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Black Beauty


Black Beauty
Photo Information
Copyright: samiran nandy (samiran88) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 834 W: 85 N: 1657] (10271)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2011-06-06
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D90, Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Butterfly of Santiniketan [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2011-06-12 18:36
Viewed: 3323
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Common Rose (Atrophaneura (Pachliopta) aristolochiae) is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta subgenus, the Roses, of the genus Atrophaneura or Red-bodied Swallowtails. It is a common butterfly which is extensively distributed across South and South East Asia.
It is a common butterfly which is extensively distributed across South and Asia. Very common almost all over the plains of India, and not threatened as a species. Extremely abundant during and after the monsoon.

The Common Rose is active much earlier in the mornings than most butterflies and remains so throughout the day until dusk. It flies just as readily in the shade as in the sun, and frequently visits flowers.
In drier regions around noon, the butterfly rests in thickets to avoid the mid-day heat. Here, it will rest and ventures forth only in the late afternoon once again.
In the evenings, it retires into wooded areas or thickets in search of dead twigs or small branches on which to roost. It prefers sites that are 10 to 15 feet above ground, below the canopy in trees with sufficient cover from the elements, where it frequently roosts in the company of others of its type, and, sometimes, in the company of the Crimson Rose.
It flies high, slowly and often descends to nectar on flowers below. On such occasions it often dives down with its wings held back, and as it approaches the flower, the wings open up to provide deceleration. The butterfly primarily depends on motive thrust on the powerful flapping of its forewings while the hind wings act as a balancing and steering mechanism. This flying technique gives a rather unusual look to its flight and an observer is left with the impression that it is dragging itself through the air with only the assistance of its forewings.
The Common Rose is often the preferred species to show the amateur naturalist the utility of the tails in steering. This can be most easily observed when the Common Rose hovers over flowers to sip nectar. Then, its forewings beat readily to give it buoyancy while the tails move delicately to steer and adjust its position.
It has been considered in the past that these tails are primarily for deception as in the case of the Lycaenids where the thread-like tails resemble antennae and confuse the attacker as to the location of the head. On occasions, Roses have been observed with damaged tails and it is possible that the presence of swallowtails occasionally does favor the butterfly in confusing attackers.
Collectors over the years have found the red-bodied swallowtails hard to kill. The pinch on the thorax which kills most butterflies is easily withstood, and, apparently only stuns the butterfly temporarily. It recovers quickly and flies out of the net to the utter consternation of the unwary collector.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrophaneura_aristolochiae
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ramthakur, aruntp, kapildk, jlinaresp, marius-secan, Hormon_Manyer has marked this note useful
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To ramthakur: Thankssamiran88 1 06-13 01:52
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • ana974 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 48 N: 968] (4857)
  • [2011-06-12 19:33]

Hello Samiran!
What a marvelous butterfly and what a great shot! Beautiful colors and excellent sharpness and POV.Well done! TFS
Nice week!
aNa

Very good capture of the Common Rose with its wings spread wide, Mr Nandi. The colours are rich and realistic. It is a pleasure to watch this picture.
Thanks.

A truly magnificent butterfly. Excellent photo. regards yiannis

Ciao Samiran, superb macro of fantastic beautyu, wonderful colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • aruntp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 590 W: 1 N: 357] (5379)
  • [2011-06-12 23:47]

great capture. good clarity and good sharpness. thanks for sharing. I am confused with Common Mormon. Good photograph.

  • Great 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 106 N: 3208] (15166)
  • [2011-06-13 0:28]

Hi,
Fine image of what I think is Common Mormon, female and not Common Rose, check out. tfs.
nagraj.v

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2011-06-13 2:48]

Hello Samiran,
Excellent photo of this butterfly in great sharpness and details. Nice to see it with the wings spread. Beautiful colours. A good DOF.
Regards,
Peter

Hola SamiranˇGran disparo,buena profundidad de campo y una buena composicion.el ejemplar es soberbio.
Felicitaciones por la captura
Paco

Hi Mr.Samiran,

Beautiful capture of this common rose with lovely open wing pose.
The sharpness is great & the green BG is good. Well done & TFS.

Kapil

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2011-06-13 16:23]

What a fantastic beauty! This is a great gift to all the butterflies fans of TN like me! Magnificent specie and spectacular point of view,sharpness and colors...you're lucky to meet these beauties!!Thanks for share,have a nice day,Luciano

Hello Samiran,
Very weel managed POV and a interestin species, may be a over nopise in the image, but with a whole result good. Excellent note atached also. Regards TFS
Jesús

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 0 N: 650] (7939)
  • [2011-06-13 20:13]

Hi Samiran,
Beautiful photo of this interesting and nice butterfly.
Regards Jiri.

Hello Samiran,
Indeed a black beauty this outstanding butterfly.
A splendid image with razor sharp details and perfect focus.
It is a lovely macro with superb contrast, very nice colors and good light.
Thanks for sharing!
Marius.

Just a beauty MF Samiran! Good sharp and perfect colours exalted by the light.

Ropberto.

Hi Samiran,
Beautifully composed shot with great colors. Focus seems a bit soft and the DoF too shallow, but due to the great compo and color contrast I give my dark green smiley, because the overall impression, in spite of the minor mistakes, is absolutely positive. Not the sharpest... too shallow DoF... but pleasant to my eyes. Tfs this beauty.
Have a great festive season, best regards, László

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