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P. icarus ; male


P. icarus ; male
Photo Information
Copyright: Paras Bhalla (parasbhalla) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 317 W: 0 N: 814] (3170)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-02
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC P150
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/100 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-09-19 2:06
Viewed: 294
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
General Information on "Common Blue" from WiKiPedia:

The Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.

Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Tribe: Polyommatini
Genus: Polyommatus
Species: P. icarus

Binomial name Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775)


Appearance, behaviour and distribution:

Male uppersides are an iridescent lilac blue with a thin black border. Females are brown with a row of red spots along the edges. They usually have some blue at the base of the wings and, especially in Ireland and Scotland, are mostly blue but always have the red spots. Undersides have a greyish ground colour in the males and more brownish in the females. Both sexes have a row of red spots along the edge of the hindwings (extending onto the forewings though generally fainter, particularly in the males where they are sometimes missing altogether). There are about a dozen black centered white spots on the hind wings, nine on the forwings. The white fringe on the outer edge of the wings is not crossed with black lines as it is in the Chalkhill and Adonis Blues, an important difference when separating these species, particularly the females.

It is Britain's (and probably Europe's) most common and most widespread blue, found as far north as Orkney and on most of the Outer Hebrides. Males are often very obvious as they defend territories against rivals and search out the more reclusive females. A range of grassland habitats are used: meadows, coastal dunes, woodland clearings and also many man made habitats, anywhere where their food plants are found.
It is widespread in Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia.

Recently, Polyommatus icarus was discovered in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada by Ara Sarafian. An amateur entomologist, he had been observing the butterfly from 2005 to 2008. He contacted the Canadian National Collection of Insects in Ottawa where the butterfly was identified as P. icarus, a new alien butterfly to Canada and North America. The butterfly seems to be well established and is extending its range from year to year (Source: http://www.entsocont.com/Newsletter_Dec_2007.pdf).

Lifecycle and food plants:

The main food plant on most sites is Bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Others used include Black Medick Medicago lupulina, Common Restharrow Ononis repens, White Clover Trifolium repens and Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium. Eggs are laid singly on young shoots of their food plants.

The caterpillar is small, pale green with yellow stripes and as usual with lycid larvae rather slug-like. Hibernation occurs as a half grown larvae. They are attractive to ants but not as much as some other species of blues. The chrysalis is olive green/brown and formed on the ground where it is attended by ants which will often take it into their nests. The larvae creates a substance called honey dew, which the ants eat while the butterfly lives in the ant hill. In the south of Britain there are two broods a year flying in May and June and again in August and September. Northern England has one brood flying between June and September. In a long warm year there is sometimes a partial third brood in the south flying into October.

(Source of above mentioned information: WiKiPedia)
maurydv, cirano, siggi, boreocypriensis, horias, anemone, nglen, rousettus, Gert-Paassen, Noisette, Mikolaj has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Paras,
a very beautiful macro shot of the Common Blue, you have captured very well its fantastic colours with very good sharpness in a nice composition.
TFS
Have a good weekend
Maurizio

Slav Paras,
An axcellent work of the male P.Icarus from great POV and perfect sharpness.Very nice colors and composition.TFS.
Regards,

Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517] (17564)
  • [2009-09-19 3:56]

Hello Paras,
Excellent photo of this Common Blue in a great POV and composition. The sharp details are very good and the colours well saturated. Good DOF and OOF BG.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Paras,

A lovely presentation of this Common Blue, where its fluffy, blue body sets a fine contrast to the smooth, fringe tipped elegance of it wings.
A good dof sets it nicely apart from the oof b/g.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • Ishi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 162 W: 0 N: 972] (3716)
  • [2009-09-19 4:52]

Although quite common a species, your rendition of this butterfly is extraordinary. Great details and colors.

Well done!

Ishi

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4716] (16222)
  • [2009-09-19 5:00]

Hello Paras,
What a marvelous shot, perfect focus! Details, velvety color, sharpness, POV and composition are excellent. Well done. Best regards Siggi

Namastay Paras MF!

An excellent macro capture of a blue from back side with neat details and delightful composition.
TFS and have a nice WE!
Cheers,

Bayram

Ciao Paras, lovely little butterfly with splendid colors, fine details, beautiful blurry BG and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a good week end my friend, ciao Silvio

hello paras
great colored composition with very good sharpness
and good details
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 387 W: 59 N: 854] (3948)
  • [2009-09-19 10:30]

Paras
Wonderful sharpness details of this capture, lovely colors, great shot.
The blue is amazing.
Horia

Hi Paras..
Beautiful bloe fromdorsal side.. perfect DOF!
splendid details and colors, excellent composition.
thanks for sharing,
Özgür

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8623] (32138)
  • [2009-09-19 11:18]

Hi Paras. This is a fine close up of this colourful butterfly. Your top POV let us see very little marking . Which you have taken with fine detail and rich colours. well done tFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • mishe Gold Star Critiquer [C: 105 W: 0 N: 3] (914)
  • [2009-09-19 11:18]

Zdravo Paras!
Colours,sharpness,light and compo are excellent.Tfs.
Warm regards,
Mishe.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-09-19 15:50]

Hi Paras,never seen a blue..so blue! A great work from a master of colors like you,a top class close-up whit impressive sharpness too and the best point of view as possible.My best compliments,have a nice Sunday,LUCIANO

hello Paras
very nice close-up for very beautiful Common Blue. sharp details, POV, composition great as like coloration and exposure. thanks for sharing this beauty. best wishes
Ahmet

Hello Paras,

a good pov on this beautiful blue butterfly.
Exellent sharpness and detail.
fine colours.

Gert

Hi,
Fine spread of beautiful blue, nice colors however you should work to get plain background in this kind of image to make them standout. tfs.
nagraj.v

  • Great 
  • john1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 65 W: 0 N: 85] (356)
  • [2009-09-20 11:50]

Hello Paras,

Amazing macro of the Common blue, great details and colors of the wings.
Very nice composition, excellent work.
have a good week.
john

Hello Paras
great shot of this Common Blue, the open wing pose and the good POV shows the superb blue colors from his upperwings
great sharp details and wonderful composition
Have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2573] (9077)
  • [2009-09-20 18:55]

Hi Paras,
real blue in the body and it glows beautifully. You have captured it so well, superbs details and most of all the wings are fully spred.

Regards,
Foozi

Woh!... no words!... very great blue!

TFS

Jesús

Hello Paras! Excellent butterfly, amazing contrast and sharpness, ideal natural colours. Original work. Well done!

Hello Paras,

Impressive silky-crisp details in the wings!
Stunning colours and the insect is well framed...

Greetings,
Pablo -

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