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Lycaena phlaeas


Lycaena phlaeas
Photo Information
Copyright: Alan Turvey (liquidsunshine) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2047 W: 113 N: 3421] (11488)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-15
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 300 D, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro, Hoya 58mm skylight
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2005-05-19 13:17
Viewed: 930
Points: 33
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Here is another shot from last weekend. I had expected the weather to be dull, so had planned a day at London butterfly house. It turned out to be a wonderful warm and sunny day. So I spent the day with the good lady, on a couple of nice relaxing walks (at least I got my first butterfly shot).
I got this on the wilstone nature trail. To show you what a nice place this is on sunny days, I've posted a shot of the landscape, taken on the walk as a workshop.

Latin name: Lycaena phlaeas

Size: Wingspan approximately 25mms.

Distribution: Found throughout the UK, but less common in Scotland.

Months seen: May to October.

Habitat: Sandy heathland and woodland edges.

Special features: The small copper is named after its bright copper coloured forewings, which are dotted with black spots and have a black border.

The Small Copper is a fast flying butterfly, and by daytime is almost constantly on the move. Even when feeding, it rests with its wings half open (as above) ready for a lightning fast take off. Should another insect enter its air space, the small copper will swiftly drive it away.

They prefer sandy heathland, where their caterpillars can feed on their favourite food plant - sheep's sorrel. The bright green caterpillars are covered with tiny hairs, and when viewed from above, their legs and head cannot be seen, so they just look like a part of the leaf they are eating.

In a good summer, the adults can produce three broods. The first in May, the second in August and a third as late as October.

This is the last remaining copper butterfly in Britain since the Large Copper became extinct in the mid 1800's. Attempts to re-introduce the large copper, so far, have been unsuccessful. Experts have yet to determine the exact formula for the large coppers survival here.

Notes are from www.uksafari.com

Thanks for looking
carper, Fisher, Runnerduck, AndyB, PDP, red45, TAZ, Comandante, dew77, marhowie has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pgmoni: Thanks Philippeliquidsunshine 1 05-19 14:54
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2165 W: 124 N: 2567] (8208)
  • [2005-05-19 13:23]

I like the good job here Alan,
very nice capture, it's a differcult composition, with that lang grasses, but even you have take her in pov, and with a nice dof, good note too, well done,
gr. Jaap

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-05-19 13:26]

Excelnet shot, Alan.
Well done on the composition, a beautiful view.

Mike

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-05-19 13:44]

Very pretty colours and great contrasts. Well done.
Toni

Very nice composition. The light is gorgeous and the sharpness perfect.
TFS.
PS it is phlaeas, not phlaeus, btw ;°)

I like this pov, and the detail on both the butterfly and flower is great.
A good sharp shot. Lovely nature trail.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2005-05-19 14:39]

Very well captured Alan,
Excellent composition and DOF,nice colours.
Butterflies are always a challenge to get,you've done a great job.
Very well done.

Also a very good one.
A good catch, and sharp.

Great shot Alan!
Perfect colours and details. I would maybe changed the composition a bit, but everything else is great.
I like it very much.
Well done!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
  • [2005-05-19 16:17]

Nice capture Alan, I've only seen one of these this year. Good sharp shot and a good job on the composition with all the surrounding grass. Well done

Great colors on this one Alan!
The focus is a bit oof but the comp is very ontresting.
The photo is very noisy in the BG.

WellDone!

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2829 W: 75 N: 8024] (26857)
  • [2005-05-19 17:58]

Hard to capture, they're very fast and chaotic. Grass on FG is slightly disturbing. Composition with flower and b-fly is very good. Congrats for your first butterfly Alan!

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2005-05-19 23:04]

Alan, despite some noise on the bg, a great shot.

Composition is just nice. The oof bg works well too. Finally, great colors.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3070 W: 231 N: 5861] (19714)
  • [2005-05-19 23:56]

Beautiful shot, Alan. The colors are very vivid. Great sharpness and composition. Well-done, and TFS. ; )

Hello Alan!
Wonderful macro.Details,colors and composition are superb.Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2005-05-20 3:37]

Belle et intéressante composition macro-photographique bien réalisée pour ce superbe papillon. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Well done !!!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-05-20 4:14]

Hello Alan!
This time great macro.Colors,details,lighting and composition are perfect.TFS...

Hello Alan, This has great color and is composed well..I really like the landscape scene of the area you shot this from. That's definitely a whole lotta yellow! Well done..

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