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Tawny Coster


Tawny Coster
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3295 W: 167 N: 9912] (32154)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-14
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma EX 105mm F2.8 DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/320 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-10-06 1:46
Viewed: 959
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Friends, I mentioned earlier that during my visit to Mayo College Ajmer last month, I came across a lot of wild life on school campus. That included butterflies.
Today I am posting the picture of a Tawny Coster I saw and shot in Ajmer. The butterfly was sitting on a Cosmos flower and I could not avoid a branch coming within the frame. Hope you like it despite this minor irritation.

The Tawny Coster (Acraea terpsicore) is a small leathery winged butterfly which is common in grassland and scrub habitats. It belongs to the Nymphalidae or brush-footed butterfly family. It has a weak fluttery flight. It is avoided by most insect predators. This species and the Yellow Coster Acraea issoria are the only two Indian representatives of the predominantly African tribe Acraeini.

Description

Male
Upperside tawny. Fore wing: a transverse black spot in cell, and another irregular, oblique and broader at the disco-cellulars ; a discal series of spots in interspaces 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10, and the apex and termen black. The upper four spots of the discal series inclined obliquely outwards, the lower two obliquely inwards ; the black edging to apex and termen narrowing posteriorly, but with slender linear-projections inwards in the interspaces. Hind wing: a basal series of four or five black spots with a similar spot beyond in middle of cell and a subcostal black spot above it, followed by a discal series of obscure blackish spots and a minute postdiscal black dot in interspaces 4 and 6 respectively ; finally, a broad black terminal band medially traversed by a series of small spots of the ground-colour. Most of the macular black markings are obscure, being only the spots on the underside seen by the transparency of the wing-membrane ; the inner edge of the black terminal band crenulate.

Underside: ground-colour ochraceous yellow or a paler tawny yellow. Fore wing paling to whitish on the apex, with the black markings as on the upper side but somewhat blurred and diffuse. Hind wing: the black spots and black terminal band as on the upperside, but the spots more clearly defined, none obscure; the series of spots traversing the black terminal margin very much larger and white- not tawny ; the base of the wing black, separated from the basal transverse series of black spots by two or three large whitish spots. Antennae black, head and thorax black spotted with ochraceous and white ; Abdomen anteriorly black, posteriorly ochraceous yellow with narrow transverse black lines; beneath, the palpi, thorax and abdomen ochraceous, the thorax spotted with ochraceous, the abdomen with a longitudinal line of black at base.

Female

Similar to that of the male. Upperside: ground-colour duller; the black spots on fore and hind wings larger, the upper discal spots often coalescing and forming an irregular oblique short band; the black edging to apex and termen on the fore wing and the black terminal band on the hind wing proportionately broader, the spots traversing the latter larger and whitish.

Underside: ground-colour much paler and duller, markings as on the upperside and, as in the male, the spots on the hind wing better defined than on the upperside, Antennae, bead, thorax and abdomen as in the male.
Wing expanse of 53-64 mm.

Distribution

The butterfly is found in India and Sri Lanka. It is common all the year round and is equally at home in forest clearings and open country. Though mainly seen at low elevations it has been recorded at heights of up to 7000 feet in south India and sometimes in the North.

Habitat

This is a butterfly of the hills as well as the plains. It is plentiful in the pre-monsoon and monsoon period and becomes scarce later on.

Habits

The butterfly exudes an oily and smelly yellow liquid when handled and is unpalatable to birds and most insects. They are well protected and have a slow and weak flight, frequently visiting flowers and are easily netted. There are no mimics in India.

Life cycle

The butterfly breeds on plants of the family Loganiaceae and species of Passiflora many of which contain toxins that are sequestered by the caterpillars.

Larva

"Cylindrical, slender, with six longitudinal rows of fine branched spines; colour reddish brown with an oily gloss, much paler on the head, second and last segment; an unwholesome looking insect, doubtless protected like the butterfly." (Davidson & Aitken)

Pupa

"Perpendicularly hung, long, slender, smooth; two lateral angles on the thorax; head quadrate; colour creamy white, with broad longitudinal bars of purplish-black spotted with orange." (Davidson & Aitken.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acraea_terpsicore
rcrick, oanaotilia, Adanac, anel, matatur, accassidy, uleko, jaycee, siggi, eqshannon, crs, Amadeo, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Ram!

You present us another beautiful butterfly. The flower is nice, too, and both - together with the nicely blurred background - form a superb pair. Maybe the colours and the brightness of the flower puts the butterfly a bit in the shadow...

