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Parsnip Moth Depressaria pastinacella


Parsnip Moth Depressaria pastinacella
Photo Information
Copyright: Nicolas Moulin (nimou) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 148 W: 1 N: 687] (3169)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-11
Categories: Insects
Camera: Kodak DX6490, Raynox DCR250
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-12-14 7:43
Viewed: 796
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
First of all, thanks to Uleko for the identification. Bur osmeterrium give me one other posibility more evident and more probality. Thanks all 2.

Datos: Camara Kodak DX6490 con Raynox DCR250 a F8, 1/350. Flash difusor home made. Campo de Tarragona Spain. Especimen captado en una rama de Hinojo, a punto de crisalida.

Clase Insecta > Orden Lepidoptera

Generally found occupying waste ground and dry pastures, this is a fairly common species throughout the British Isles.

As the English and scientific names suggest, the larvae feed on wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), but also on hogweed (Heracleum). At first the flowers and seeds are consumed, and later the larva enters the stem where it pupates.

The adults begin to hatch in September, and overwinter, appearing until the following May.

Larva: (description Ian F. Smith)

Foodplant: June to August on flowers and young seeds of Pastinaca sativa, Heracleum sphondylium, Apium nodiflorum (in Channel Islands) and Heracleum mantegazzianum (in Netherlands, Denmark and elsewhere in Europe, Nielsen, in litt.). Often gregarious in a silk web distorting the flower panicle. Occasionally in unopened flower buds.

Length: 19 mm to 24 mm described. Parasitized larvae may be larger. (variations of other instars in brackets).
Head: Black.
Prothoracic shield: Black, divided by a narrow yellowish medial line.
Thoracic legs: Black.
Body: Dorsally pale grey. Ventrally dull yellow. (9 mm; dull amber all over.)
Spiracles: Black peritreme.
Pinacula: Large, black. (9 mm relatively smaller.)
Setae: Black. (9mm brownish translucent.)
Anal plate: Distinct. Light brown with blackish periphery. (9mm coloured as body.) (MBGBI states black, but this colour not observed in large series of larvae raised from several sources).
Prolegs: Coloured as venter. Black collar on base and on planta (absent on 9 mm
larva).

Pupa: July to early September in the main stem of the food plant. Constricted
seedhead remains and a hole, about 3 mm diameter, indicate stems
occupied by pupae and, sometimes, fossilised failed larvae which retain
vestiges of the grey and yellow colouration.

Comment: Pastinaca, Heracleum mantegazzianum and probably other foodplants contain chemicals which can cause painful blistering in the presence of sunlight. Care should be taken to avoid contact with the sap from cut stems. Larvae are often adjusted to the toxins in a particular population of a foodplant, and may not prosper if transferred to the same species of plant from another source.

source: http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1832&detail=true
star74, SkyF, uleko, dew77, JoseMiguel, phlr, RAP, blakitan, XOTAELE has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To manyee: Pupa levelnimou 1 12-16 16:02
To Osmeterium: Thanks dmitrynimou 1 12-15 10:15
To magal: flash difusornimou 1 12-14 14:25
To uleko: Thanks so much, this is.nimou 1 12-14 09:36
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Nicolas,
can't help you with the ID, but this is a magnificent caterpillar macro! The focus is excellent, giving us a great level of detail and I like how you composed it, showcasing the pose of the caterpillar that looks like a parenthesis.
TFS,
Stavros

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 962 W: 0 N: 89] (7801)
  • [2006-12-14 8:47]

Hi Nicolas
Nice shot. Good colours, sharpnes, BG, light details and POV.
Well done

osse

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3001 W: 162 N: 989] (2897)
  • [2006-12-14 9:01]
  • [+]

Hello Nicolas,
What an interesting larva in this beautiful composition. (Possibly the larva of a Leopard Moth but I'm not sure.) Excellent focus and lovely colours. Nice dark background too.
TFS, Ulla

Hi Nicolas,
Another wonderful capture.
Beautiful colors,DOF and point of view.
TFS

  • Great 
  • star74 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 212 W: 3 N: 598] (2474)
  • [2006-12-14 10:17]

Hi Nicolas,
Wonderful shot.
Clear colors and details.
Very well presented.
TFS

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2006-12-14 10:22]

Hello Nicolas,
very nice caterpillar and an excellent composition. POV, sharpness and colors are superp.
Sky

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3825 W: 190 N: 11396] (35111)
  • [2006-12-14 11:29]

Hola Nicolas,
This is a fine presentation of the Leopard moth caterpillar. Excellent sharpness and composition and the flash provides a good BG.
TFS, regard, Ivan

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-12-14 11:45]

Hello Nicolas,
Excellent caterpillar close up.Exposure is spot on,details are crisp clear and razorsharp.I liked POV,dark BG,contrast between caterpillar and BG and composition a lot.
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • magal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 224 W: 0 N: 313] (1241)
  • [2006-12-14 11:55]
  • [+]

Hi Nicolas,
Very colourful posting, with excellent detail and brilliant light management. Could you possibly elaborate on what you used as light diffuser because the results you achieved are fantastic?
TFS
Mark

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 778 W: 67 N: 645] (6814)
  • [2006-12-14 13:17]

Bonjour,
Magnifique réalisation. La forme courbée de la chenille est tout à fait intéressante
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hola Nicolas,
Que buena tu foto de la oruga!
Me gusta mucho el punto de vista, que nos muestra con abundantes detalles al insecto, así como también la maraña que lo rodea.
Los colores son muy intensos y vibrantes.
La profundidad de campo es suficiente para mostrarnos algo mas en el fondo, lo cual complementa y le da un muy buen balance a la composición.
Felicitaciones y gracias por compartir la foto con nosotros,
JM

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2006-12-14 15:23]

A very nice picture. Colorful, sharp and well composed. Excellent DOF and great bg. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-12-14 15:40]

Gran macro Nicolas... adoro la composición, principalmente por lo bien iluminada que se aprecia y el contraste con un perfecto fondo, además de un apropiado encuadre bien descentrado.
El F8 funcionó muy bien en este caso, con un preciso foco sobre el insecto y su percha, mientras que el fondo pasa desapercibido completamente.
Muy buen colorido, intenso pero no saturados, con escasos reflejos del flash.
Bravo!.
Cordiales saludos... Ricardo

Hello Nicolas,

That's definitely not a Leopard Moth caterpillar but a larva of a moth from the Depressariidae family, most probably the Parsnip Moth, Depressaria pastinacella, or related. Please check at Ian Kimber's site, http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2880.

Best regards,
Dmitry

Hola Nicolas,
Greatly capturing this black-spotted yellow catterpilar. Great sharpness, very nice details, and nice dark BG, make this bright color catterpilar stands-out.
Superb shot.

Ben Lakitan

Outstanding macro, Nicolas.
The details are super sharp, and the colors are brilliant.
Those black dots on the yellow body sure make a striking contrast.
Did it spin the threads? And what for?
TFS : )

Muy buenas Nicolas.
Impresionantes fotos las que subiste ultimamente. Me gustan mucho, me gusta mucho este "platano" con patas, el fondo, la iluminación, la composición, vamos que me gusta todo.
Un saludo y felicitaciones.
Jorge

Salvando las distancias este gusano parece un plátano de Canarias con motitas y todo (je).
Muy hermosos colores y el fondo fabuloso Nicolás.
Un abrazo y Felíz Navidad.
Juan Luis.

Hi

Again, you make here a wonderfull macro shot!!!

Mad

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