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Small copper


Small copper
Photo Information
Copyright: Fikret Yorgancioglu (fiyo) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 5 N: 2759] (10600)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-31
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma EX 105mm F2.8 DG Macro
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Butterflies and Moths of TURKIYE (TURKEY) II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-11-16 5:16
Viewed: 1056
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Facts
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Lepidoptera
Family Lycaenidae
Genus Lycaena
Size Wingspan: 24 – 30 mm

Status
Common (not threatened – Europe).

Description
One of the UK’s smaller butterflies, the small copper makes up for its diminutive size by being one of the most territorial and aggressive in the family. The butterfly is extremely variable in its colouration, but most specimens are a dark burnished orange with darker bronze upper hindwings and bands at the end of the upper forewings. There are also bronze-coloured spots on the upper forewings and, though difficult to see in the field, some individuals have small patches of sapphire blue scales on the upper hindwing.

Range
Small copper butterflies are widespread and common across the UK, and most of Europe including the larger islands in the Mediterranean. It is also found in North Africa, through Asia to Japan, and also in North America

Habitat
This butterfly can be seen in almost any habitat with warm, dry basking places. It has been recorded on heaths, grassland and city parks, along coastal cliffs, dunes and on moorland.

Biology
Small coppers appear on the wing in May and, in warm years, can still be seen in October. The eggs are laid on dock, sheep’s sorrel and common sorrel, the caterpillars feeding on the surface of the plant’s leaves. One way of spotting their presence is to inspect the leaves for characteristic surface damage. The caterpillars are green and covered with short white hairs, which help to camouflage them from predators. They overwinter as pupae and emerge as adult butterflies the following spring.

Male small coppers are one of the most active of all butterflies. They regularly chase away other butterflies from their chosen piece of territory, returning to the same basking spot to continue their watch for passing females. As adults, the butterflies will take nectar from a wide variety of grassland and meadow flowers, and are sometimes seen in suburban gardens

Conservation
A problem for some species of butterfly is their extreme reliance on a particular habitat or food source. Small copper butterflies are a good example of one that has chosen a foodplant that is common in lots of different habitat types, namely members of the dock family. However, like all insects, they are still vulnerable to pesticides and loss of suitable habitats.

The small copper is still a fairly abundant species, and one that will feed from suitable garden flowers, so try letting some of those dandelions, yarrow and other low-growing nectar-rich species survive untouched in the garden. It will be worth it to attract these small but colourful butterflies. And why not leave some docks as well?

Notes are from:http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_terrestrial_and_freshwater/Lycaena_phlaeus/more_info.html

Hope you like it:)
coasties, phlr, TAZ, marhowie, livios, sAner, wallhalla15, scottevers7, cecilia has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-11-16 5:30]
  • [2]

Hallo Fikret!

Beautifull reminder of hot and colorfull summer. I like colours, BG, composition with flower. Most of all I like very coloryll spot on insect's wing!

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2005-11-16 6:42]

Nice shot of this common Lycaenidae!
Also common in Portugal.
Good colors!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-11-16 7:02]
  • [2]

Wooow ! What a lovely and interesting butterfly that you have very well captured ! I also appreciate the complementary note... Congratulations Fikret and thanks for sharing.

Excellent color and light here Fikret. Great POV and smooth BG. Very good detail/sharpness seen in the head and near wing. Excellent note - Great work.
Thank You!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-11-16 14:00]
  • [2]

A very good picture with a very good note. I love the background, the colors and the very nice details. Too bad the wingtip is oof. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Great macro Fikret. Colourfull with very good sharpness and very good details. Very good job. WEll done. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Fikret

Just a quick critique tonight as it is very late. Really good shot. Well composed. Nice POV with good detail and sharpness. Nice work. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-11-17 9:35]
  • [2]

Fikret, very nice macro with a great composition.

I like colors and details too. Lovely bg.

lovely picture of a very pretty butterfly. very good OOF BG and lovely sharp picture.

Hi Fikret,
Beautifully composed and framed shot here. The colors are amazing, and detail is very sharp.
This is extremely well done!
Scott

Beauty as always, great colour on both butterfly and flower! Excellent shot....
Cecilia

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