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...I WILL CATCH YOU!!!


...I WILL CATCH YOU!!!
Photo Information
Copyright: Radomir Jaskula (cicindela) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1306 W: 0 N: 2925] (8635)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-06
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400, 35-105 mm 1:4,5-5,6, @ ISO 100
Exposure: f/74099368.0
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): European dragonflies 2, Insects around the world, Insects' World, Odonata: Dragonflies and Damselflies 2, Insect larvae, Insects (Insecta) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-01-24 6:29
Viewed: 1503
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
When I started to think about presentation of this photo on TN I thought about a title like "the beast from the river" or "monster from the deep". Finally, because of two other pictures found in my archive (presented yesterday and the day before) an idea for a short series of insect portraits appeared in my mind :)
So here is the third and the last insect portrait (as for now of course ;>). I hope that you will like this very short photo insect "story" :)

And now some facts about the object from this photo... :)

This is a larva of a dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan, 1807) - Common Goldenring (Anisoptera: Cordulegastridae), one of 8 European species belonging to this genus, and also one of two known from Poland (other species are known from S Europe).

Imagines of C. boltonii can be found mainly in mountain areas where they are flying over the surface of small rivers and streams usually among trees in shadow places. Larvae are of course freshwater but unlike many other Odonata species they do not wait for prey among water vegetation or on the bottom of river but they are digging themselves in the sand on the river's bottom. Usually only the eyes and the mask can be seen so please try to find them in nature! ;)

As adults also the larvae of Odonata are predatory, hunting for every kind of small freshwater creatures living in the some habitat.
Larvae of C. boltonii are rather huge (up to 5-6cm) and can catch even small fishes or very young frogs, but of course they are hunting mainly on invertebrates.

Larvae of genus Cordulegaster are easy to recognized because of very characteristic shape of "mask" - its palps for me looks like "teeth" of excavator ;)
The mask (so called because it often covers all other mouthparts) is an elongated labium used by the larva to capture prey.
It is extended rapidly (in about 15 to 25 msec!!!) and the prey is grasped by the labial palps.

This species is rare in Poland and Central Europe and because of that it is protected or placed in both the Red Data Books and Lists of Threatened Animals (e.g. in Poland in vulnerable category).

This specimen comes from Zbrzyca River and the photo was taken in NW Poland (Rolbik village near Brusy, Zaborski Landscape Park, Bory Tucholskie). Generally this species is known from S parts of Poland where it inhabits upland and mountain areas. In Bory Tucholskie region there are most of recently confirmed localities of this endangered dragonfly species in Polish lowlands.

I hope that you like this “beast from the river”, the poorly known “second face” of adult beautiful dragonfly ;)
red45, meyerd, jcoowanitwong, cedryk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cedryk: larwa wazkicicindela 1 01-26 06:40
To jcoowanitwong: dragonlycicindela 1 01-25 17:43
To red45: potwor z glebin ;)cicindela 3 01-24 16:15
To meyerd: larva od Odonatacicindela 1 01-24 13:57
To Juyona: larva od Odonatacicindela 1 01-24 13:52
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Critiques [Translate]

Genial macro y buenos detalles...buena nitidez y presentación... saludos

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2007-01-24 8:15]
  • [+]

Czesc Radek!

Niezle oko-w-oko-z-potworem :-) Piekne detale i naprawde imponujace szczeki. Nie lubie za bardzo larw wazki, glownie dlatego, ze sa w stanie wyjesc mi polowe fauny w akwarium :-) Zdjecie super!

Wow, Radomir,
I have never seen a thing like that. It's difficult to impress the spoiled TN community but here you did it: unusual composition, head-on portrait, lots of depth eyes and antennae razor- sharp, implying action (-> jumping at you!). And good notes, a special thanks for this.
My congratulations,little brother will be watching you now!
Cheers, Dietrich

Hello Radomir,
One can guess from the look of this larva that it must be some kind of monster. This is a wonderful picture with on the spot sharpness and great exposure. Very well done and TFS.
JC

Czesc,
Mam troche zaleglosci w komentarzach na TN, ale powoli bede nadrabial :-
Niewatpliwa zaleta tej fotki jest POV i swietny detal, natomiast podstawowa wada - wszystkie drobne odbicia swiatla lampy, zreszta ciezkie do unikniecia bo mokre obiekty tak maja.
Dlatego mysle, ze fajnie byloby powtorzyc to zdjecie w akwarium. Zrobiloby niesamowite wrazenie.
Serdecznosci,
Michal

hi Radomir!

fantastic in details portrait! just like allien creature... so I decided to see how it loos in imago.

regards,
Igor

Hi Radek,
My word, how fearsome. Excellent macro. Thanks for pointing this out. Alan

Hi Radomir
Very impressive mouthparts. Also technically perfect capture. Perfect light with details everywhere with still shadow under. Well done.
TFS
JM

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