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Cupido minimus - Small Blue


Cupido minimus - Small Blue
Photo Information
Copyright: Goran Ogen (sgo) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 136 W: 35 N: 239] (716)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-30
Categories: Insects
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): My Butterflies Summer -06 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-03-01 22:05
Viewed: 516
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cupido minimus from Fleeting Memories From Summer -06. The specimen here is seen hovering over its host plant, the Anthyllis vulneraria "Kidney Vetch".

I'm fully aware of the shadow I cast over part of this scene - but who would discard a Cupido because of a shaded ground? Not me!

This is one of our smallest Rhopalocera - wingspan 18-25 mm - which likes to settle in low vegetation, like dry meadows and warm slopes facing south or east, where it can appear in large numbers within limited areas, esp. in fields with Anthyllis vulneraria, its host plant, where this specimen was having a ball. In Sweden, it's common only on the islands of Öland and Gotland and merely locally in mainland Sweden with good distances between the colonies. It flies normally with one generation from mid May until late June but a second one may be produced in July-August (also possibly the result of late pupation in the first generation).
For three reasons I was especially happy to discover this "Smallest Blue": 1) it's not common in mainland Sweden (in this case Scania), 2) it's not common this late in the season (end of July in this shot; it's favourite plant was also blooming unusually late this summer because of exceptional climate), and 3) it's vulnerable, though not endangered, in Sweden.

The uppersides of the male are brownish, especially close to the roots, and sparsely covered with silvery-blue scales which tend to peel off fairly soon. The underside of the Cupido Minimus is evenly grey, marked with fine black dots encircled by narrow white rings, and completely lacking the yellow-orange spots, so common in other Blues, and is therefore not easily confused with other species. The C. minimus hibernates as full-grown larva, with pupation in spring at ground level, lasting ~2 weeks.

World distribution: Spain-Scotland-the Nordic countries through Europe >Turkey-Caucasus-Siberia-Korea and Kamtchatka. The population is stable or slightly declining in Europe.

Taxonomy:
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Tribe: Polyommatini
Genus: Cupido, the Latin name for the god of love of and the oldest designation for "Blues".
Species: minimus, "smallest", superlative of Lat. parvus = "small".

For names in most European vernaculars, distribution maps, etc., the interested student is recommended European Butterflies.
Swedish "Liten blåvinge" for C. minimus is now obsolete, "Mindre blåvinge" being the established name.

References:
1: Nationalnyckeln till Sveriges flora och fauna: Fjärilar - Dagfjärilar. Hesperiidae - Nymphalidae (2005),
and
2: Bo Söderström: Svenska fjärilar. En fälthandbok (2006).
coasties, XOTAELE, anel, sandpiper2 has marked this note useful
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To trinko: Hi Tomsgo 1 03-02 00:08
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Critiques [Translate]

nice composition with the insect on the flower. i'd suggest cropping closer so the insect looks larger though. nice colors.

Hi Goran

Well composed, very good light, saturation of colour looks spot on and nicely presented. :-)

Estupenda presentación con unos magníficos detalles, luz y color.
Una nota bastante completa.
Saludos, JL.

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1174 W: 0 N: 1980] (8393)
  • [2007-03-02 3:53]

Hello Goran,
Beautiful composition and a very fine picture.
I'm so happy to see this butterfly, because I met it quite often last summer and was not able to make one good shot of it.
Bonne journée
Anne

Great shot, I really like the composition
Good sharpness and nice contrast with teh yellow flower
Good OOf background
Well done
Chris

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 64 N: 1198] (4928)
  • [2007-03-02 16:09]

WOW!
What a marvellous shot! I love the composition. Sharpness, colors, DOF, lighting... all is great.
Very well done!
Bravo!
Best wishes
Maite

olá Goran.
Amigo você apresenta fotos de borboletas que eu jamais imaginei existir, me impressiona seu trabalho é de muitissimo valor parabéns.
ESta por exemplo é belissima.
Composição, cores e visão me agradam muito nesta foto.
Abraços, Henrique°°Brasil

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