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Lycaena tityrus
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Polyommatus icarus. Habitats for this species include lowland meadows and hillsides up to an altitude of about 2000 meters. The caterpillar has a black head and the bode is bright green with a darker line down the back and a whiteish stripe along each side. It feeds on the flowers and foliage of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), rest harrow (Ononis spinosa), clover (Trifolium) and related plants. Caterpillars of the autumn brood hibernate through the winter. Pupation takes place at the base of the foodplant under a few strands of silk. Butterflies may be found from April to September. In the north only one brood but further south up to three broods a year.
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Argus, thank for correction
Lycaena tityrus
It flies from northern Spain across all of Europe to Poland and Greece except Scandinavia and the UK. It never seems to be very common but the individuals that are present are usually rather conspicuous, flying rapidly about and feeding avidly at flowers. Often they it in the centre of flowers without feeding, presumably this offers them a little more warmth but I would have thought at the expense of camouflage.
The males are indeed sooty - hardly any orange on the uppersides at all. The high alpine subspecies, subalpinus, looses all upperside orange even in the females. This subspecies appears to be single brooded, those of lower altitudes are multiple brooded. |
Argus, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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- Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 147 N: 7948]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(24747) - [2008-05-23 10:19]
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Hello Marx,
An excellent sharp macro not of the Common blue but of a male Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus), a much rarer butterfly than the common blue that is not at all blue
Excellent lighting, POVand details.
TFS,
Regards, Ivan
Excellent macro, Marx.
The light on the beautiful wing is superb.
Well composed..
TFS
Annick
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- EOSF1
(23113)
- [2008-06-04 6:08]
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Beautiful shot Marx, I love the dark background and sharp details, well done, thanks!
Mario
