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Cupido argiades.


Cupido argiades.
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter Stoeckl (peter_stoeckl) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1738 W: 291 N: 4005] (11530)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2013-08-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix HS 20
Exposure: f/6.4, 1/600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Vienna Woods - Biosphaerenpark Wienerwald [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2013-08-09 16:28
Viewed: 3489
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cupido argiades (Pallas, 1771)

Short-tailed Blue,
Kurzschwänziger Bläuling,
Azuré du Trèfle, …

Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae

Wing span: 25 – 35 mm

One of the smallest Blues of Europe, C. argiades may be found in the central and southern parts of the Eurasion continent from Northern Spain all over to Japan.

The caterpillar’s feeding plants are Fabaceae such as Lotus corniculatus, Medicago, Lathyrus. In the region of Vienna, butterflies would emerge in three to four generations per year. The species inhabits dry and warm locations at low elevations where it may be seen flying rapidly close to the ground from spring into late summer - sometimes in good numbers when the weather is hot. In some parts of Europe with intense agriculture that little butterfly is considered to be a threatened species. In the region of Vienna it is one of the most common blues.

There is also another closely related southeastern European species to be found in our region: Cupido decoloratus. That one is quite similar, but orange spots on the undersides of hindwings are missing. C. decoloratus seems to be less common here.

Here Cupido argiades is seen drinking nectar from blossoms of Lathyrus latifolius, the Perennial Pea, on Moedlinger Eichkogel, an exposed hill with protected undisturbed dry grassland vegetation to the south of Vienna. Lathyrus might also serve as the caterpillars‘ feeding plant there.

An extended period of unusually hot and dry weather recently did not appear to have affected the flowering plants in our region’s xerothermic habitats. The dry heath is full with blossoms, and there are butterflies in good numbers, apparently well adapted to the heat. Some kind of unexpected paradise, one might say.

Head down, from some distance.

Literature:
- Gudrun und Dietmar Foelsche: Naturparadies Eichkogel. Hotspot der Artenvielfalt. Wien 2011.
- H. Höttinger, M. Pendl, M. Wiemers, A. Pospisil: Insekten in Wien – Tagfalter. Wien 2013.
- Christian Stettmer, Markus Bräu, Patrick Gros, Otmar Wanninger: Die Tagfalter Bayerns und Österreichs, Laufen/Salzach 2007
- Christopher Jonko: Butterflies and Moths of Europe. http://www.lepidoptera.pl/

The camera:
FUJIFILM FinePix HS20 EXR, 4608 x 3456 pixels, sRGB, 32mm macro zoom (equivalent 192 mm at full size SLR), F/6.4, 1/600sec., bias: -0.3, ISO-200, hand held, no flash. 07.08.2013, 10:35.

Postwork:
Adobe Photoshop CS4, image closely cropped to the limit of resolution, resized to web, selectively resharpened, levels slighty adjusted.

Thank you for visiting.
Have a pleasant day.

Für Anne -
pour anel.

***
aruntp, Hotelcalifornia, ramthakur, anel, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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To Alex99: insect in shadowspeter_stoeckl 1 08-12 07:45
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Critiques [Translate]

SIR
照的很漂亮 一種背光的照法 很特別 也很清晰
花的明亮美麗 做一個強烈的比較 很有張力 光線柔和也狂野
真得很美麗 謝謝分享
STONE

Ciao Peter, great macro of lovely little butterfly on beautiful blury BG, fine details, splendid sharpness and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • aruntp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 590 W: 1 N: 357] (5379)
  • [2013-08-09 23:09]

The short tailed blue is really beautiful. One species of Cupid here in India is really like this beauty that is Indian Cupid (surf my pages) nice clarity and good work.

Hello Mr.Peter,
Beautiful picture of this Blue specie which you have captured from the lap of mother nature.I like the way it is engrossed in drinking honey from the flower.Details are splendid with proper light.Noiseless blurry BG isolated the subject nicely here.
Thanks for your contribution here in TN,
Kind regards,
Srikumar

Peter, thanks at the beginning for posting your picture on TN today! We have been missing you really badly.
The Short-tailed Blue is not even back-lit; it's fully in the shade of the flower. Still, you have turned it into an extremely attractive subject with unusual sharpness, natural colours and precise details. In fact, the play of light in this picture and your superb treatment of it has given this picture a three dimensional look.
Anne ought to be mightily pleased at this great dedication.
Best regards and keep posting!
Ram

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2013-08-10 5:01]

Lieber Peter,
Kann mich nur an Rams Worte anschliessen, es macht mir riesig Freude. Hab herzlichen Dank. Der Cupido hat sich ein wenig versteckt auf dem Bilde, war wohl ein wenig schüchtern..
Auf dem Eichkogel aufgenommen, wirklich ein Paradies für Schmetterlinge und ähnliche Wesen. Ein Bild, "powerful" wie Du sie oft zeigst, mit bester Bildschärfe und Bildgestaltung. Hast Du bemerkt, dass Dein Nachbar von unten die gleiche Spezies zeigt, dazu noch ein Pärchen?
Take care
Anne

hallo pater
great sharpness picture with good details and beautiful colours
thanks greeting lou

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2013-08-10 16:36]

Hi Peter,spectacular capture in a very acrobatic pose for this tiny argiades,very common in my fields too are very friendly whit the photographers....ehehe...the quality is really the best in this difficult pose and backlight,i like it! Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

Hi Peter.
I see you use new camera. It will be very interesting to watch your work at your skillful hands. Subject is very cute and species. It is unusual to see butterfly under the flower. Despite the insect is in shadows its details are superb as well as I like wide DOF and sharp image of the flower. However, bokeh is also wonderful. Combination of lights and shadows give some charm of the image too. Warm regards and all the best.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • IronM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 3 N: 345] (2608)
  • [2013-08-13 15:31]

Hi Peter,
lovely capture of this beautiful little Blue,
thanks for your kind comment,
I just admire your gallery,amazing photos !
Thanks !
Best regards !

Interesting species and beautiful photo Peter! Very good composition, nice lighting and good sharpness.
Regards,
Christodoulos

Hi dear peter,
So nice macro with lovely colors and light.
Regards
Saeed

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