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Six-Winged Darter


Six-Winged Darter
Photo Information
Copyright: Grzegorz Wieczorek (red45) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 400D, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Pictured Symbolic Qualities of Sun [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-03-31 13:04
Viewed: 635
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi Folks!

I'm really proud to present you this picture, because this specie is very rare. Sympetrum sepenni - Six-winged Darter belongs to dragonflies and was discovered quite lately. This is first known specie of dragonfly which is nocturnal. Big, black eyes can receive infra red waves, so Sympetrum sepenni don't see colours, but rather movement and 'heat' of its prey. It probably looks similiar like in sf movie 'Predator'. This dragonfly hunts mostly for moths and other insects flying during night. There is also interesting but still unsubstantianted theory that this insect can hunt in large flocks for larger animals like birds or bats. There is still no proof that these dragonflies can communicate and coordinate during theirs larger scale operations. Pair of additional wings are used not only to improve flying skills, but also to attract females. During mating season third pair of wings change colour to very intense red/black. There is many more interesting facts about this specie, but most of them still needs more research.

Forgive me quality of this picture - it was taken during very windy night with full moon. I was searching for some specie of nocturnal frogs and surprisingly founded this d-fly. It was really fruitfull night!
nglen, Hormon_Manyer, Luis52, eqshannon, Argus, Seabird, maurydv, oanaotilia has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To horia: D-fliesred45 1 04-17 00:14
New SpeciesArgus 1 03-31 22:25
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2924 W: 34 N: 8671] (32310)
  • [2009-03-31 13:13]

Hi Greg. I am glad i was not with you on this night i would have been frightend out of my tiny mind !!! I shall go out in the summer nights and see if we have any , i hope the swarm is not to large it may carry me off.
I must say you captured a fine close up with good detail and colour against the plain BG. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hi Grzeg,
Beautiful photo and note - I never knew there's a night dragonfly specie. I again learned, thanx to You. And I absolutely don't find the photo low quality - just the opposite! Great sharpness on the head, nice blurry bg, minimalistic compo - only the insect and a bit of a plant. By my opinion a stunning photo which I'd like to congratulate for.
If these insects don't communicate yet, there must be a "little" more work for genealogists. :)
Best regards, László

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2009-03-31 15:12]

Hola Greg.
Great super macro photography. Excellent note. very interesting!!!
Saludos
Luis52.

Beautiful work with teh lighting...Again it makes this a superior image...and your words in description are even better!
Bob

  • Great 
  • luibu Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 13 W: 0 N: 54] (508)
  • [2009-03-31 23:51]

Ciao Grzeg. Bellissima macro, grande nitidezza bellissimo lo sfondo.Ciao Luigino

Hey, Greg,

wow, "this insect can hunt in large flocks for larger animals like birds or bats."...emmm, sounds scary :P

thanks for sharing this wonderful shot. I always want to shoot dragonfly but with my present equipment, I don't think I can take one beautifully like yours. I will buy a Canon 300mm EF IS after I've started working in July. I will certainly learn from your photos and hope that I can take some OK shots of drgonflies then : )

I like the sunlight on this drgonfly. it highlights the beauty of this lovely yet potentially 'lethal' creature, at least to birds and bats :P

chrs,
Man Yee

Hello Grzegorz,
a very beautiful picture and interesting notes, at right moment you have captured this rare species with a very good and humorous PP.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3831 W: 190 N: 11410] (35161)
  • [2009-04-01 2:59]

Hello greg,
Congratulations on capturing this rarity!
The Six-winged Darter became extinct in Sweden at the start of the last Ice Age when it could no longer fly owing to the weight of the ice on its wings.
Amazing that it had survived in Poland, it's noctural pack-hunting behaviour being unique.
Well done and have a good day's rest after your work last night!
Ivan

hello Greg
beautiful composition
great details
beautiful colours
super!!
greeting lou

Ciao Greg, great capture of wonderfulrarity, fantastic gragonfly with fine details and excellent sharpness, beautiful and interesting macro, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 657 W: 15 N: 1636] (6365)
  • [2009-04-01 7:02]

Hello Grzegorz
Excellent shot.
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2411 W: 94 N: 5569] (17712)
  • [2009-04-01 11:06]

Hello Greg,
What a surprise to find this rare insect. Congratulations.
This photo is taken with good sharpness, natural light and an excellent composition. Beautiful OOF BG.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Greg,
Well done shooting this rare Sympetrum sepenni.
You can see here that it has six wings,not four.
Good POV & sharpness.
TFS & cheers,
Steve

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2174 W: 220 N: 4385] (14908)
  • [2009-04-16 14:12]
  • [+]

Hi Greg

Hahaha...this is a good one!!!
What an original idea! And how much imagination! You have to tell me where "sepenni" comes from!
This is a very nice and mood lifting post from you. And i think it also came at a good time for the atmosphere here on TN...some smiles are necessary.

I also see that you are keeping score for our d-flies this year...??? Well i must confess that i've gone again today and that i found yet another one...so 12 then :)
But, in all fairness, i do benefit from a thermal pond so with a water temperature of 20+ degrees C, i have too much of an advantage.
Maybe i'll post some more in the next days...i'll see if i have time.

Good luck in your search for yours! If it doesn't go well, you're always a welcomed guest here!

Cheers
Horia

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