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Hummingbird?


Hummingbird?
Photo Information
Copyright: Grzegorz Wieczorek (red45) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-08
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus 740UZ
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Lepidoptera: Butterflies and Moths [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-27 3:51
Viewed: 2010
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today another photo from summer time at Crimea. This is Convolvulus Hawk-moth [Agrius Convolvuli], very interesting moth, similiar in flight style to Hummingbirds. Pictures aren't best. In fact this presentation shows how do NOT to use flash :-) When I took it I was ill, with high temperature and dizziness.

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL AFFILIATION:
Palaeotropical and Australasian.
ADULT DESCRIPTION AND VARIATION:
Wingspan: 95--130mm. Sexually dimorphic; female often considerably larger than male. Ground colour of forewing light to dark grey, with dark patches and markings which can be either extensive or absent. This large moth can be confused with no other sphingid of the region, except A. cingulatus. However, some specimens have yellow abdominal 'ribs' (f. pseudoconvolvuli Schaufuss), hence resembling North American Manduca species. Additionally, a very pale, almost white, high montane form occurs in the Tian Shan and Pamirs (f. aksuensis O. Bang-Haas).
ADULT BIOLOGY:
This species, being a great migrant, penetrates further north and in greater quantities than A. atropos; in warm years this may involve huge numbers. However, as it is more sensitive to cold than A. atropos, far fewer pupae manage to survive European winters. It shows a preference for warm open areas, i.e. agricultural steppes, but can be found almost anywhere except dense forest. Outside its resident range, it is particularly attracted to potato fields and, in suburbs, to flower-beds and hedges overgrown with Convolvulus. Adults rest during the day on any solid surface, especially tree-trunks, fences, telegraph poles or bare earth. With wings folded roof-like over the body, they resemble a piece of weathered grey wood and are hence difficult to detect. Sometimes pairs can be found in such locations, but most, having paired towards midnight, part before dawn. At other times, A. convolvuli is an extremely active and powerful flier, frequenting beds of tubular flowers, such as Nicotiana, Petunia, Lilium, Phlox and Jasminum, hovering between one blossom and another while probing with its very long proboscis (up to 130mm). While on the wing between dusk and midnight, neither rain nor wind seem to deter this species. Light is also very attractive, most individuals arriving about two hours after dark.
FLIGHT-TIME:
Migrant and multivoltine; in its resident range, from April to October, with up to four well-defined generations. Farther north, migrants start arriving from June to August, producing an autumn generation during August and September, individuals of which are considerably larger in size than African specimens. There is some evidence for a southward migration in the autumn (Alkemeier & Gatter, 1990).

info from http://tpittaway.tripod.com/sphinx/a_con.htm
thistle, Janice, willie, carper, marhowie, Callie, extramundi has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Callie: :-)red45 1 01-28 03:20
To Jancie: Thanks!red45 4 01-27 05:46
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Critiques [Translate]

You said this photos aren't best and I won't argue about it ;-)
I would say that I like those on the left ;-)
I like your subject and BG with Dziwaczek flowers. All this call warm summer night to my mind and thank you for that :-)

Nice composition Grzegorz, it's just a bit overexposed because of the flash. Great note.
Well done.
TFS.

Good shot of the moth Greg. Not my favourite insect, but you have placed these 4 photos together very well. Good result.

When I saw the thumbnail I said "what's a humingbird doing in Ukraine". So you attracted my attention.
As you saay the shots are overexposed, but Callie has commented previously, any shot is often better than no shot. And you make up for the small flaw with a great presentation and comprehensive notes.
This is good stuff Grzegorz, I hope you recovered swiftly from your illness.
Cheers, Chris.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2005-01-27 6:42]

The top left one is better.

  • Great 
  • mango (42)
  • [2005-01-27 8:33]

Rewelacja. Ciekawe zdjecia. Szczególnie cieszko o takie owady u nas :) Very goog!!

I hope you are better now?

It's a nice set of shots. Well composed and a interesting write up. A bit bright but still worth posting. Well done.

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2005-01-27 11:18]

Good presentation Greg. Interesting notes also. very well done

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2005-01-27 12:29]

I know why the photo's aren't the best Grzegorz, because is is a very differcult insect to set on the photo. So I think you did a good job here, a nice serie with a good note, very good job

Grzegorz, Like the compostion & these alternate POV's. Nice presentation with a great note..Just a bit over is all. TFS!

Hi Greg
There are hummers nearly as small as this moth. Vey nice and interesting presentation, and nice note too. TFS
I believe Joanna is going to get a "contract" for "shoes" make sure it is not for cement shoes.

I remember this day when I saw this moth first time! He was big and scared but he has a beauty inside... I would like to go on Crimea one more time to meet him again.

It must not be nice to be ill in holidays. You said it abuut the flash, but you made a good and sharp series anyway. I like this compositions with several frames and POVS, very descriptive. Thanks!

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-30 16:46]

Polish Hummingbird - you can hear him humming "My Bonny lies over the ocean" :)

This is a very nice series and the composition in all of them are good. Very interesting note as well.

Very well done and thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • olar Gold Star Critiquer [C: 137 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-01-31 6:24]

Wygląda jak koliber, ale nigdy nie widziałma takiego owada. Dobre zestawienie kilku póz.

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2005-07-15 7:05]
  • [2]

Waht a fantastic shot!
It's an Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758)!
It belongs to the Sphingidae Sphinginae.
Doesn't exist in Portugal.
5* composition!

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