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Owl Butterfly


Owl Butterfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-06
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-10-06 1:54
Viewed: 956
Points: 23
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Owl butterfly
Caligo memnon

There were quite a few of these Owl Butterflies at Butterfly Butterfly Creek in Mangere, Auckland today. I hadn’t seen so many of them there before.

Members of the butterfly genus Caligo, of which there are around 20 different species, are known as the owl butterflies. They are found in the rainforests and secondary forests of Mexico, Central and South America.

The Owl Butterfly (Caligo memnon), is a large, beautiful butterfly with distinctive eye-spot markings on the wings. The overall pattern of the wings resembles the face of an owl, a defensive measure against predators. The large eyespots serve either to scare a potential predator or to misdirect an attack away from the body (since predators will often first attack the eyes of prospective prey).


They prefer to spend the heat of the day perched upon a tree trunk, within the forest shade. They feed during the cooler dawn & dusk times on rotting fruits.

They have a wingspan of about 15 centimetres/6 inches.
techranger, bobcat08, Argus, tomszat, Adanac, jusninasirun, ubc64 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ubc64: ThanksJanice 1 10-16 18:32
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Critiques [Translate]

hello janice,
lovely shot of this beautiful species, the eyes on the wings look great, the image is sharp with good details, well composed shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

WOW... what a great shot of this butterfly Janice... very vibrant and detailed and well composed. Looks like this guy has a few battle scars... the deception worked evidently. TFS

Larry

Hi Janice, elegant butterfly with fantastic details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Janice,
Very sharp image of this Brassolid feeding on a banana, as they are often seen doing in their native South American habitat (bananas, of course having been introduced there!). Its autumn here now and the butterflies are fast disappearing, but that means it must be Spring where you are. It would be great if you could find some native NZ butterflies for us, to add to the cabbage white you posted some while back. Thanks.
Alan

Hi Janice,

What a contrast in the details on the wings. Marvelous. Like 3D. The image is very sharp with good details, well composed shot.

Cheers and TFS BOB

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-10-07 4:53]

Hello Janice, amazing shot and what a an eye. Excellent sharp image. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 712 W: 36 N: 1553] (4999)
  • [2008-10-07 21:09]

Hi Janice,

Wow what detail "and what big eyes you have" any other critter thinking of taking this on for dinner would have to think twice, those markings are amazing, wonderful colours and detail, love the POV, really nice work, all the best,

Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3813 W: 190 N: 11346] (34981)
  • [2008-10-08 3:29]

Hello Janice,
A fine sharp image of an Owl Botterfly feeding on rotting banana. The BG provides excellent contrast.
TFS,
Cheers,
Ivan

Hi Janice,
WOW! This butterfly look really impressive, fantastic details and patterns on the wings, good exposure and composition, thanks for sharing this beauty,
regards,
Tomasz

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2008-10-09 15:25]

Hello Janice,
Marvelous focus gives us an excellent view of the beautiful patterns on this butterflys wing. Nice colors and composition as well, thank you for sharing Janice.
Rick

Hi Janice. I like the close framing of this owl. The extra eyes on the wings really stunning. Sharp focus with the compound eye that pop. Well done and have a nice day. Jusni

  • Great 
  • ubc64 Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 31 W: 3 N: 86] (292)
  • [2008-10-16 17:55]
  • [+]

Hi Janice,

What a vivid image! I looked for the owl in the wing. I think I can see one. It looks as if there's a second face at the top of the wing as well. Something has evidently taken a chunk out of the wing just above the larger of the two main "eyes" -- presumably, there aren't any predators in the butterfly park, but I'm sure that it's not without its own hazards. A very carefully focused shot with a nice blurred background. Great contrast and colors as well. TFS.

John

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