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Owl Butterfly


Owl Butterfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Joe Kellard (joey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-23
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS, Raynox DCR-250
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-10-04 2:47
Viewed: 481
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this at Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford. Luckily it was a newly hatched specimen and was still pumping up its wings so I could get a close up shot without the threat of it flying off.

I hope you like it.

Owl butterflies, of which there are around 20 different species, are members of the genus Caligo, in the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. They are found in the rainforests and secondary forests of Central and South America.
The name is derived from the presence of large "eyespots" (ocelli) on the underside of the hindwings. To a human observer of dead butterflies pinned up in a collection, owl butterflies' underwings resemble the head of an owl when the butterfly is held head down. It was speculated that the ocelli are "false eyes" to scare smaller birds that attempt to prey on the butterfly.

There is no evidence that the function of the ocelli is to resemble an owl. The position in which the owl-like appearance occurs is not generally assumed by the butterfly in life. In its resting position, Caligo butterflies settle down with closed wings like most butterflies, showing only one of the eyespots, and do not look owl-like.

The actual significance of the ocelli remains elusive (Stevens 2005). In some butterflies, particularly Satyrinae (such as the Gatekeeper Butterfly and the Grayling), it has been shown that ocelli serve as a decoy, diverting bird attack away from the vulnerable body, and towards the outer part of the hindwings or the forewing tip. Owl butterflies have been observed with large chunks missing from their hindwings. On the other hand, decoy ocelli are almost always small and located near the margin of the wing, where the damage caused by a bird's beak would interfere little with the butterfly flying and going about its life. The position and size of the owl butterflies' ocelli makes them a decidedly suboptimal decoy, as they are far too close to the abdomen in resting position to ensure no substantial damage is inflicted by a bird snapping at them.

The underwing pattern is highly cryptic. Caligos typically rest on tree trunks and large branches, and at least to human observers, when seen from a distance, the eyespot and the surrounding dark area do not compromise their superb camouflage. As many birds are able to see in the ultraviolet, more research is needed to determine how the eyespot pattern is perceived by the actual predators. In any case, at fairly close range the most visible thing about a resting owl butterfly is certainly a dark patch containing a single "false eye".

Owl butterflies are very large, and fly only a few metres at a time, so avian predators have little difficulty in following them to their settling place. However, the butterflies preferentially fly around dusk, when few avian predators are around. Indeed, their main predators are apparently small lizards such as Anolis. It has been suggested that the hindwing underside pattern actually resembles the head of a large Hyla tree frog, which prey on Anolis. This theory remains to be tested. It is known that many small animals hesitate to go near patterns resembling eyes with a light-colored iris and a large pupil, which matches the appearance of the eyes of many predators that hunt by sight. Thus, it is conceivable that the eye pattern is a generalized form of automimicry that would buy the butterfly time to escape from an approaching predator.

Thankyou for your comments
PaulH, haraprasan, jcoowanitwong, pierrefonds, eqshannon, smitha, Silke, fartash, hester, nglen, jaycee, Juyona, jmirah, Jamesp, angybone, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Wow! Another fantastic macro Joe.
That Raynox close up lens is awesome isn't it?
You are getting real good at these macros.
Detail is superb.
Keep it up.
Cheers,
Steve

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1115 W: 23 N: 3667] (13111)
  • [2007-10-04 4:36]

Hi Joe,
superb detail, that's about as close as it gets...you could count the hairs. Very good colour and the flash has given you a great black BG. Nicely done.
Paul

Hi Joe,
wonderful picture, excellent capture, the details are amazing, great POV and composition...
An excellent piece of work, congratulations.
TFS and regards
Alutka

Hi Joe,
This is stunning picture. Never see a butterfly this close before. Wonderful details of hairs. Very well done.
JC

Hi Joe,

A good POB of the owl butterfly, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

Can you also get inside and take pictures out the eye? You are mighty close in there guy. Focus is critical yet with flash added...the comp0uter in the camera must have had fits. Wonderful capture. almost some luck as well I would think.
Bob

Hello Joe,
WOW!!!!!What a superb macro shot! Great close up of the owl butterfly. I think i can count all the tiny hairs on its head as you have captured it with excellent sharpness and details.Good POV and DOF.
TFS,
Smitha.

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
  • [2007-10-04 9:01]

Another stunning super macro and I think I shall have to remember that tip for another time: to do macros on hatchlings!
Great colours, amazing details
TFS
silke

Hello Joe
What a great closeup of this Owl Butterfly,
Perfect details,lighting and composition,
Welldone,friend.

Good Luck
Fartash

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2007-10-04 12:41]

Wow Joe what a close up. A wonderfully detailed and sharp shot. Great use of flash again as well

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2924 W: 34 N: 8671] (32310)
  • [2007-10-04 12:45]

Hi Joe . First thanks for the very interesting notes you allways right and thanks for taking the time. This is a excellent close up of the Owl butterfly.you have captured so much detail with your new lens. rich colours and a nice POV against the black BG. you get the best out of your kit. very well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-10-04 13:01]

Hi Joe,

An amazing macro. Those eyes are fantastic. Colors and details are excellent. How fantastic to have a model that can't fly away.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2269 W: 10 N: 2650] (15641)
  • [2007-10-04 16:45]

Hola Joe,
una genial macro...
buenos dtalles,
saludos

  • Great 
  • jmirah Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 5 N: 1135] (4665)
  • [2007-10-04 19:45]

Hi Joey,
Outstanding macro!!! Excellent focus, color, detail and comp. Great note. Very well done.

TFS
Jim

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16524)
  • [2007-10-04 23:25]

Hi Joe

Seriously good macro - you have achieved that abstract quality again. Love the lighting.

James

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2007-10-05 1:51]

Hi Joe,
Just marking this shot and will come back later with a proper critique. Completed the urgent assignment and deserve some sleep now.
Regards.
Sumon

Hi Joe,
A beautiful closeup shot of this owl butterfly. Excellent details with good DOF. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2007-10-05 2:45]

Joe, nice super and macro closeup shot. This is wonderful image quality. Ganesh

WOW! Your close-ups are amazing!!! I run out of out words so WOW will have to do! :)

Hi Joe!
And this is a true macro! Fantastic close up with very good details and sharpness. And this eye... ;> I really start thinking about buing raynox! :) Waht I can say more? I am waiting for the next such great picture soon :)
Best withes,
Radomir

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