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Demoiselle


Demoiselle
Photo Information
Copyright: Terry Longley (wideload) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 5 N: 1018] (3775)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-14
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Canon EF300mm 4/L IS + 1.4x EXT, ISO 200
Exposure: f/8, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-07-24 9:29
Viewed: 1094
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Female Banded demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)

has the same style of butterfly-like flitting flight as that of the beautiful demoiselle. Males have a metallic bluish-green body with a central band of blackish-blue pigment on the wings. The females are metallic green and lack the band on the wings Males of this species can be distinguished from those of the similar species, the beautiful demoiselle, as the pigmentation on the wing forms a distinct band, whereas in the latter species this is broader and more extensive, covering much of the wing.

In Britain, this species occurs more towards the south. Elsewhere it is found in central and southern mainland Europe, across Asia to China.

Habitat
Inhabits slow-moving rivers, ponds and other still water-bodies.
The larvae occur amongst roots or aquatic plants. They are active mainly at night, and like other damselfly larvae are active predators. Larval development takes around two years, and they overwinter twice in the mud at the bottom of the river or pond. Larvae often travel for up to 100m out of water before the adult emergence occurs, typically in a shrub or tree. The flight period of adults is between May and the end of September. They take 7-10 days to mature following emergence, after which time they fly to breeding sites. Males hold territories around suitable egg-laying sites amongst vegetation that protrudes from the water, or they perch on vegetation at the riverside. Whilst the territory-holding males actively court females with a fluttering display flight, perching males try to mate with any female that passes by. Occasionally, males will fight over a territory, engaging in contest of a series of stereotypical flights for hours. After mating, females oviposit alone, often placing the eggs into the tissues of submerged vegetation. The eggs take around 14 days to hatch.
marhowie, Fisher, PDP, christophe, phlr, milloup, AndyB, deud, nixpix, Luc has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Terry, Great shot! Excellent DOF and colors..

Hi Terry,
Super capture of the dame. Well done on all counts. Tack sharp, a beauty.
Excellent work.

Mike

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2951 W: 366 N: 3779] (11763)
  • [2005-07-24 9:53]

Hi Terry, this made me laugh...I have an almost identical composition of the same damselfly, I was going to post but I'll leave it for a while!

Great shot, lovely composition and excellent details. Very well done.

Hello Terry
Great capture, sharpness and details
TFS
In a friendly way Christophe

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1648 W: 79 N: 1438] (4742)
  • [2005-07-24 13:34]

Hello Terry,

Stunning colors, razorsharp details and excellent composition. The BG is great aswell. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1276 W: 133 N: 874] (2804)
  • [2005-07-24 16:56]

A small and beautiful damselfly!
Very good job on this picture!
They are very dificult to catch.
Very good sharpness and details!

You can say the bit about butterfly-like flight again.. so far that's the only way I've seen them "live". Ours just won't sit for a photo session, at least not for me..
Very sharp and clean capture, good colours and DOF and a clean, unobtrusive bg to set off the critter to perfection.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1586 W: 32 N: 1350] (3980)
  • [2005-07-24 18:35]

Hello Terry,
A very nice capture.
Excellent composition,great colours and detail.
Perfect BG.
Very well done.

TFS

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 498 W: 2 N: 466] (2162)
  • [2005-07-27 5:03]

hi, amazing shot. fantastic details, composition. superbe green ambiance. very well.

Outstanding image of a difficult subject. Full marks from me on all counts for this one, well done, Rob

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2052 W: 315 N: 4301] (14719)
  • [2005-10-24 22:04]

Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Capacity of evocation in me: strong.
Strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you Terry.

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