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Tiger Butterfly


Tiger Butterfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Greg Hume (greghume) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 197 W: 72 N: 471] (1774)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-02
Categories: Insects
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ20, Leica 36-432mm
Exposure: f/4, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Papilio [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-28 17:50
Viewed: 738
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I had some trouble identifying this butterfly. It appears close to either the Dark Blue Tiger Tirumala septentrionis musikanos or the Blue Glassy Tiger Ideopsis vulgaris macrina , both found in Sri Lanka. Several other tiger species are similar in appearance.
Both species are Danaids. The Danaid larvae often feed on plants containing poisons and unpalatable substances. Instead of eliminating or detoxifying these chemicals, they assimilate them in their body fluids and retain them as adult butterflies. The male adult also assimilates poisons from plants such as Heliotropium indicum and Crotalaria pallida.
When captured, the insects first line of defense is to emit odorous chemicals that encourage the predator to release it. The butterfly also shams death when captured - most avian predators will not consume a butterfly that is already dead. If captured and swallowed, butterfly toxins act quickly to induce vomiting in the birds. The poison concentration is sublethal, but leaves a lasting impression on the predator.

Because of their tough and leathery bodies, Danaids are difficult to kill and have a remarkable ability to fly away after a bird has attacked. Source.

Taken at the Krohn conservatory butterfly show.
ppmiranda, spencertraci, Christopher_PL has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • trinko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 610 W: 83 N: 324] (4310)
  • [2007-06-28 18:14]

nice focus good DOF nice colors interesting background

Greg,

Excellent picture.

- Murali Santhanam

Wow that butterfly really stands out agianst the surrounding foliage! The lighting on the leave it sits on is rather harsh but otherwise a wonderful image.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3069 W: 231 N: 5857] (19698)
  • [2007-06-28 21:22]

Excellent shot, Greg.
The exposure is just perfect, exposing gorgeous colors and markings.
Crystal clear details well shown against a nicely blurred BG.
TFS. ; )

Hello Greg,
Well composed and sharp image.
TFS
Annick

Wow - this is a real beauty! I wish I had seen this at the show! It is so sharp and your compostion is wonderful!

Very crisp details and such a nice composition.

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 663 W: 98 N: 1260] (4179)
  • [2007-06-30 20:12]

Hi Greg, I think you have identified the butterfly correctly. It is a great photo with very nice exposure and color. Focus is outanding. I can see the texture in the wings. Looks great! Ken

Hello Greg
Beautifull butterfly - it's really pity that there are no butterflies like that in Europe ;-)
TFS

Chris

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