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Elegant yet noxious


Elegant yet noxious
Photo Information
Copyright: Michal Grabowski (cedryk) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 50 N: 1722] (5270)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-08-08
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5000, 28-105 mm, @ ISO 100
Exposure: f/7.6, 1/458 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Grasshopper & Crickets, Orthoptera of Europe incl. Turkey-2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-25 6:50
Viewed: 6039
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello Friends, and now something completely different. Let's go out from the deep canyons to the sunny seaside :-) Today I want to present you:

Calliptamus italicus (Linnaeus, 1758)
(pol. nadobnik wloski)
Subfamily: Calliptaminae
Family: Acrididae
Superfamily: Acridoidea
Suborder: Caelifera
Order: Orthoptera

This modestly coloured yet elegant grasshopper is a very interesting species. Believe or not but in some countries (like Poland) it's endangered and retreating, while in others (eg. Kazakhstan) it's a dangerous pest.

Originally this species is associated with steps and other types of xerophilous habitats, it has sub-Ponto-Mediterranean distribution, occurring widely from Central Europe to Middle Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and to North Africa.

Similarly to locust, it may have and aggregation phase when it joins in large groups and migrate. This takes place mostly in southern Europe and in Asia, where this species is a serious threat to sunflower fields.

Endangered in Poland:
In Poland the species is listed in Polish Red Data Book of Animals, under category EN (Endangered).
In the past it was reported from the whole of Poland, now confined to the central part of the Sandomierz Basin (Sandomierz Forest). It has withdrawn from the majority of its previous localities at such a quick rate that may be considered as a strongly endangered species in Poland, though the only extant local population is fairly numerous.

Source: Polish Red Data Book of Animals

I photographed this species in the beautfiul area of Kamen Briag in north-eastern Bulgaria, on the coast of the Black Sea. It's quite an exceptional part of the Bulgarian coast with quite high limestone cliffs, covered by xerophilous grassland. In some parts the thin layer of soil is completely red - probably due to high concentration of iron.

This place overall is very interesting for nature (several snake species, interesting insects spiders etc.) but also for the archeological remains. In antiquity the place was a Roman settlement, so you can find ancient wine cellars, cementary and ruins of Roman fort guarding the coast against the pirates - there was an important sea trading route from Bosphours north to Greek colonies at that time.

In the workshops you will find two more pictures illustrating the place: photo 1, photo 2.

To see other shots from that area please see here.
uleko, delic, Argus, cicindela, mikou, jmp, jazdzurka, wkshelton, ramthakur, izler, Alex99, sily, Robespierre, RAP, scottevers7 has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Alex99: strange colour of soilcedryk 2 02-26 16:00
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Critiques [Translate]

Your image is sharp and has an excellent compo.
You had to cope with hard sunlight.
Well done, Michal.
TFS
Annick

Thanks for the photos and the alterantive views of the enviroment, all toghether make a very nice post, it looks like an interesting and beautiful place.
The photo is very nice and detailed, and it looks really red in my monitor, seems that there is plenty of ferric oxyde o the soil.
Like to see this, best regards, Felipe.

Witam!
Zaczne od notki bo mnie najbardziej zaskoczyla. NIe spodziewalem sie, ze to takie ciekawe zwierze ;) I raz jeszcze widac, ze tu czesty a tam rzadki robak moze byc :) Ale, ze az Czerwona Ksiega! No niezle :)
A co sie tyczy fotki to podoba mi sie kolorystyka zdjecia, szaranczak zapewne niezle sie maskuje na takim podlozu ;)
Glebia ostrosci bardzo przyzwoita, podobnie jak nasycenie.
Pozdrowionka,
Radek

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-02-25 7:12]

Hello Cedryk,
Very fine capture of this grasshopper. Interesting sharp details and nice colours. Interesting note too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 440 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-02-25 7:14]

Hello Michal,
Superb colors and sharpness. Good detail... The brown in the background looks nice. Wealth of info in your note. I would never think that a grasshopper species would become endangered. TFS
Regards,
Hakan

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 293 N: 4497] (16383)
  • [2007-02-25 7:24]

Hello Michal,
the different brown colours are phantastic. Pretty good focus on the grasshopper. Excellent sharpness, too.
Best wishes, Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2007-02-25 7:26]

Hello Michal,
This is a very fine macro of a species of grasshopper new to me, largely because it does not occur north of latitude 50. This is sharp and well composed, and judging by the Bg it must be well camouflaged in this habitat.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2007-02-25 7:43]

Hi Michal,
A nice grasshopper captured with outstanding details. I like WS's a lot.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 869 W: 68 N: 1479] (6093)
  • [2007-02-25 7:44]

Hi Michal.
Excellent sharp close-up.Perfect composition with very nice POV and good DOF.Details are splendid and color this ground is very interesting.Again your very instructive note.
Well done,TFS and best greetings.
Milos

Cześć Michał
Świetne makro. Super ostrość. Widać nawet, ze oczy maja pionowe paski.
Notka jak zwykle ciekawa, a zdjęcia w workshopie ogrzewają zimę ;)
Pozdrowienia
Ania

bonjour michal
il n'etait pas facile de le voir,ses couleurs se confondent avec le sol.
de jolis details et une tres bonne netteté.
laurent

Hello Cedryk,

excllent colors Bg POV DOF perfect details very crisp Nicly composed and captured photo excllent Job

TFS Kyle

Your note helps in understanding why the background is reddish, Michal.
Excellent shot of this locust from the side. The details are very vivid.
Your note also gives a great insight into this region in Bulgaria.
TFS.
Ram

Hi Michal.
Very nice close-up shot with great details of this cute grasshopper. I like your cropping and almost diagonal composition. Your note is great too as well as the very nice and informative workshops. Only colour palette of this shot is looked not so natural. Am I correct or not? My best wishes and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1387 W: 3 N: 9] (44)
  • [2007-02-26 11:36]

hello Michal
successful macro working on this lovely grasshopper. composition, point of view, depth of field, colours, sharpness and details are great
TFS
regards
izler

  • Great 
  • sily Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 239 W: 6 N: 395] (1934)
  • [2007-02-27 13:33]

HI Michal!
Excellent work in the capture of this curious insect!
The story is really uncommon and interesting, details and colours are very sharp, perfect!
The POV is really good.TFS!

Hi Michal,
Absolute a great picture from this grasshopper.
Razor sharp, full detailed, good light fall and vivid colours. Informative note again.
Well done.
Regards, Ruud

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2007-02-28 6:49]

Muy buena macro Michal con un excelente ejemplo de camuflaje de esta especie.
Me gusta la composición y la definición del insecto gracias al foco, agudeza e iluminación obtenidos.
Interesante nota junto con las imágenes complementarias.
Agregué esta presentación a mi Tema de Langostas.
Gracias y saludos... Ricardo

Very good macro Michal with an excellent example of camouflage of this species.
I like the composition and the definition of the insect due to the focus, sharpness and obtained illumination.
Interesting note together with the complementary images.
I added this presentation to my Thme of Grasshoppers.
Thank you and greetings... Ricardo

Hi Michal
This macro has amazing sharpness and detail. Great color patterns and texture is shown in the grasshopper. He certainly blends in perfectly with that backround. Great shot!
Scott

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