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Birch Bug


Birch Bug
Photo Information
Copyright: Jose Ramon Pato (JORAPAVI) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 0 N: 628] (4627)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 20D, Sigma 150mm F2.8 APO Macro DG HSM
Exposure: f/16, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Magnificent Macros, Beetles and Bugs of the world (Chapter 2), Heteroptera of Europe-1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-21 2:44
Viewed: 1174
Favorites: 6 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Spanish]
Elasmostethus interstinctus, the Birch Bug
Class Insecta
Order Hemiptera
Family Acanthosomatidae
Genus Elasmostethus
Species Elasmostethus interstinctus (Linnaeus), Birch Bug, Birch Shield Bug, Green Stinkbug

Description
E. interstinctus is 8-10mm long. The dorsal side is yellow-green with a variable amount of red, the ventral side is yellow, and the abdominal margins are yellow(Thomas, 1991). Preserved specimens may become tan.

Distribution
The birch bug has a holarctic range, occurring from Alaska and Canada to Asia and Europe (Thomas, 1991).

Natural History
In southern Finland and Sweden, Mappes et al. (1996) observed that E. interstinctus lays eggs on the upper side of leaves and on the catkins of Betula (Birch) from early June to the middle August and that the nymphs feed in aggregations on catkins until they reach adulthood. Adults overwinter in leaf litter, then mate in the following spring.

Barnes et al. (1996) studied the overwintering biology of E. interstinctus in Fairbanks, Alaska, from which the following is sumarized. Bugs adults survive harsh winter conditions by their selection of hybernacula and by supercooling. By spending the winter under the snow in the upper layers of leaf litter, Birch Bugs escape the coldest winter temperatures and avoid contact with ice crystals. The ability to supercool without freezing improves through the winter, with adults freezing, on average, at -9.5º C in fall to -16.9º C in spring. Freezing is lethal and contact with ice causes freezing at higher temperatures.

E. interstinctus feeds mostly on Betula in interior Alaska. It has also been recorded feeding on Juniperus (Juniper), Quercus (Oak), Ilex (Holly), and Vaccinium (Schaefer and Ahmad, 1987); Alnus (Alder), Fagus (Beech), and Populus (Aspen) (Thomas, 1991); and Oplopanax horridus (Devil's Club) on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska (personal observation). Birch bugs have been collected on Salix (Willow) (Scudder, 1997).

Extracted information of
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IulianGherghel, extramundi, jcoowanitwong, haraprasan, taba, jaycee, gannu, jmp, pankajbajpai, anel has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To eBirdy: SigmaJORAPAVI 2 07-26 11:05
To extramundi: Afotar insectosJORAPAVI 1 07-22 02:23
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Critiques [Translate]

Hola Jose,
this bug is marvelous, so sharp, so colourful, thanks, I like it
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2007-07-21 3:27]

Hi Jose Ramon,
this is an outstanding shot.
Amazingly detailed and very sharp with vivid colours.
Well done,
Joe

Hi,
Very nice shot.
Great colors and macro.
Regards,
Iulian

Mira que son inquietos los condenados, para conseguir una buena foto hay que perseguirlos un buen rato :)
La bonita conita composición, lo atractivo del modelo y la gran exposición de flash componen una bonita toma. Los colores se ven geniales y bien saturados.
Un saludo, Felipe.

Hello Jose,
This is wonderful. Sharp focus that reveal fine detail. Great color clarity. Thanks for sharing this masterpiece.
JC

Hi Jose Ramon, amazing macro of this bug with wonderful details, excellent sharpness, and great blurry BG, very well done, have a great week end, ciao Silvio

Hi Jose,
An xcellent capture of this beautiful bug. Very nice colors and details with excellent use of flash. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Great macro with all elements in focus and perfect lighting. Very colorful bug. Congratulations!
Gary

  • Great 
  • taba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 481 W: 128 N: 304] (1703)
  • [2007-07-21 7:54]

Hola Jose
impresionante captura y composición.
las colores y nitidez esta perfectas.
fantásticos detalles sobre el insecto.
buen hecho!
TFS
Taba

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-07-21 7:58]

Hi Jose,

This is just wonderful. I love the shape of this bug. The colors and details are magnificent. Beautiful composition with the diagonal leaf.

Jane

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2007-07-21 8:25]

Jose, excellent shot and what a color. The note is also very detailed. The image is absolutely sharp. GAnesh

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2007-07-21 9:20]

Hola José Ramón,
Bellísimos colores, perfecta nitidez, una luz ideal, un fondo fuera de foco y una gran composición hacen de ésta una gran foto. ¡Muy atractiva!
Saludos, José M.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2007-07-21 9:33]

simply perfect.my compliments

Excelente luz y buena composición. Yo ya me lio con estas chinches, hay muchas parecidas. Abrazo José Ramon.

Hola Jose Ramon.

Este chinche con eses colores y formas hasta es bonito como una joyita con patas.

Saludos.
Jose Luis.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2633] (15577)
  • [2007-07-21 13:57]

Hola José,
sensacional trabajo amigo,
la nitidez y la iluminación es perfecta...
saludos

hi jose,

remarkable macro shot, the sharpness and details are excellent, nice pov, lovely colours,
this is A+++++++++++++ shot,
keep it up,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1726 W: 0 N: 3927] (15770)
  • [2007-07-22 6:01]

Hello Jose,
The hemipteras are very interesting creatures, even if they not always have a nice reputation. Your picture of this Birch Bug is of great beauty with excellent sharpness and good light. We really can see every single detail. Excellent posting again.
Bonne journée
Anne

Hola Jose Ramon,
Me impresionan tus macros.
Este es espectacular - la nitidez es increíble!
Saludos, Shir

Hola José Ramon,
Aquí me gustaría llegar...Veo que usas Sigma 150 mm... es ligero de manejar?
Saludos, Marta

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