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Meadow Brown male


Meadow Brown male
Photo Information
Copyright: Thijs van Balen jr (Pentaxfriend) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 514 W: 24 N: 1888] (8048)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2011-07-19
Categories: Insects
Camera: Pentax K5, Sigma EX APO Macro 180 mm F/3.5 IF, Digital ISO 200
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2011-07-22 14:15
Viewed: 2591
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Maniola
Species: M. jurtina
Binomial name: Maniola jurtina

The Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina, is a butterfly found in European meadows, where its larvae feed on grasses, such as Sheep's Fescue.

Similar species are Gatekeeper (which prefers to rest with its wings open) and Small Heath (which is smaller).
There is marked sexual dimorphism in this species. Males are less colorful, with smaller eyespots and much reduced orange areas on the upper forewings. They are also much more active and range far about, while females fly less and often may not away from the area where they grew up.
A variable number of smaller eyespots are usually found on the hindwing undersides. These may number up to 12 per individual butterfly, with up to 6 on each wing. The factors that govern polymorphism in this trait are not resolved, although a number of theories have been proposed (Stevens 2005). On the other hand, the evolutionary significance of the upperwing eyespots is more obvious: The more active males have a markedly more cryptic upperside pattern, whereas the females have more often opportunity to present their eyespots in a sudden display of colors and patterns that presumably make neophobic predators hesitate so that the butterfly has better chances of escaping.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadow_Brown
flashpoint, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

pleasant capture of jurtina
good detail and colors
sERGIO

excellent photography of this unique species of butterfly. good colors. tfs.

Ciao Thijs, great high POV on beatiful Maniola jurtina, fine details, wonderful natural colors and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 0 N: 650] (7939)
  • [2011-07-24 5:22]

Hi Thijs,
Lovely natural colours.Nice composition and sharpness details.
Good blurred background.
Regards Jiri.

Hello Thijs,
well composed portrait of a male Meadow Brown on invitingly coloured Senecio flowers, shown in pleasantly soft light and warm colours. Focus well set on the unrolling proboscis. Nice picture. Thank you! With best regards,
Peter

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