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Narrow Escape
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6166]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (21070) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-09-22 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS |
| Exposure: f/3.5, 1/800 seconds |
| Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop |
| Date Submitted: 2006-10-02 0:10 |
| Viewed: 772 |
| Points: 20 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
It is hard to believe that such gems of nature as these beautiful butterflies are just as subject to the laws of predation as any other creature. This swallowtail has had a narrow escape, possibly from the beak of a bird.
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
Range
Western North America, from eastern British Columbia to eastern North Dakota, south to northern Baja California and southern New Mexico. Rare stray to central Nebraska.
Description
Adult butterflies have a two-and-three-quarter to four-inch (seven- to ten-centimeter) wingspan. The wings are black and pale yellow with black tiger-stripes. The hindwings have tails at their lower tips that resemble the long tail feathers of a swallow; hence, their common name swallowtail. Also on the hindwing, there are narrow yellow spots along the wing's margin and orange tint on two spots near the end of the inner margin of the wing. Blue spots are found around the outer margin of the hindwing. The upper side of the hindwing may have a yellow spot on the outer margin. On the forewing, yellow spots form a continuous band along the outer margin of the wing. These yellow spots are bordered in black.
The adult antennae are knobbed but never hooked at the tip.
Life Cycle
A deep green, shiny, spherical egg is laid on the underside of a leaf. Eggs are laid singly, but there may be a number of them on the leaf. The caterpillars reach about two inches in length, are deep to light green in color, are swollen in the front, and have large yellow eyespots with black and blue pupils. There is a colored forked organ called the osmeterium located behind the head on the back of the caterpillar. This foul-smelling organ can turn inside out, and, along with the eyespots, may deter predators. The dark brown chrysalis overwinters slung from a twig or tree trunk. The chysalis is woodlike.
Swallowtail females may lay up to four batches of eggs in a season and up to one hundred eggs in total. The length of time that it takes for the larvae to emerge from the egg depends upon the weather, but generally, in summer, it takes four days. The larvae molt five times - called instars - before they pupate. After each molt, the caterpillar eats the old skin which is rich in nutrients.
Flight
February in southern California, May in Washington State. Normally in mountain areas adults fly from June through July. In the lower latitudes and altitudes there may be up to three broods, while in the more northern extents of the range there may be only one.
Habitat
Woodlands near streams and rivers, wooded residential areas, canyons, parks, and sagelands and mesas with creeks. May be seen at higher elevations.
Food
Caterpillars feed upon cottonwood, willow, quaking aspen, alder, maple, sycamore, hoptree, plum and ash. Adults feed on flower nectar from a wide variety of flowers.
Source |
elefantino, Janice, marmottelolo, Merlin, glazzaro, dew77, Luc has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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Hello Manyee, nice close up of this beautifull butterfly.
You composed the frame really well and exposure is fine.
Good colors and notes, too.
Andrea
- batu
(13364)
- [2006-10-02 1:58]
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Hallo Manyee,
beautiful and sharp picture showing the swallowtail with widely opened wings so that they are in one plane - just optimal to present the colour pattern in detail. Natural colours and perfect light.
Best wishes, Peter
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- Janice
(18648)
- [2006-10-02 3:00]
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Survival of the fittest, and they are part of a food chain.
Super shot Manyee, these Swallowtails are quite an attractive butterfly with their unusual wing shapes. You show her off beautifully, nice and sharp details and colours. TFS
Janice
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- ciccio
(2721)
- [2006-10-02 4:26]
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Hola Manyee, preciosa la foto, aquí hay una especie muy parecida que es la Papilio Machaon, seguro que son primas. Buen POV y DOF. Un saludo y TFS
Jose Luis
bonjour manyee
ce papillon n'est pas tres facile a approcher,moi je n'ai pas reussi.j'aime beaucoup ses formes et ses couleurs.
la note est bien.
laurent
Hi, Manyee
All the photographic technicalities are perfect here and the image composition is very nice. Somehow, the image looks a little too "flat?" I think maybe a tweak of the highlights in "levels" would make it look "sunnier" - but I could be wrong.. I've tried a quick workshop.
Best wishes, Nigel
Lovely Swallowtail, good detail and expsoure.
Greg
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- TAZ
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(10926) - [2006-10-02 12:07]
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What a nice Shallowtail. Good light on the beauty and pleasant green environment. Sharpness and DOF woks well. Well seen and well done.
Compliments Manyee !
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- dew77
(13209)
- [2006-10-02 13:21]
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Hello Manyee,
Excellent capture of swallowtail.Exposure is spot on,details are crisp clear.POV,framing and composition are also wonderful.
TFS...:-)
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- CTP
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 647 W: 6 N: 1106]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(3191) - [2006-10-02 14:22]
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Hi Manyee,
Greeat Swallowtail close-up.
I like your blurred bg,pov,dof,colors,focus,frame and sharpness.TFS
Chris
