An endemic of Sicily endangered species

<< Previous Next >>
An endemic of Sicily endangered species
Photo Information
Copyright: Marcello Romano (marcellr) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 208 W: 38 N: 1012] (3514)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-28
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/50 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-02-16 3:06
Viewed: 499
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
COLEOPTERA, MELOLONTHIDAE

The cosmopolitan Melolonthidae is one of the largest and most diverse Families in the Scarabaeoidea, with approximately 750 genera and nearly 11,000 species worldwide.

Characteristics
Clypeus expanded, covering mouthparts. Mandibles lamelliform. Dorsal surface often conspicuously setose, distinctly marked with patches of scales. Antennae 7 to 10-segmented, antennal lamellae folding tightly into a 3 to 7-segmented club, club oval to elongate, glabrous or with only a few setae.

Ecology

Adults and larvae of the Melolonthidae are generally phytophagous, although some adults apparently do not feed.
The vast majority of Melolonthines are crepuscular or nocturnal. Primarily nocturnal species in the genera Anoxia and Polyphylla are usually encountered in numbers flying about lights or copulating, feeding, or resting on the foliage of host plants.

*****

Polyphylla ragusae Kraatz 1882 / Male

Dimensioni: 35-40 mm.

L'incontro con la Polyphylla ragusae è sempre per me un momento emozionante.
Questo Melolontide endemico di Sicilia, certamente fra i coleotteri più grandi e appariscenti della fauna italiana, mi ha sempre colpito per la sua bellezza e per le sue abitudini crepuscolari.
Stettamente legata agli ambienti dunali sabbiosi, questa specie ha visto di anno in anno diminuire le proprie popolazioni, parallelamente alla scomparsa o al degrado degli ambienti prediletti.
Oggi è praticamente estinta nelle località costiere sabbiose della Sicilia settentrionale, dove un tempo era presente con colonie più o meno numerose.
Ne sopravvivono solo alcune popolazioni nella Sicilia meridionale, anche se molto discontinue e isolate.
L'esemplare nella foto è un maschio, riconoscibile per la caratteristica clava antennale.

WORKSHOP: Polyphylla ragusae habitat.
Ena, batu, mariki, boreocypriensis, haraprasan, jcoowanitwong, bahadir, wieyos, jignasi, horia has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Marcello, splendido come al tuo solito, bella macro nitida e ricca di dettagli, anche questo per me è una novità, bravo e buon fine settimana, ciao Silvio

Hello Marcello,

Very nice picture of this beetle. Excellent sharpness and detail. Very nice colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 971 W: 281 N: 3030] (10080)
  • [2008-02-16 3:26]

Ciao Marcello,
thank you for this first-class picture, for presenting an endandgered species and for your note.
The species is nicely introduced by your presentation.
The characters are so clear and sharp - hardly to top.
This is also for the colours!
Have a nice weekend and best wishes,
Peter

Hello Marcello,

A perfect shot of this beauty friend!
Excelent details! I liked especially its different antennae.
TFS
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Marcello,
A fine capture of this endangered MELOLONTHIDAE. Excellent sharp details with very good composition. A fine close up. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Marcello,
This is a brilliant picture. Focus and exposure are perfect. Appreciate the fine details in this picture. So sad that this is an endangered species.
JC

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-02-16 6:16]

Exceptional shot of this Chafer!
The amount of detail is amazing! We can see each scale on its carapace!
Great composition and POV.
Nice lighting and colours.
Very good work Marcello!
Cheers,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 360 W: 60 N: 569] (2319)
  • [2008-02-16 7:48]

Ciao Marcello,
Insetto molto interessante!
La nitidezza e perfetta!
bella anche la composizion e il WS con l'abitat!
Beh, adesso ti saluto :-)
Ena

hi Marcello,

great detail on this insect. very sharp & clear. informative note too.

TFS
Regards
Agoes

Ciao Marcello,
A very fine macro with good close up in perfect sharpness, vivid colour and details
the exposure and focus is spot on
a pleasing presentation to share
many thanks
ciao
tony

Hola Marcello. Nos muestras un magnígico ejemplar, técnicamente muy conseguido y de gran belleza. Entiendo tus explicaciones y es una verdadera pena todo lo que está pasando. Yo ya ME RIO del progreso y sus valores, unos valores que admiran el diseño de un pantalón o una hamburguesa y no saben apreciar la belleza, complejidad y digamos inteligencia de estos pequeños seres.
UN ABRAZO Y GRACIAS POR TU CONTRIBUCIÓN A QUE ALGUNOS ABRAN SUS OJOS.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2070 W: 214 N: 3542] (11790)
  • [2008-02-18 1:40]

Hi Marcello

A truly great post from you, presenting this lovely endemic species and its habitat.
Very good macro shot here with excellent details and DOF - showing this big beetle with very fine details and in beautiful colors. Those "horns" are indeed amazing!
Also, i appreciate the workshop that you've posted - with a very nice view over the species' habitat.
A great note to complete everything!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF