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Rarity in the Swedish Drought


Rarity in the Swedish Drought
Photo Information
Copyright: Ivan Kruys (Argus) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2885 W: 169 N: 8419] (26122)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-03
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 400D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-06-06 8:45
Viewed: 550
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a male Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne).
It is to be found in small confined localities in the East of Sweden in the S., C, and N. It is red-listed and regarded as threatened, mostly by habitat destruction. The habitat is the edge of mixed forest wher the larval host-plant, Corydalis occurs.

It is rare and local in Norway and Finland. It also occurs in the Alps, Pyrenees, Italy,the Balkans and Turkey, where it is nowhere common.

This was taken in the province of Blekinge, east of our province Scania. We only saw this individual in the blazing morning sun. It is feeding on the nectar of the flowers of Sticky Catchfly (Lychnis viscara), the only flowers that have not withered in the drought that has now been with us for six weeks.

Normally such a butterfly would live for over a week in normal weather but with continuous high temperatures it burns itself out in a couple of days.

It flies in a typical slow apollo gliding flight with the wings held in a V-shape. It is slightly larger than the Large or Cabbage White, with which it can be confused in flight at first sight.

It is on the brink of extinction in Blekinge with less less than 100 individuals estimated this year. It is a little more numerous in the two provinces to the north.

The eggs are laid on the already withered remains of the plant Corydalis and the larva hatches in the spring when the new Corydalis shoots have started to grow.

A more conventional view of this same Clouded Apollo is to be seen in the WORKSHOP.

This was taken at a distance of about 3 meters with the camera hand-held. After moderate cropping and size reduction it was selectively sharpened.

boreocypriensis, eng55, falke, mariki, jaycee, maurydv, bobcat08, matatur, nglen, Amadeo, Juyona, rousettus, peter_stoeckl, gracious, xTauruSx, cataclysta, pekkavalo1 has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cicindela: ThanksArgus 2 06-29 03:07
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Ivan,
Very beautiful butterfly, fantastic colors and details
very nice composition.. Well done

Everton

Hi Ivan, perfect capture of this beauty my friend! Today I have so many educational obligations (exams..) Soryy for not additional comment. But perfect shot. TFS. Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1448 W: 76 N: 3169] (10395)
  • [2008-06-06 9:11]

Hello Ivan,
Wonderful photo with a fantastic DOF and a perfect POV. Sharpness, details, colours, composition are all gorgeous.
Have a nice weekend,
Peter

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 606 W: 14 N: 631] (1953)
  • [2008-06-06 9:15]

Hi Ivan,
Beautiful capture.Colors,clear details,sharpness,BG and composition are excellent.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • falke Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 17 N: 456] (1630)
  • [2008-06-06 9:44]

Very beautiful! I think the transparent edge on the wings makes them stand out. Lovely subtle colours and a great "face".

Bets regards/Bengt

Hello Ivan,

This white butterfly is splendid on the pink flowers. Excellent composition and POV. Very good DOF. Beautiful detail with a very good sharpness. Great light and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1989 W: 8 N: 5274] (17097)
  • [2008-06-06 10:09]

Hi Ivan,

An exceptionally beautiful rare butterfly. I think this is the first time I have seen a Clouded Apollo. The colors are exquisite. Fine details of the pretty markings. The flowers are lovely and a wonderful contrast to the butterfly. I love the composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Arjun Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 309 W: 3 N: 783] (3762)
  • [2008-06-06 10:29]

hello sir,
amazing picture..excellent composition with lovely details
TFS

Hello Ivan
I am sorry to hear that you are suffering a drought in Sweden at what should be the most lush and green time of the year..We are having exceptionally high amounts of rainfall at the moment in the UK.
This is however a splendid find a very detailed capture..The pov shows perfectly the upper and lower sides of the wings in superb detail.
Splendid work and TFS
Best Regards
Paul

Splendida cattura, (domenica l'ho fotografata in montagna a 1200 metri ed erano relativamente numerose 3 in un breve tratto di prato), ottimo POV e stupenda composizione con il fiore, eccellente nitidezza e bellissimi i profili delle ali, magnifici i colori e BG. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hello Ivan,

Congrats with this result. A beautiful handheld shot. Very nice compo. I like the position from the buttrerfly very much. You can see almost every detail. Nice natural colours. POV, DOF adn BG are oké. Interesting supporting note. Have a nice weekend and TFS BOB

