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KILLER ON THE SAND


KILLER ON THE SAND
Photo Information
Copyright: Radomir Jaskula (cicindela) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 3103] (9226)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-17
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400, 35-105 mm 1:4,5-5,6, @ ISO 100
Exposure: f/5.6
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Insects around the world, Insects' World, Tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) of Europe, Tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) of the world, Insects (Insecta), Tiger beetles saga [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-03-27 8:48
Viewed: 8455
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today I celebrate my 50th picture on TN so please let me show you another member of my favourite insect group - tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) :>

After Calomera fischeri this is the second member of this genus known from Europe - Calomera littoralis nemoralis. This is halophilic species occurring on sandy habitats, usually on the sea coast or in other salty areas. Specimen from the picture is a male (size: 14mm).

Last time I wrote some "general facts" about Cicindelidae so today something about their distribution and preys... ;>

Where do tiger beetles live?

These beetles can be found in different sandy areas all around the world except some oceanic islands (eg. Tasmania) and Antarctica. They prefer hot regions of the Earth but very often next to waters. So they can be found on sandy banks of lakes, rivers and seas, but also in forests (some species from SE Asia and S America are known as hunting on the trees!), deserts, ect.

Where we can find the highest Cicindelidae diversity?

The answer is rather typical for most other insect groups - in the tropics. Just to compare, European fauna include about 40 species (recently one new was described from Spain!!), what does not make even 2% of world fauna! On the other hand it makes about 34% of all Palaearctic fauna (107 species in total). In N America about 190 species are know while in S America more than 420! If we look at Asian fauna we can note the highest diversity, including more than 300 on the Indian Subcontinent, 120 in S China-Laos-Japan region, and more that 450 in SE Asia (Phillipines, Malaysia, Indonesia). Australian fauna includes about 110 species while Ethiopian region (=Africa S from Sahara) more than 400. If we go to Madagascar we can find about 190 species, while in New Zeland only 14 :>
But please note that every year new taxa are describing, so this is not the final number of Cicindelidae species :)

Now we know why "on the sand" but why a "killer"?

Cicindelidae hunting mainly for small preys like ants, beetles (canibalism is well known!!!), spiders, and larvae of grasshoppers, but in the literature also cases of predation on crabs (the smallest youngs of course) or even on... damselflies are known.
Intereting is that in this usually "fresh-meat" eating group of beetles there are a few species in which scavenging behaviour or even eating fruits were sometimes recorded! In other groups of Adephaga beetles such observations are not unusual but please remember that Cicindelidae usually eat only "mobile food" :>


As always any comments are welcomed :>
fartash, horia, Matt-Bird, ellis49, batu, ramthakur, cedryk, JORAPAVI, nardophoto has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To horia: "small celebration" :)cicindela 1 03-27 19:30
To Mana: to Sumon and Matt - body sizecicindela 1 03-27 19:28
To Mana: body sizecicindela 1 03-27 19:26
To batu: thank you :)cicindela 1 03-27 19:24
To ramthakur: 50 :)cicindela 1 03-27 19:20
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Critiques [Translate]

Bonjour,
Magnifique netteté pour ce 50ème. De plus, l'insecte est original.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hello Radomir
Very intersting subject to shoot,
Excellent lighting and sharpness,
Informative note,Welldone.

Regards
Fartash

Hi Radomir,
Well composed and good sharpness.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2007-03-27 9:55]
  • [+]

Hi Radek

A very nice post for your 50th celebration :) and one that definitely characterizes you ;)
Again the details on this little tiger beetle are most amazing and extremly sharp.
Also terrific here is the impeccable DOF that allowed you too keep all the beetle in full focus.
The contrast with the sand is excellent, the exposure is very well managed - as usual - and the colors it resulted in are lovely.

Bravo, congratulations and TFS
horia

Hi Radomir
Really sharp and detailed shot. Great DOF. Having the gains of sand in focus really provide a good means of giving the subject scale.
Well seen,
regards
Matt.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2007-03-27 10:05]
  • [+]

Hi Radomir,
Excellent macro of the tiger beetle. Very neat and sharp. Great POV and DOF. The wet sand acts as an immaculate BG. Perfect lighting and lovely colours. Very nicely composed and framed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Ramoir.
the low POV and compostion are very good.
Good DOF, the entire insect within focus and BG nicely blurred. Fine details, good exposure and nice colours.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 293 N: 4497] (16383)
  • [2007-03-27 14:38]
  • [+]

Hello Radomir,
a perfect picture of the tiger beetle. Beautiful details and colours as well as nice point of view. Just suitable for your 50th post.
Best wishes and ... go on,
Peter

Half a century is a creditable score in the game of Cricket our country India is mad about, Radomir :-)!
Your half century is no less, especially when you celebrate it by posting such a beautiful image.
An outstanding macro shot with razor sharp focus, lovely natural colours and immaculate details.
TFS.
Ram

Hi Radomir, great macro with splendid details, excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2007-03-27 16:10]

Hello Radomir,
Superb close capture of this Tiger-beetle with excellent detail and set in a fine sandy comp.
TFS this and a great note!
Best wishes, Ivan

Hej,
No bardzo piekna prezentacja i szczegolowy opis :-) Zdjecie bardzo ladnie naswietlone z duza glebia ostrosci.
Zycze kolejnych 50-tek :-)
Michal

  • Great 
  • OzBY Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 183 W: 2 N: 351] (1355)
  • [2007-03-29 17:33]

Hello Radomir,
Great close up picture of this beetle.
Great sharpness, position, background and color.
Excellent lighting.

Oz

Hola Radomir,
Excelente imagen con buenos detalles y gran nitidez, buena la iluminación, la nota muy amena. Saludos

Hello Radomir,
Super shot! This macro really is well defined, the clarity of your subject is perfect and all with fantastic lighting. Very nice capture. :)

Hi Radomir,
thank you and very much for your comment at my photo and for "trascrizione" correct of the scientific name.
The your "KILLER ON THE SAND" is also wonderfull with good POV, DOF and natural color.
TFS
Angelo

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