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Precis coenia
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Name: Precis coenia
Buckeye butterfly
Family:Nymphalidae
A typical butterfly, the american variant of Peacock Butterfly from Europe.
Found from Caraibes and S. Mexico, thrugout U.S. and migratory in SE Canada. Most representative for a genus with several species, most of them looking the same, with minor size and wing pattern difference.
Uses as hostplants species from Plantaginaceae, Acanthaceae, Verbenaceae, Cornaceae. They use chemicals found in these plants that stimulate the female to oviposit. Feeding on mud and nectar. They usuly bask with the wings spread, having the "eyes" on display.
Defense systems: Fooling and misdirecting
It is of common knowledge that many butterfly use their wing pattern for easy recognizing among them, as being of a same specie. Many butterflies (and moths for that matter) have in their wing design some spots called "eyes" (Obvious why)>
Precis coenia has quite large "eyes". Their main use is for defense, which they realize in two ways:
1. Scare them: for a small bird or some lizards, this "eyes" give an inaccurate information about the size of this potential prey. Taking the spots as real eyes, the predator think it is in front a much larger animal, therfore it's not risking an attack.
2. Misdirect them: for larger predators that are not impressed by the first trick, the eyespots are doing the second mission: most of the predators ar aiming to the head to make a deadly attack. They use little energy with maximum damage potential. Making the same mistake like many others, they direct the attack to the "eyes", leaving the butterfly's body unharmed, and giving him a chance to escape. (that's why you may encounter "eyed" butterflies with their wings riped and shreded but... still flying). |
red45, wallhalla15, reina, phlr, TAZ, ellis49 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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- chiliu
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1169]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(6448) - [2005-11-28 7:44]
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Very nice close-up!
Great colours and details,
beautiful butterfly.
TFS!
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- red45
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2816 W: 75 N: 7977]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(26975) - [2005-11-28 10:09]
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Hi Petru!
Very interesting note about butterflies' defensive tactics. Photo is slightly soft in my oppinion, but insect itself looks great. Big eyes could easily scary small predator for sure ;-)
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- manyee
(20016)
- [2005-11-28 10:52]
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Sharp details on this buckeye butterfly, Petru. Excellent light and composition. Good POV. Well done and TFS. : )
Hello Petru!
Amazing colours and just great butterfly - I never saw it in Poland.
Hello Petru,
Very nice capture. Great composition and nice sharp details. Great POV too. Very well done. Thanks for sharing.
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- phlr
(2804)
- [2005-11-28 16:45]
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Such a beauty!
Wonderful butterfly!
Very beautiful clours!
Very good details!
Big "eyes" it has!
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- RII
(2804)
- [2005-11-29 1:15]
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Hi Petru.
Ohhh...Very nice capture,good compositions.
Saludos...RICARDO.
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- TAZ
(10922)
- [2005-11-29 1:25]
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Wooow ! What a wonderful and interesting butterfly that you have very well captured ! I also appreciate the complementary note... Congratulations Petru and thanks for sharing.
Hi Petru,
A beautiful butterfly you have caught.
It's a bit soft but well composed, good POV and lovely colours. I like the DOF too.
Well done.
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- EOSF1
(23221)
- [2005-12-15 15:28]
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He's looking at us ! Incredible eyes ! Nice sharp picture. Thanks.
Mario
