this beetle.
Great color, DOF and sharpness.

Oz

Czesc Radziu
Zdjecia sa tu wazne ale jak widac nie najwazniejsze. W tym wypadku na pierwszy plan musze postawic rewelacyjna notke. Z drugiej strony fotki trzyszczy to jest ciezki kawalek chleba :-) I rzeczywiscie to jest swietnie pokazany zakamuflowany trzyszcz. Moze swiaytlo lampy bylo troche za ostre. Ale ja czesto mam problemy z ocena zdjec zrobionych z lampa. Zawsze cos mi sie nie zgadza :-)
Pozdrawaim
Krzys

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2007-06-14 13:45]

Hallo Radomir , Fantastic sharpnes and camouflage good colours pov bg ,insect never seen before , good job ,tfs Greetings Teunie
.

Witaj Radomir!
Chcialam dorzucic kilka slow do tych wszystkich zachwytow. Chrzaszcz jest bardzo ostry. Kolory naturalne, kadr mily dla oka. Jesli chodzi o robaczki to jestem za lampa. W koncu chcemy zobaczyc dokladnie jak jest zbudowany.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie - Roma

P.S. Dzieki za namiary do stron w Twoim wstepie

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 449 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-06-17 16:47]
  • [+]

Hello Radomir,
More classroom material from your labwork, I see. Excellent lecture note accompanied by a terrific photo. Very sharp and well lit. Must have used flash, no?
Best wishes,
Hakan

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