A rare and beautiful capture of this veteran flier Ivan, I really am a little jealous of your rock steady hands my friend, mine shake a little at this age... You've again managed to demonstrate both the upper- and underwing details while the b.fly goes on feeding, and the colour composition is something else again! TFS this fine scene my friend.
Best regards from Izmir.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2225 W: 10 N: 6271] (23562)
  • [2008-06-06 12:31]

Hi Ivan. What a lucky find to see this is Sweden. You have captured a excellent close up. great detail in the wings and body. Your use of the sun light has given natural looking colours. A nice POV on the pink flower. well Done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer [C: 211 W: 0 N: 755] (3323)
  • [2008-06-06 12:40]

Hola Ivan, buen macro, con una bonita composición, buena definición y un agradable color. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2133 W: 6 N: 2152] (13785)
  • [2008-06-06 13:00]

Hola Ivan,
preciosa captura y pov,
color y bello ambiente...
buen foco.
saludos

Hello Ivan,
congratulations for successfully finding thar rarity that you announced to be in search for. A nice and lively, well lighted presentation of this Clouded Apollo visiting blossoms!
While you are suffering from drought in Sweden, we are having plenty of rain since May, a mixture of heat and dampness that makes most of our dry grasslands look very different this year.
Thank you! With best regards,
Peter

Hello Ivan,
very beautiful Apollo species and its great macro. You are lucky since you could take such a rare species. Sharp details great. Flowers very nice for composition. colors, lighting also great. good information always. many thanks for your sharing this beautiful macro and information.
have a nice weekend my friend
Ahmet

Excellent shot Ivan, with delicate details on the wings and the head. The flower is well done too. TFS,
Catherine

Hello Ivan,
Very good photo especially in terms of point of view.
Well composed and excellent depth through your out of focus background.
TFS
Annick

Hello my friend Ivan,
The lighting here is so beautiful and I loved it especailly with the pose on the butterfly that receiving the light!
the image is in total sharpness, really nice colour and superb details
always a quality posting from Ivan!
many thanks
Tony

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3471 W: 145 N: 5987] (17920)
  • [2008-06-07 1:36]

Oh Ivan, this is beautiful seeing the pretty dainty butterfly on the pink flowers. It is very crisp and sharp - well done
Janice

Hello Ivan superb capture of this butterfly. TFS. Regards,
Deniz

Hi Ivan
Unusual POV, very good sharpness and nice OOF background. Good exposure (there are little problems on WS shot) I like your photo very much
TFS
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1996 W: 245 N: 6508] (23200)
  • [2008-06-07 12:28]

What a lovely butterfly!
Fantastic shot of this rarity!
Pin-sharp with lots of detail.
Beautiful colours too.
Excellent DOF.
I like the photo in the WS too.

Well done, Ivan!

Joe

Hi Ivan,

Great capture of this Clouded Apollo. Excellent sharp details, nice composition and BG, beautiful colours.

TFS

Pekka

Hi Ivan, splendid composition with elegant butterfly and beautiful flower with fantastic colors, perfect focus, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1817 W: 29 N: 5281] (17302)
  • [2008-06-09 1:49]

Hi Ivan,
Outstanding shot of this beautiful butterfly in a fantastic pose on those flowers. Very neat and sharp image with perfect natural lighting and exposure management. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-24 21:59]

Hello Argus

A lovely pose you have captured.
Excellent view of this butterfly as it laps up the nectar.
Well focused with excellent detail.
TFS
Rob

Hello Ivan!
At the beginng of June I was in Pieniny Mts. where two species from this genus occur: Parnassius apollo and this one from your picture. Together with my students we had some educational trip there. I have to say that I hoped to see at least one of this species but... not this time :( And moreover, I have to say that only I did not saw one one them - Parnassius mnemosyne which was observed by all others... :( Bad luck...
Anyway, now I am in your gallery and can see this species :)
As you know this species is very rare also in Poland, and except Pieniny Mts. it can be seen in the wild only in SE part of my country. So your picture presents a very unique species as for me. Clarity and details are very nice. I like also natural light :)
Best regards and have a nice Sunday!!!
Radomir


PS. Tomorrow morning I'm leaving Lodz for 2 weeks, so I am sorry for lack of comments and answers before 14 July :>

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