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WINTER CAVE VISITOR


WINTER CAVE VISITOR
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: 2008-12-28
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400, 35-105 mm 1:4,5-5,6, @ ISO 50
Exposure: f/7.6
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Insects (Insecta), Caves and cave life., Moths of Europe 4 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-02-14 11:45
Viewed: 964
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello my Friends!
Today I would like to presnt you something different - a moth species in a winter day :>


This is Scoliopteryx libatrix moth (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). This specimen is overwintering deep inside the cave. It is rather common bahaviour in this species, in this place many individuals can be found on the walls and roof of the cave. As it is really common species in Europe, this time I prefer to write a few words about insects which can be found in caves, not about this species only :)

What do insect do in caves?
Four different groups of insects connected with cave habitats can be recognized:

1. species which can be found in caves accidentally, they do not like such habitats or they do not look for them - there are many insect groups. The cave "guests" are named trogloxenes.

2. species which use caves as the shelter for a day or to survive winter period - this group includes many moths and butterfllies (eg. Nymphalidae, Noctuidae, Geometridae) but also flies (Culicidae, Chironomidae, Syrphidae). These insects are often named troglophiles.

3. species which spend some period of their lifes in the caves, usually as larvae and pupae, while adults live these places to mate in "open habitats". Larvae can easy fing in these habitats food and are better protected against predators. In this group we can find many aquatic insects like mayflies (Ephemeroptera), caddisflies (Trichoptera) but also some flies (eg. Mycetophilidae, Chironomidae). This group is called troglophiles and includes both "vegetarians" and predatory species.

4. strictly connected with cave environment and strongly adapted to the life "without light". Usually with special morphological adaptations like long legs, antennae or setae on the body. This group is called troglobionts and includes many beetles (eg. Carabidae, Leiodidae, Tenebrionidae, Staphylinidae) but also crickets (Rhaphidophoridae), or springtails (Collembola).

As you probably guest the hero of this picture belongs to troglophiles :)


The picture was taken during exploration of the Szachownica Cave, Szachownica Nature Reserve, Zalecze Landscape Park, when I was looking mainly for bat species.



And last but not least, I would like to dedicate this photo to our Friend from New Zeland - Steve (LordPotty) the author of the TN theme Caves and cave life :>
cataclysta, eng55, red45, siggi, eqshannon, boreocypriensis, crs, horia, haraprasan, Alex99, matatur, LordPotty, Miss_Piggy, valy67 has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To horia: meeting in Polandcicindela 1 02-15 02:04
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Critiques [Translate]

Czesc Radziu
To zdjecie jest super. Widzialem szczerbowki w jaskiniach ale nigdy tak fajnie przykryte rosa. Piekna ostra fotka i dobra notka
Krzysiek

hello radomir
great sharpness
nice composition
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1138 W: 32 N: 1161] (3574)
  • [2009-02-14 12:32]

Hi Radomir,
Interesting scane.Well caught,framed and composed.Sharpness,clarity and details are also wonderful.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2009-02-14 12:37]

Czesc Radek!

Swietne foto! Nie dosc, ze owad ciekawy, miejsce akcji jeszcze bardziej, to dodatkowo wyszlo z tego bardzo artystyczne zdjecie. Cma z kropelkami rosy wyglada rewelacyjnie, a do tego jeszcze te dyskretne kolory. Super!

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2009-02-14 12:38]

Hallo Radomir,
To jest fantastyczne ,te krople rosy wygladaja jak krysztalki.Zdjecie na 102.Bardzo dobra ostrosc i swiatlo.Mila dedykacja dla Steve.
Pozdrawiam Siggi

spectacular capture Radomir !
very beautiful composition and great POV !I never seen a moth coverd by water drops !
perfect sharp and fine details !
well done !
septimiu

Steve is a wonderful fella...for a guy who has been through the tough times...he still walks the walk...and I can appreciate your thanking him...and this one also looks a bit like something Heaven, Markus would do...I love this artistic style, especially when it comes from a science man!
Bob

Hi Radek,
A fine capture of this hibernated moth in up-down composition in a cave. The water droplets contribute this great macro in an esthetic way MF!
TFS and Happy Valentine's day!
Greetings from windy and rainy Izmir!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-02-14 17:27]

Hi Rado,surely one of the best pic never seen on TN! Incredible!!Details and colors at the top and a very nice and interesting specie!My great great compliments,thanks to show us this beauty,Luciano

