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Blue Morpho Butterfly


Blue Morpho Butterfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3071 W: 231 N: 5861] (19714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-07-22 3:27
Viewed: 5444
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This photo was taken at the Bloedel Floral Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, B. C.

Blue Morpho Butterfly
Morpho peleides

Not True Blue

Despite their stunning color, blue morphos are not true blue - that is, their wings are not colored blue. So what's the deal? Like all butterflies, morphos have tiny, overlapping scales covering their wings. In blue morphos, the scales on their wing tops have tiny ridges that reflect blue light. So even though the butterflies aren't colored blue, their wing tops look blue!

In contrast, the underside of their wings is brown, visible when the butterflies are at rest and their wings are folded up. The drab color helps them blend in with their surroundings and hide from enemies like birds and large insects. If the butterflies are discovered, they have a second line of defense: two bronze-colored wing spots that look like eyes - perfect for scaring off would-be predators.

Changing Tastes
An adult blue morpho - like all butterflies - drinks its food rather than eats it. It uses its proboscis (long, protruding mouth part) to drink sap and fruit juices.

But like all butterflies, adult morphos were plant-chomping caterpillars as youngsters. Blue morpho caterpillars are especially fond of leaves in the pea family.

Morph-ing
So how do blue morpho caterpillars turn into blue morpho butterflies? Like all butterflies, they make an amazing transformation known as metamorphosis. First, eggs hatch into larvae, better known as caterpillars. Blue morpho caterpillars aren't blue at all: they're reddish-brown with bright patches of lime green on the back.

After a while the caterpillars wrap themselves in protective enclosures, called chrysalises. At this stage the insects are called pupae. After some time, pupation ends and the mature butterflies emerge from their chrysalises.

Home in the Forest
Morpho adults spend most of their time on the forest floor and in the understory (among the lower shrubs and trees). This is where they do their eating and sleeping. But when they're mating, these butterflies flit through all layers of the forest.

Fun Facts
Blue morphos, like all butterflies, taste with sensors on their legs and taste-smell the air with their antennae.
Their beauty is brief: the entire blue morpho life cycle lasts only 115 days.

Source
Comandante, phlr, bedford67, TAZ, wallhalla15, mishe, christophe, gerhardt has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Manyee,
It's a nice capture with wonderful colours.
Nice POV, compo and BG.
I like this use of soft light.

Hi Manyee
Fantastic shot. Amazing colours and pose!

Hello Manyee!
Very nice butterfly close up.Vivid colors,sharpness,crisp clear details and composition are wonderful.Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2005-07-22 7:38]

Hello MAnyee,

Nice capture! This is a very beautiful butterfly. Lovely, lovely colors and good details. Well composed (maybe a little too centered) and good POV. I just think the BG is a bit noisy. How come? Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Nice shot Manyee! running late, comments later..

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1276 W: 133 N: 873] (2804)
  • [2005-07-22 8:22]

Very beautiful butterlfy and picture!
Wonderful colors!
5* photo!

Hello Manyee,
This photograph is superb. These details are very sharp. The butterfly is well emphasized. Excellent note for its composition, its contrast and its colors. Cheer.
TFS, cordially,
Jean-Patrick

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2005-07-22 10:37]

Wonderful and interesting shot for this superb butterfly ! Composition, colors, details and sharpness are great ! Thanks for sharing Manyee.

Hello Manyee, that's a very nice butterfly shot! I like your work and note. TFS.

  • Great 
  • mishe Gold Star Critiquer [C: 79 W: 0 N: 3] (661)
  • [2005-07-22 16:34]

Zdravo Manyee!
Very beautiful photo.Very well done.TFS.
Best wishes and regards from Makedoniya,
Mihajlo(Mi-hi-lo).

Hello Manyee

Aren't these spectacular b'flies. Who would know when their wings are shut that there is this beautiful colour hidden away. Excellent POV. Nice work. Thanks.

Beautiful colours, Manyee.
Good POV, well composed and good details.
Well done.

Hi Manyee
Great capture and fantastic colors
TFS
In a friendly way Christophe

Very good use of the flash, a tad OE but not distracting.

Composition/placement: ***
Exposure: ***
Focus/sharpness: ****
DOF: ***
POV: ***
Impact: ****

Overall: ***

*Acceptable, **Average, ***Good, ****Great, *****Outstanding

  • Great 
  • VeTTe Gold Star Critiquer [C: 162 W: 0 N: 0] (684)
  • [2005-07-24 5:54]

very beautiful colors!
sharpness and colors!

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