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New Zealand Red Admiral


New Zealand Red Admiral
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3815 W: 505 N: 8095] (27712)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-30
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 100, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-31 3:56
Viewed: 1461
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This guy was fluttering around at the top of Te Mata Peak in Havelock North Hawkes Bay. Thank you Nigel for the ID, very much appreciated. Thanks for looking.

What is a Butterfly?

Butterflies are beautiful, flying insects with large scaly wings. Like all insects, they have six jointed legs, 3 body parts, a pair of antennae, compound eyes, and an exoskeleton. The three body parts are the head, thorax (the chest), and abdomen (the tail end).

The butterfly's body is covered by tiny sensory hairs. The four wings and the six legs of the butterfly are attached to the thorax. The thorax contains the muscles that make the legs and wings move.

FLYING
Butterflies are very good fliers. They have two pairs of large wings covered with colorful, iridescent scales in overlapping rows. Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are the only insects that have scaly wings. The wings are attached to the butterfly's thorax (mid-section). Veins support the delicate wings and nourish them with blood.

Butterflies can only fly if their body temperature is above 86 degrees. Butterflies sun themselves to warm up in cool weather. As butterflies age, the color of the wings fades and the wings become ragged.

The speed varies among butterfly species (the poisonous varieties are slower than non-poisonous varieties). The fastest butterflies (some skippers) can fly at about 30 mile per hour or faster. Slow flying butterflies fly about 5 mph.

LIFE-CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY
Butterflies and moths undergo complete metamorphosis in which they go through four different life stages.

* Egg - A butterfly starts its life as an egg, often laid on a leaf.
* Larva - The larva (caterpillar) hatches from an egg and eats leaves or flowers almost constantly. The caterpillar molts (loses its old skin) many times as it grows. The caterpillar will increase up to several thousand times in size before pupating.
* Pupa - It turns into a pupa (chrysalis); this is a resting stage.
* Adult - A beautiful, flying adult emerges. This adult will continue the cycle.

The above obtained from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterflies/allabout/

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 3:16 p.m.
Date: 20th October 2005
Weather conditions: Sunny
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/250
F-Stop: F/13
Focal Length: 88mm
ISO: 100
Original file type: Digital Raw
red45, Signal-Womb, glazzaro, livios, wallhalla15, mogens-j, cecilia, scottevers7, hummingbird24, Janice has marked this note useful
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To Merlin: New Zealand Red Admiralcoasties 2 10-31 05:59
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Critiques [Translate]

Pam:
New Zealand Red Admiral Vanessa gonerilla. The only NZ endemic representative of the sub-family Nymphalinae. Found throughout New Zealand it has a sub-species on the Chatham Islands, Vanessa gonerilla ida. Very nice shot!
Regards, Nigel

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-10-31 5:53]

Hello Pam!
Very nice close up.I liked details,POV and composition a lot.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-10-31 6:59]

Good work Pam. Not only butterflies with opened wings are beautifull. Nice details and composition, good note.

Nice detail, excellent exposure, good work.

Greg

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-10-31 11:34]

Pam, I like composition on this.

Excellent sharpness and pose - I have the feeling she wants to jump.

Very nice details.

Hi Pam,
this is a beautiful one, same name than the admiral we have here in Germany, but they look a little different. I also had one here, perhaps you want to compare? http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Europe/Germany/photo31266.htm
Very good shot, thank you very much, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hello Pam, a very fine macro shot. Excellent details and good tones of colours. A great capture, very well done.

Great capture Pam. The focus is a little soft on the upper wing but it is not really important here. What is important is to see the underside of the wings because many butterflies use to hold the wings spread wide out when they rest. Therefore you do not often see the beautifull colours and patterns on the underside.
Great sharpness also on the head which is important. The colours look very natural and the composition is very good with the diagonal line. The sand in the background works well and sets the butterfly off nicely. All over a very pleasant picture to look at. Well done. Great note too.

Great capture Pam.
Good colour, detail and sharpness.
Well composed and good exposure.
Thanks for posting. Sorry for the rushed critique, one of those busy nights!!

Nice sharp detailed image, well seen. The colours,light with the shadows have been well presented...
Well done...
Cesie

Hi Pam,
An excellent capture on this butterfly. The colors, detail, and DOF look perfect to me. Excellent spot on exposure in this light. Nice shot!
Scott

A great capture of this butterfly, Pam.

Nice sharp details, great BG, POV and lighting.

Good work, thank you.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-11-02 14:38]

So we do have butterflies like this in NZ!! Maybe no "Apple Moth" spray down there. Great view from up Te Mata Peak and what a great surprise to find this fella Pam. Good shot, he's nice and sharp. Well done.

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