Radomir,
This is an unusual specie and capture for me! This is an inspiring creature!
Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 0 N: 920] (3543)
  • [2009-02-14 22:59]

Hello Radomir,

You have made an interesting photo with this moth while wintering. Your image is very sharp showing well the water drops covering the insect. As you have made good use of the flash colors are well looking and natural.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 647 W: 15 N: 1589] (6203)
  • [2009-02-15 1:04]

Hello Radomir
Nice and interesting capture. Well done.
regards.
RAzvan

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2172 W: 218 N: 4383] (14902)
  • [2009-02-15 1:15]
  • [+]

Hi Radek and nice to see you around here again :)

I hope you are well, my friend! It's been quite some time since we've spoke last...
This is a lovely post from you! The photo is excellent and the complementary note is equally great!
I really like the small drops of water on your subject here - they give it a very special and unique texture. The details and colors (although not many) are excellent and, with a good flash work, brought out very well to present this moth.
Overall, a very nice photo and post.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

PS: You know we are having a TN meeting in Poland this year. We are now voting weather it will be in May/June or in August. Would you and/or Michal like to come? :)

Hi Radek,
A lovely capture of this beautiful moth. It looks like a diamond studded sculpture. Excellent clarity with lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2009-02-15 6:10]

Hi Radomir.
It is wonderful godsend. And you managed to create an amazing shot from it. Both stones and moth with plenty drops are very impressed and captured skillfully. Flash work, detail reproduction, DOF are spot on. Bravo.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1059 W: 290 N: 3946] (13340)
  • [2009-02-15 6:31]

Hello Radomir,
a rare picture showing an overwintering libatrix in its natural environment and additionally decorated
with fine water droplets. Aside from the originality of your presentation, it is also excellently sharp.
Best wishes, Peter

Ciao Radomir, splendid capture of wonderful moth with fantastic drops, perfect focus, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2009-02-15 9:57]

Hello Radomir,
A superb capture of S. libatrix in the typical hibernating condition covered with dew drops in a cave. The sharpness and use of flash is ideal with the colours of the forewings coming through the dense coverage of dew drops.
Well done, thanks and nice to see you in action on TN!
Best regards,
Ivan

  •      
  • matatur Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1089 W: 193 N: 1380] (4472)
  • [2009-02-16 6:08]

Hola Radomir,
This is also such a fine example of colour and form camouflage, maybe minus the dew drops, which are of a temporal habit. Your troglophile moth looks so at home hanging from the roof my friend, a perfect image with ecological ramifications. TFS it indeed!
Mehmet
Ooops, no points, I was down with a cold the last few days and was trying to catch up with recent posts, but...

Hi Radomir,
An amazing shot of this moth covered in dew!
I wonder if it survived long after that.
Its wings seem to already show signs of deterioration.
Your image is nice and sharp with great detail.
Thanks very much for dedicating this one to me.
Cheers & TFS
Steve

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 442 W: 0 N: 427] (3110)
  • [2009-02-17 10:53]

Hello Radomir
WOW!!!Great shot, the details of the water in its body is perfect, the colors are natural and agreeable. The composition is wonderful.
All the best from Brazil
Nilson

Hallo Rodamir
A delightful image and interesting one. Very nice and appealing details and colours to admire and observe. The details of this wet moth is really spectacular and well photographed. Excellent macro, great lightning and interesting note, with wonderful upside down pose of the insect. Thanks for sharing and have a most enjoyable day.
Anna

great pic, thank you also for the interesting note, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
  • [2009-02-20 13:37]

Hello Radomir !
I didn't know anything about these things of insect spending winters in caves, I discovered it today by reading your very interesting note. And then there is this unusual picture - a moth in winter, and covered with dozens of shiny "jewels". The water drops are gorgeous. The details on the picture are very good too, excellent us of the flash, nice composition. Very well done !
Valérie.

Witaj Radku
Niesamowite zdjecie. Jak patrze na nie, to postanawiam sobie porawe tego lata. Bardzo ostre i w bajkowych kropelkach (soczewkach). Dobre kolory. Gusowne wykonczenie ramka. Dopracowane.
Pozdrawiam - Roma

Impresionante captura Radomir. Aparte del interesante documento, además es una buena creación artística. Buen encuadre y luz.
Saludos y buena semana: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2009-03-01 19:17]

Hi Radomir,
Outstanding shot of this tiny moth covered with dew drops. Looks so magnificent and you have used the flash light very skillfully. Very impressive sharpness, perfect POV and excellent composition.
TFS.
Sumon

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