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Melitaea athalia


Melitaea athalia
Photo Information
Copyright: iovescu andrei (andrei99) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 75 W: 6 N: 86] (737)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-24
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-03 4:31
Viewed: 299
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
he Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found throughout the Palaearctic from Western Europe to Japan, in heathland, grassland, and in coppiced woodland. Its association with coppiced woodland earned it the name "Woodman's Follower" in parts of the UK.[1] It is considered a threatened species in the UK and Germany, but not globally.
See glossary for terms used

Heath Fritillaries have a wing-span of 39–47 mm.[2] The upperside is predominantly dark brown and orange-brown, with the orange-brown spots delineated by dark brown (along and across the wing-veins); there is a white fringe to the wings through which the dark brown extends. The upperside of the body is a similar dark brown to the colour on the wing, and the base of both wings is dark brown. The underside shows bands of red and (off-)white, again with each vein dark brown and each colour delineated by dark brown. The pattern of white spots at the base of the hindwing (visible at rest) is diagnostic for identification.
The female Heath Fritillary lays its eggs (or ova) in batches of (15–)80–150 on the underside of leaf of a larval food plant or on a plant adjacent to the larval foodplant.

Eggs are oval spheroids with flattened bases, about 0.5 mm high. They are ribbed (longitudinally, i.e. from top to bottom) and striated (transversely, i.e. around the egg). Pale cream when laid, eggs darken to pale yellow within 2 days, and then dark grey a few days before hatching. Eggs mature in 2–3 weeks.[2]
anel, maurydv, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Andrei.
This is just brilliant.
Clean image with perfect pair on this flower.
The silenced background adds impact to this beautifully framed shot.
TFS
Marx

Hello Andrei,
excellent shot,great colors and light, sharp details and nice BG,
regards,
Nikos.

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1720 W: 0 N: 3896] (15644)
  • [2009-06-06 5:25]

Hello Andrei,
These two Heath Fritillaries have chosen a very nice place settling on the Carthusian Pink. Beautiful butterflies on beautiful flower. Good sharpness and intersting picture.
Thanks and kind regards
Anne

Hello Iovescu,
a very beautiful picture of the Heath Fritillary mating, very good sharpness and splendid natural colours, i like the nice composition with the beautifuf pink flower.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hi Andrei,
well detailed, cheerfully colourful image of Heath fritillaries in copula on a strikingly purple Dianthus blossom, their favourite source of nectar. Telling from your portfolio containing a variety of species that have become rare in many places of Europe, nature seems to be in good condition in your country.
Thank you! With best regards,
Peter

very nice capture, TFS Ori

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