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Aricia agestis


Aricia agestis
Photo Information
Copyright: Roberto Innocenzi (cobra112) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2093 W: 75 N: 6382] (43366)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2014-08-02
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D300s, Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2014-10-15 11:37
Viewed: 1710
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Lycaenidae

Genus: Aricia

Species:A. agestis

The Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Although one of the "Blues" both sexes are brown on the uppersides with a band of orange spots at the border of each wing. They can be mistaken for other female blues but the Brown Argus never has any blue scales at the base of the wings like other female Blues often do. It could also be mistaken for the Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxrexes were it not for the fact that their ranges do not overlap in the UK, unlike on continental Europe. The underside has the typical "blue" pattern of a greyish/brownish ground colour with black spots outlined in white and a row of orange spots along the border. The pattern of the black spots is the best way to distinguish this species from female Common, Chalk Hill and Adonis Blues as they lack the black spot found near the base of the forewing which is present on these three species. This species has seen an expansion in its range in recent years and is widely distributed across southeast England and most of the Midlands with colonies occurring in Wales and as far north as Yorkshire. These northern sites have seen a lot of confusion in recent years with genetic studies looking at various colonies to separate the two Aricia spp. Until a few years ago, these northern colonies were thought to be the Northern Brown Argus and more colonies may yet be found to be misidentified. Like other blues it is common on the chalk downlands of southern England but will also use other habitats such as woodland clearings, coastal grasslands and heathland. It is widespread across Europe north to southern Sweden and eastwards to Siberia. Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium is the favoured foodplant on Calcareous soils. In other habitats Dove-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle and Common Stork's-bill Erodium cicutarium are used and possibly other Geranium spp. as well. Eggs are laid singly on the underside of leaves. The typically slug-like lycid larvae are green with a pale line along each side and always attended by ants. They hibernate as fully grown larvae and pupate the following spring. There are two broods a year in the southern colonies with adults on the wing in May and June and again in late July till mid September but further north they are single brooded and fly in June and July.

Lunghezza ala anteriore: 11 -15 mm
Distribuzione in Italia: Tutta Italia compresa la Sicilia ma esclusa la sardegna.
Habitat: prati e radure dal piano basale a quello montano sino a circa 1700 metri s.l.m.
Generazioni annuali: tre, con sfarfallamento in aprile-maggio, luglio e agosto-settembre.
Piante nutrici: Helianthemum nummularium - Erodium cicutarium - Geranium sp.
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To lousat: sharpata....cobra112 1 10-15 11:47
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2014-10-15 11:42]
  • [+]

Ciao Roby,ho tolto la mia dalla gallery perche' dovevo lasciare il palcoscenico a questa meraviglia...ehehe..non so cosa sia successo,ma si e' sharpata da sola dopo l'upload,sul pc era molto differente....boh...per fortuna non è accaduto anche alla tua,questa foto è una vera magia,che luce e che contorno soft delicatissimo,pulita,perfetta,un vero capolavoro! Buona serata,Luciano

hallo Roberto
very nice picture to see
good sharpness and beautiful colours
thanks gr lou

Ciao Roberto, grande magia di luce, una delizia tutta da ammirare, bravissimo, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2014-10-15 12:44]

Hello Roberto,
This is a very beautiful macro of a butterfly in impressive sharpness and details. Beautiful light and natural colours. Excellent contrasting dark background.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • NikosR Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 76 W: 3 N: 447] (3436)
  • [2014-10-15 13:02]

Ciao Roberto

Perfect image of this lycaenid, very nice composition, excellent clarity, splendid sharpness and fine details, very nice blurring BG. Thanks for sharing.

Rgds

Nikos

Great shot Robby, powerful composit well done.

Regards,

Pauly.

  • Great 
  • aruntp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 590 W: 1 N: 357] (5379)
  • [2014-10-15 17:46]

beautiful small blue with different angle. nice lighting. i love the colors. the flower is in harmony with butterfly and background. good work.

Hello Roberto - Beautiful Butterfly. Very attractive pose and framed. Good details and sharpness. I like beautiful light here. Thanks for sharing. Regards and have a nice day - Srikumar

Good work.Beautiful light.
Rgds
Harris

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