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little gladiators

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little gladiators
Photo Information
Copyright: Michal Grabowski (cedryk) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 956 W: 57 N: 1603] (4945)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-28
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS350D/Digital Rebel XT, Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro, @ ISO 400
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/200 seconds
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-05-13 17:46
Viewed: 633
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Dear Friends,
Life is tough - too many duties, not much time for pleasures as TN... Luckily, today I may share some photos with you. I'd like to show you a species I have posted once, but this time in a very different situation.

Gastrophysa viridula (Degeer, 1775)
Family: Chrysomelidae - leaf beetles

It's is small species with length from 4.2 (males) to 5.8 mm (females). Life cycle of this species is associated with various species from family Polygonaceae, most often with Rumex species. Both adults and larvae feed on these plants.

It is widely distributed in Europe, from Iberian Peninsula to Krasnojarski Kraj in Siberia. It reaches north to the White Sea and south to Pyrenees, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Northern Anatolia and Caucasian countries.

There is also a very interesting history with it's range extension in Europe. Till the beginning of XX century it was considered as an alpine or boreal-alpine species - it was very rarely on lowlands. Then in years 1910-1930 it became extremely common also in such areas. It's not clear whether it's because of colonisation from mountain population or if just the very rare lowland populations suddenly grew in numbers. Whatever was the mechanism, the reason remains unexplained.

Here I present you a fight of two males for a females that was few centimeters away. The males grasp each other mandibulae and try to push the rival off the leaf. The one that succeeds mates with the female. I have seen this phenomenon very often but interestingly I haven't found it described in any monography of that species. Has it been overlooked or maybe I haven't looked for it hard enough... anyway, it's always nice to look at these little gladiators. I'm sure that most of you in Europe have that species in your gardens - look at it closer next time, you won't regret :-)

In the workshop 1 I show you a mating couple. The male is an interesting example of colour polymorphism and with his red elytrae represents form described as aberratio fulgurans Achard, 1923.

In the workshop 2 you'll see a patch of eggs laid by one female on the underside of Rumex leaf.
jcoowanitwong, cicindela, horia, sandpiper2, delic, red45, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Vic Silver Note Writer [C: 3 W: 0 N: 22] (186)
  • [2007-05-13 20:54]

Michael

Amazing clear shoot. Unafortunatelly only one beetle is in focus, perhaps a little more DOF. Great shoot.

Cheers

Hello Michal,
Marvelous to witness such behavior. Well done picture. Your workshops are impressive. TFS.
JC

Hello Michal!
Great documentary series! I really believe that this is the first picture of fighting Chrysomelidae beetles for the female here on TN and probably one of the only few on the internet!!!
Really I have to say that I did not known that this species has such kind of behaviour (even if it is very common in other beetle families).
Great work!
TFS and I am waiting for new picture! ;>
Radek

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 535 W: 87 N: 667] (5480)
  • [2007-05-14 4:06]

hi Michal
fantastic macro shot one again, they seem fighting. Extra colors, good POV and DOF.
Nice note to.

gl

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2070 W: 214 N: 3542] (11790)
  • [2007-05-14 7:08]

Hi Michal

Very beautiful shot of these beautiful little beetles. I really like their metallic reflection and the beautiful colors from their back.
We also have quite a lot of them here, too, in some places...i have no idea why i didn't take any photos of them yet ... :)
Anyway, i really like your presentation here and all the 3 shots.
The details are very niec in all of them, but i think that the DOF is a bit too shallow.
Other than that, good lighting, great exposure and compos.

Bravo and TFS
horia

Good shot of these shiny beetles fighting. Good note.
Good sharpness and POV
Chris

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 981 W: 17 N: 2563] (9450)
  • [2007-05-16 6:02]

Hi Michal,

what a fantastic shot, the colours are so vibrant and they really look like they are having a big battle!

Great work and thanks for sharing,

Paul

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2007-05-17 17:44]

Hello Michal,
An unusual encounter for us. Wonderful documentation with such terrific color, detail and composition. Great work.
Best wishes,
Hakan

Hej Michale!
Swietna kolorystyka, piekna kompozycja i perfekcyjne POV i GO. Brawo!
pozdrawiam
Dorota

  •      
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2297 W: 163 N: 6694] (21146)
  • [2007-05-23 1:29]

Hello Michal,
Beautiful composition showing these two tiny metallic beetles on a battered leaf. Most impressive sharp details and lovely colours.
Very fine soft background too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2766 W: 75 N: 7516] (25149)
  • [2007-05-23 6:48]

To chyba jedne z najladniejszych chrzaszczy - te metaliczne zielenie wygladaja super. Bardzo ladne tlo, glebia i kompozycja. Notka i workshopy jak zwykle pierwsza klasa!

  •      
  • OzBY Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 182 W: 2 N: 299] (1021)
  • [2007-06-14 11:51]

Hi Michael,

Great picture of thes two beetles.
Great color, background and lighting.

Oz

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2007-06-17 14:14]

Hi Michal.
Your shot is colourful, composed perfectly and show a very attractive scene. Details of the bugs are very good. It is a pity DOF is shallow fo this subject. My best wishes and TFS.
In waiting your new posts,
Alexei.

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