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Invitation (22)
batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1019 W: 285 N: 3404] (11270)
Back from my holidays, I would like to invite you to a 'flight' over the southern
European Alps to see pictures of insects, plants and landscapes. Let's start with whis
Zygaena purpuralis (family: Zygaenidae) which will take off soon.

The species identity of this Zygaena is not 100% clear, because there are two vey similar
species which cannot be easily distinguished:
Zygaena purpuralis and Zygaena minos do not really differ
in their wing markings but in internal morphological characters.
So, a decision based on this picture is not really possible.

Species information
I give informations on both species here:
Zygaena purpuralis / minos (family: Zygaenidae)
Distribution: From the Pyrenees eastwards through Europe to Turkey and southern Russia
Forewing length: about 16mm
Larval foodplants (selection):
- of Z. purpuralis: Thymus praecox, T. pulegioides
- of Z. minos: Eryngium campestre, pimpinella saxifraga

Location: North Italian Alps, at the deviation to Rosim-Valley
from the upper Martell-Valley, about 2000m

Information on conditions:
- natural light
- ISO 400
- hand-held

References
* Naumann C.M., Tarmann G.M., Tremewan W.G. (1999) The Western Palaearctic Zygaenidae. - Apollo Books, Stenstrup.
* Bertaccini E., Fiumi G. (1999) Bombici e Sfingi d'Italia (Lepidoptera Zygaenidae, Vol. 3. Natura - Giuliano Russo Editore, Monterenzio.
* Racheli T. (1990) Sinossi degli Zygaenini Italiani. Roma.
Altered Image #1

batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1019 W: 285 N: 3404] (11270)
Auto Color, shadow adjust, sharpen, crop
Edited by:Dillinger Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 24 W: 9 N: 31] (121)
In Photoshop CS 2, applied Auto Color which removed some blue color cast; then did a shadow adjustment overall to brighten some of the shadow areas; slight sharpening on mid to right portion of wings; and crop some of the sky off the top and right.