Large Copper

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Large Copper
Photo Information
Copyright: Tanja Alma (sily) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 265 W: 6 N: 390] (1857)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-10
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon PowerShot A710 IS
Exposure: f/4, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Sily's photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-19 19:24
Viewed: 809
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Large Copper
Lycaena dispar
is a Europeanbutterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The British race of this butterfly (dispar) has been extinct for over 150 years (since 1864). Most of our knowledge of its life cycle and ecology comes from studies of the similar race (batavus) found in The Netherlands. The species can be identified by the silvery hindwing undersides, from the large specimens of the related, more common, drier habitat species Lycaena virgaureae and Lycaena hippothoe.

The white eggs are laid singly on the foodplant, with several eggs sometimes being found together on the same leaf. The eggs hatch in approximately 16 days.The larva does not eat its eggshell on hatching and commences feeding on the underside of the leaf. As for the Small Copper larva, a small groove is formed, leaving the upper surface of the leaf intact. The larva rests in this groove when not feeding. In the third instar, the larva creates holes in the leaf surface and moves to the midrib of the leaf prior to moulting. The larva overwinters while in the third instar, at the base of the foodplant, typically within leaf litter. The fully-grown larva is approximately 20mm in length. There are four instars in total, this stage lasting 10-11 months.The pupa is attached to a stem of the foodplant, attached by a silken girdle and the cremaster. The pupa is approximately 11mm in length. This stage lasts between 1 and 6 weeks, depending on temperature.
European/world range
Locally but widely distributed in central Europe as far north as southern Finland, and across to Asia. Divided into three races: dispar formerly in Britain, batavus in the Netherlands (both single brooded), and rutilus (double brooded). The latter is declining in many European countries while batavus is reduced to two sites.
Foodplants
The sole foodplant of the single-brooded races (dispar and batavus) is Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum). Other docks are used by the rutilus race in continental Europe.
Habitat
The single brooded races breed in open fen vegetation where Water Dock grows at a high density in relatively open, sunny positions. The race rutilus breeds in a far greater range of damp habitats in Europe.

Ps.
I've walked the path three days in a row, and this little fellow was always at the same place, guess they are bit teritorial.
It's quite a nightmare to take a photo of striking orange in front of green BG, it always looks unsharp and at least to me colors don't go along...
Ken52, doubleg57, JORAPAVI, Maite, vanderschelden, mikou, uleko, Alex99, GLEM, Silvio2006, cicindela, anel, nainnain, blakitan, Matt-Bird, peter_stoeckl, touristdidi has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Salut Tanja
Elle est très Belle et intéressante ta composition macro-photographique bien réalisée pour ce superbe papillon. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté
Merci et au revoir...JP

  • Great 
  • trinko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 610 W: 83 N: 324] (4310)
  • [2007-05-19 21:24]

great colors nice focus amazing how clear the eyes and antenna are a bit more DOF on the wings would be nice.

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 661 W: 98 N: 1202] (4017)
  • [2007-05-20 0:22]

Outstanding POV. Razor sharp focus will excellent details. Exposure is perfect with wings back lit by the sun giving very nice glow effect. Even the underside of the wings are well exposed. WOW!

Hi Tanja,
Excellent sharpness and details.
i like the light control
Wel done
Cheers

bonjour tanja
un tres beau gros plan,coloré et detaillé,un peu plus de profondeur aurais permit d'avoir l'aile anterieure droite plus nette je pense.
laurent

Hi Tania,
Wonderful colours and amazing details
Guy

Hola Tanja,
Preciosa toma de bella composición, gran nitidez con luz y fondo muy agradables. Saludos
José Ramón

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 64 N: 1199] (4856)
  • [2007-05-20 5:55]

Hello Tanja
What a marvellous close-up! It has excellent sharpness and marvellous natural colors. I think they match rather well.
I like a lot the composition!
Congratulations and TFS.
Greetings
Maite

Hi Tanja,
Nice shot.
The wing is a bit soft though; as I don't expect this one to be a big crop as it is rather difficult to get the depth of field needed due to the close-up.
I do like the light and transparency in the wings...
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 903 W: 79 N: 1362] (5261)
  • [2007-05-20 8:00]

Hi Tanja.
It is beautiful very close-up of this little butterfly.I like your used interesting point of view.Pretty effect working back light.Sharp details on head and beautiful colors.Well done.
Thanks,with greeting Milos.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2295 W: 163 N: 6692] (21138)
  • [2007-05-20 9:58]

Hello Tanja,
Very fine macro of the Large Copper showing splendid sharp details and natural colours. Nice light too in this excellent composition.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2007-05-20 10:30]

Hi Tanja.
Colours and light (impressive back sunlight) of your perfect butterfly are simply great. Very impressive reproduction of this beautiful specimen. Nice composition and framing. I also like wonderful well illuminated, coloured and blurred BG. Note is written very well too. Bravo and best regards.
Alexei.

Elegancia del conjunto, lograda por el enfoque y contrastes. Una fotografía muy elegante. Saludos Tanja.

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 534 W: 87 N: 667] (5476)
  • [2007-05-20 12:15]

salut Tanja,
belle macro, les couleurs sont bien vives et saturées. Bon POV, transparence des ailes bien vu.

gl

Hi Tanja, wonderful butterfly with splendid colors, great details, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 0 N: 1654] (7206)
  • [2007-05-21 2:41]

Hello Tanja,
Bravo Tanja for this wonderful shot, full of light. Excellent sharpness, especially on the head, good composition. You must be happy.
Have a nicve day
Anne

Hello Tanja!
This is one of your best macro picture I have seen on TN :) I like POV, details and general composition. Also colours are nice, well saturated, and the note very informative :)
Greetings from Lodz,
Radomir

bonsoir
magnifique cette macro, de plus ce papillon est superbe, de tres belles couleurs netttes
beau travail
merci
edith

Hi Tanja,
Excellent macro shot, sharp.
Backlite effect was very impressive.

BL

Hello Tanja.

Excellent picture, nice composition and colors.
Very good details.

Regards.
Jose Luis.

Hi Tanja,
Nice sharp and clear image. Ireally like the light shining throught the wings creating a nice warm orange colour. Great photo,
regards
Matt.

Hi Tanja,
very pretty, colourful, powerful portrait of Lycaena dispar very closely approached in front of a well contrasting background. Wonderful backlight that demonstrates the delicious transparency of wings, and its lovely golden colours. Very nice document of a rare species.
Interesting to read about the territorial behaviour.
I was happy to see and to picture the same species near Vienna around the same time this year, and your picture has reminded me finally to post it soon. We seem to share similar zoobotanical regions.
Thank you! My best regards,
Peter

The light shining through the wings is fantastic, very, very beautiful! Every detail is beautiful!!!

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