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A friendly Virginia Ctenucha


A friendly Virginia Ctenucha
Photo Information
Copyright: Michel Pilon (pilonm) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 548 W: 90 N: 871] (2919)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-16
Categories: Insects
Camera: Panasonic DMC FZ - 20 LUMIX
Exposure: f/4, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-06 4:50
Viewed: 990
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello, last July I met some Virginia Ctenucha flying softly around those pinkish flowers... To my great pleasure, I was able to come very close to it in order to take this picture... What a friendly butterfly :-)

Any comments?

Thank you!

Michel


-----------------

Size

Wingspan 40-50 mm
Larva to 50 mm

Identification

Adult: Large, northern (despite the name) wasp moth. Body metallic blue, including some on thorax. Male (?), has incredible antennae. Compare Yellow-collared Scape Moth--Cisseps fulvicollis, which is very similar. Cisseps is smaller, with no blue on thorax. Hindwing (not usually visible) of Ctenucha is black, translucent in Cisseps. Cisseps species is widespread, and its range includes the southeastern United States, where Ctenucha is absent. (Milne (1) states the simiar Brown Ctenucha, C. brunnea, is found in the southeast. This is a typographic error--that species appears to be found in the southwest.)

Hannah Nendick-Mason summarizes identification of these moths thus:

It seems to me the shape of the yellow "collar" is a good distinction. In Ctenucha it is narrower at the nape and then spreads down to the shoulders (excuse ignorance of a better technical term). In Cisseps it goes almost straight across forming a neat line, and in Harrisina the line is blurred.



Larva: body surface black but covered with tufts of cream-colored or black hairs (or a mix of both) that may obscure ground color; white lateral line and white or yellow subdorsal line may be visible or obscured by hair; thoracic legs black, prolegs red or pinkish; head reddish-brown on top and sides, black on front

Range

Labrador and Newfoundland to Virginia, west to Utah, north to British Columbia (has expanded westward greatly since 1950, and now occurs in every Canadian province)

Covell only mentions eastern distribution: Labrador south to Pennsylvania, west to Manitoba, Kansas. (2)

Habitat

Fields with flowers; day-flying and night-flying; adults are attracted to light

Season

adults fly May-July; two broods

larvae usually seen April to September but may be found any time of year (they overwinter)

Food
Larvae feed on monocots: grasses, sedges, iris.

Adults take nectar at various flowers, such as goldenrod.

Life Cycle

two generations per year; overwinters as a larva beneath leaf litter/matted grasses

Remarks

Despite its name, this species is more commonly found in the northern United States and southern Canada than in Virginia, which represents the southern boundary of its range.

The larva's hair color may vary according to season for thermoregulation purposes, from black in the early spring (to absorb solar radiation) to yellowish in summer (to reflect the sun's rays) [article citation, Paul Fields, Agriculture Canada]
cicindela, pankajbajpai, gracious, horia, Alex99, JoseMiguel, Silke, jrobertop, SelenE, keanhoon, peter_stoeckl, loot has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hello michel,
lovely shot, the flowers with soft colours look beautiful, nice pov, well composed shot, precise dof, liked the framing too,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Bonjour Michel,
This is a real good shot in best DOF!
perfect sharpness, vivid colour both in insect and flower also in much details
the exposure and focus is spot on!
very well done indeed
TFS
all the best
Tony

Salut Michel,
Je ne savais même pas que nous avions ces insectes ici. Elle a les plus belles antennes :) C'est une bonne capture détaillée. J'aurais essayé de laisser juste un peu plus de place pour avoir l'impression que son corps est entier (même si on ne le vois pas). Merci pour cette photo éducative.
Claudine

bonjour michel
tres bonne netteté sur l'insecte et couleurs naturelles.
le POV est bien choisit et montre le papillon devant un BG bien flou.
bravo.
laurent

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2175 W: 221 N: 4385] (14914)
  • [2007-11-06 9:34]

Hi Michel

A truely amazing macro from you! What an impressive species!
Fisrtly, i really love its huge antennae, standing out so nicely here due to the great side POV and excellent DOF!
Secound, the contrast created between the darker moth and the bright flowers is terrific and really eye-catch, plus it brings out the details in the insect so much better.
Very detailed and sharp, too, denoting a spot-on focus.
Put a loely composition on top and you have a winning combination!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3609 W: 143 N: 5702] (18641)
  • [2007-11-06 10:18]

Hi Michel.
What a pleasant colour palette and nice surroundings. The extremely sharp, perfectly details and coloured moth is looked amazingly among these wonderful flowers. Bravo for subject and skilful reproduction of this charming scene.
Alexei.

Bonjour Michel,
A very good macro!
I like the mix of flower and insect presented here.
All that "bed" of petals works like a great support for the bug, with that stunning antennas.
Felicitactions et merci du partage.
Mes amities,
JM

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
  • [2007-11-06 11:09]

Hello Michel!
I must say the the details in those feathery antennae are s=imply superb!
Grand composition and colours as well
TFS
silke

Hi Michel!
Picture has really beautiful colours and very good sharpness, but my favourite element of this photo is POV. Thanks to it the pose of moth looks really great (and a little funny as for me). Very educational and professional note too.
It is a great pleasure to watch this image!
Best withes from Poland,
Radomir

Hi Michel.
Great capture!
Wonderful moth!
Very good colors and sharpness.
Shot rich in details; original POV.
Well done!
Thanks for sharing!
My best regards!
José Roberto

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2007-11-07 4:00]

Hi Michel,
The antennas look lovely. I liked the POV, composition, details and colors. TFS
Best wishes
Selen

Interesting POV. Nice photo.
TFS
Best regards,
Kean

  • Great 
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 216 W: 1 N: 329] (1617)
  • [2007-11-07 17:21]

Bonjour Michel,
superbes couleurs et détails bravo
Donald

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2007-11-08 2:00]

Hi Michel,
Wonderful shot of this colourful moth with immaculate sharpness and details. Superb lighting, exposure and DOF. I like the surrounding here and the gorgeous antennaes which make it look so special. Excellent POV to portray it and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Michel,
brilliantly approached and composed close-up of that unusual, attractive day active moth.
Very clear details, and marvellously gentle colours. Well informing notes.
Thank you!
My best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5452 W: 594 N: 3667] (10083)
  • [2007-12-24 0:36]

Hi Michel

Here's just to say I'm missing you around the site...

Thanks for this lovely image and also for all the wonderful postings you shared with us throughout the year.

All the best for you and your loved ones during this festive season and beyond into the New Year that looms ahead.

May God shower his choicest blessings on you and your family this Christmas, and for the New Year I wish for you:
Health to Enjoy each day in Comfort,
Copious measures of Love from Friends and Family,
The Exquisite Beauty of Nature,
Wisdom to Choose priorities Sensibly,
Prosperity and the Best of everything,
Generosity so you may Share the above,
Overflowing Happiness and Abundant Joy,
and a Youthful Excitement at life's Simple Pleasures,

Warmest regards
Loot

Hello Michel

This picture tells me its springtime! Great POV and pleasing colors.

TFS and Best
Ravi

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