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"Birth of a Nation"


Photo Information
Copyright: Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 388 W: 63 N: 1144] (3523)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-09
Categories: Insects
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Minolta AF 100 Macro
Exposure: f/16, 1/125 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-09 22:06
Viewed: 403
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lesser known backyard creatures:

You witness the birth of an aphid here. The young aphids come out of the mother as prefabricated morphs. It is decided inside the mother whether the young female aphid will be a winged form (2.5 mm long) like the mother or a wingless like the one on top. The change of the forms is cued by the environment (daylength and other) of the mother. In fall a third morph, the male, appears.

During the summer the reproduction is parthenogenetic, there are only females involved. Reproduction starts as usual with a egg cell that undergoes meiosis and meiotic recombination. After that two meiotic products fuse, a diploid zygote is formed without the contribution of a sperm. Sisters are, because of the recombinations, genetically similar but not identical. The colony grows rapidly, it is merely decimated by the dispersal of the alatae, by aphid predators and parasites: some kind of "nation building" at work.

ID: The aphid is Macrosiphum gei (Sternorrhyncha; Aphididae) and it has Geum urbanum as a host. Species identification was done with E. Stresemann et al., 2005. "Exkursionsfauna von Deutschland 2" (The Aphidina key is particularly detailed in this guide).

Technique: as usual for me (macro lens, dual macro flash, Kenko extension tubes, monopod, ISO 100, RAW, covered sky). Post processing in PS involved lightening the background, stamping, combining parts of two shots from the same aphid group.
boreocypriensis, iris, mariki, SelenE, Art_R, marhowie, Heaven, Brutamonte, anel, Argus, Amadeo has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: Thanks for the cookie pointmeyerd 1 06-12 12:55
To anel: Vor dem Bildschirmmeyerd 1 06-11 13:30
To iris: Thanks, Silpameyerd 1 06-09 23:03
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 392 W: 41 N: 735] (2314)
  • [2008-06-09 22:54]
  • [+]

Hi Dietrich,
"Absolutely the birth of a nation", very aptly titled...This image with dominant greens make one of the most interesting captures that i have seen showing life in all its dynamism.I like those wings reflecting rainbow colours and the way life is beginning to move and take its final shape...the details are wonderful and the dark muted BG compliments the light green FG and the subjects excellently.Very educative accompying notes too.
Thanks for sharing..
Cheers

Bonjour,
Joli détail de ces braves bêtes qui ont envahi mes rosiers !
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hi & Good morning Dietrich,
A superb detailed shot of these leaf aphids showing a peculiar parthenogenesis in reproduction. All are first number my friend! TFS. Have a nice day!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Dietrich,

Excellent composition. Very interesting picture. Excellent sharpness. Great light and colours. The detail of the wings is excellent.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi,
great shot, excellent details
regards
Ryszard

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2349 W: 61 N: 3802] (12200)
  • [2008-06-10 6:14]

Hi Dietrich,
It's a beautiful macro with so many details. Well done and TFS
Greetings,
Selen

  • Great 
  • Art_R Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 16 N: 478] (1975)
  • [2008-06-10 8:34]

Hi Dietrich , this an amazing macro , wow what an incredible moment to capture , thanks for sharing this wonder.
regards
Art

Hi Dietrich,
Great title BTW :)
Excellent image, these are some of the smallest macro subjects there are of course. Love the vertical frame, diagonal stem, and all those players adding interest..Nice study :}
Very good detail/DOF, color, flashwork, and BG to set em' off.
Howard

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 464 W: 84 N: 872] (3253)
  • [2008-06-10 21:28]

Hallo Dieter!

Sowohl das Bild als auch der Text sind faszinierend. Deine Technik funktioniert wirklich gut und du hast sie fest im Griff. Es ist schön, dass der Biologe und Wissenschafter auch der künstlerischen Darstellung Bedeutung schenkt!

Von Slowenien wird es nicht sehr viele Bilder geben, da es nun doch zu viel geregnet und der Nebel hing oft tief! Wir haben den Triglav nie gesehen...

Wir sind nach wenigen Tagen weiter in den Süden geflüchtet und haben herrliche Entdeckungen auf Krk gemacht.

Bis bald!

Markus

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1173 W: 0 N: 1968] (8357)
  • [2008-06-11 11:59]
  • [+]

Hallo Dieter,
Noch einen kleinen Besuch um Dir für dieses schöne und interessante Bild zu gratulieren. Das könnte ich nie so gut machen. Ich sehe, dass wir Schweizer nicht vor dem Bildschirm sitzen heute Abend:-)
Bis bald
Anne

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2611 W: 133 N: 7494] (23373)
  • [2008-06-12 0:41]
  • [+]

Hello Dietrich,
A fantastic macro showing how we get large numbers of these beloved creatures in our garden!
This macro has everything: sharpness, DOF, good lighting, a great composition and action.
Well done my friend, this has to go into my favourites!
Thanks Dietrich!
Best regards, Ivan

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 197 W: 0 N: 661] (2933)
  • [2008-06-12 15:08]

Hola Dietrich, excelente aproximación, nitida y con muy buena luz y color. Un macro extremo, muy bueno. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 110 W: 60 N: 207] (1851)
  • [2008-06-13 13:44]

Hello Dietrich,
I struggle with this species on my plants. At our photo are enough pleasingly. Very well done macro.
Regards, Pawel

WOW! This is a true macro Dietrich! Wonderful details and great DOF! And of course - as in many of your pictures - a very special moment from insect life! Bravo for another great documentary image! :>
All the best from Lodz!
Radomir

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