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Ram,

Wonderful shot of this beautiful Tawny Coster, the colours are just beautiful, excellent detail, really wonderful composition, t.f.s

All the best, Cheers Rick :)

Hello Ram
Another picture from you that attract me.Probalbly due to the strong orange from the background flower, that constrasts with the butterfly. There are like two different pictures, overlapped: the butterfly in the foreground, very sharp, and the background, with the flower and the rest, blured.
Regards, Oana

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2008-10-06 4:03]

Hello Ram,
What a beautiful yet different species I have not had the pleasure viewing till now. Your outstanding image affords me a sharp and colorful view, thank you Ram. Great notes as well.
Rick

hello sor,
your visit to mayo college ajmer has resulted in many beautiful contribution to this site, beautiful capture of the butterfly perched on the flower, well saturated colors, well composed shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

yesterday i found first mantis of this season and in the morning today another one. today i saw the matid killing a dragonfly through my lens and i must say that it was a great expereince watching it what it does the best.
I will be posting some manids images soon.

Hello Ram,
Very colourful macro, good pov and sharpness. Composition is a very personal matter still I cannot resist from not mentioning about the vertical stem in the BG, it is hurting me :) TFS
regards
Anil

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1723 W: 0 N: 3903] (15686)
  • [2008-10-06 4:48]

Hello Ram,
This Tawny Coster has chosen a colourful flower to settle down. Both of them make a beautiful pair and reading your note I understand that this butterfly can afford it, being protected by its repellent possibilities.
The branch in front, I didn't even notice it before reading your note..
A very plesant picture again
Thanks a lot for it
Anne

Such a beautiful couple, floral and faunal elements in perfect harmony Ram, the contrasty colours are so nice to behold. Yes, that branch is a little irritating, but you can easily remove it with a cloning tool my friend.
TFS and cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2008-10-06 5:42]

Beautiful butterfly,I liked the tight composition,wings spreading symmetrical..Details all very good.
Wish left side green line/branch is not there.
I think you can offord to crop.

Hi Ram, superb butterfly and beautiful flower with fantastic colors, wonderful details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Ram,

Excellent capture of this beautiful butterfly. Very good POV, DOF and focus. Superb detail. A pity for the grass in front of the hinder right wing but I prefer to see it than a picture that would have been too much postprocessed. Splendid colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Ram,
Very sharp detailed shot of this Acraeid, nicely composed, but perhaps a little dull due to the lighting conditions. I wonder if it could be brightened up a bit to make it more 'sunny'. Thanks.
Alan

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517] (17564)
  • [2008-10-06 8:20]

Hello Ram,
What an incredible clear and beautiful colours. The sharp contrasts are superb. Very sharp and an excellent BG and POV.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 162 N: 949] (2787)
  • [2008-10-06 8:24]

Hello Ram,
This is a very beautiful butterfly that you've managed to get from a nice POV in a lovely pose. The colours are wonderful and details very sharp. I like the orange flower too and the green background. A lovely capture!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-10-06 11:43]

Hi Ram,

This butterfly and flower are a winning combination! The pose of the Tawny Coaster is perfect to show it off in all it's glory. I love its shape, colors, markings and details. It strikes me as unusual to see a flower brighter than the butterfly. An absolutely gorgeous composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4716] (16222)
  • [2008-10-06 11:49]

Hello Ram,
A very good capture.
A great POV,nice detail and colours which look great against the green background.
Great shot.Regards Siggi

Amazingly another I have not seen and am always surprised..I can tell a bit when you take time with your notes specific and written in HTML and framed perfect..that alone shows concern and caring...but ya knew it right? I actually like this style of framing as the last I commented on....you have a knack for it...and of course for a good Nikon photographer!
Bob

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 0 N: 920] (3543)
  • [2008-10-06 21:38]

Hello Ram,

There is very interesting lighting solution in your photo. I like the soft light falling on the insect in contrast with the strong light from the flower. Even if there is a strong contrast between them viewers attention is drown to the insect. This one is shown in great sharpness so that wings pattern and body can be clearly seen.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2008-10-07 1:23]

Oh Ram, this looks so good.
How sharp and clear. Such a wonderful catch. The colours and details are spot on
I wish it was mine
TFS
Janice

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-10-07 3:14]

Sir, Superb one except the grass is coming in the corder and spoiling the show. Excellent view. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer [C: 211 W: 0 N: 755] (3323)
  • [2008-10-07 13:14]

Hola Ram, un excelente macro, buena definición, detalle y tonos de color naturales y muy agradables. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-10-08 0:58]

Hello Ram,
what a great photo of this Tawny Coster!
You've captured it in loads of detail and with great clarity.
Excellent DOF and focusing.
Very sharp.

Superb work!

Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3584 W: 143 N: 5669] (18531)
  • [2008-10-08 9:25]

Hi Ram.
I like this scene so much. Wonderful butterfly and so fine flower create an amazing composition. You managed to reflect colouration of the insect and details of the flower perfectly. Rich, splendid BG is great for this charming pair. Well done and best wishes.
Alexei.

An excellent shot with great DOF and colours. A beautiful picture.
Best wishes,
Achim

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