<< Previous Next >>

Plebeius argus


Plebeius argus
Photo Information
Copyright: Alan Turvey (liquidsunshine) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1878 W: 112 N: 1560] (5437)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-14
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 300 D, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro, Hoya 58mm skylight
Exposure: f/8, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-08-17 18:47
Viewed: 4511
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a Silver Studded Blue, taken at college lake nature centre.

Plebeius argus

Resident
Range declining.

This small butterfly is found mainly in heathland where the silvery-blue wings of the males provide a marvellous sight as they fly low over the heather. The females are brown and far less conspicuous but, like the male, have distinct metallic spots on the hindwing. In late afternoon the adults often congregate to roost on sheltered bushes or grass tussocks.

The Silver-studded Blue has a restricted distribution but occurs in large numbers in suitable heathland and coastal habitats. It has undergone a major decline through most of its range.

Conservation status
UK BAP status: Priority Species
Butterfly Conservation priority: medium
European threat status: not threatened
Protected in Great Britain for sale only

European/world range
Widespread across temperate Europe and Asia to Japan. Its range appears to be stable in much of Europe but declines have been recorded in some central and west European countries, and expansions in parts of south-east Europe and Russia.

Foodplants
A wide variety of ericaceous and leguminous plants are used: on heathland the most common are Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea), Cross-leaved Heath (E. tetralix), gorses (Ulex spp.); and on calcareous sites mainly Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Common Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium), and Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa).

Habitat
Three main habitats are used: lowland heathland (the most widely used); calcareous grasslands (in north Wales, Pembrokeshire, and the Isle of Portland in Dorset); and sand dunes (for example in Cornwall). It occasionally occurs in other habitats such as bogs.

In all habitats the butterfly requires short or sparse vegetation, such as recently burnt heathland, or where there are thin, eroding soils (for example old quarries and coasts). In the south of England it is less demanding and is often associated with shorter areas of wet heath dominated by Cross-leaved Heath.

Thanks for looking, have a good day/night.

Notes from www.butterfly-conservation.org
PDP, hummingbird24, scottevers7, annagrace, luvsdogs3, coasties, wallhalla15, red45, puffy, sAner, electra, marhowie, thistle, dew77, TAZ, Luc, chiliu, Eko, slrnovice2 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To annagrace: Good morning Alliliquidsunshine 1 08-18 02:15
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-08-17 18:57]

Hello Alan, very nice shot. The composition is good and nice colours and details. Looks like the light was a little tricky so I think you did a great job. Well done.

Wow!

This is striking Alan, and well presented with frame.

An amazing composition, sharp and beautiful details, colors, and POV.

Congratulations, and TFS.

Hi Alan,
This is a very beautiful composition. Superb colors in that soft light. I thinks the detail is perfect, as is the OOF backround. Very, very, nice work!
sCOTT

What the hell is recently burnt heathland? LOL!! Are you sure you wrote this after a good night's sleep???

Great capture, Alan. The DOF was perfect as you can see both antennae well. TFS!

Alli

The patterns are amazing, Alan! I really like the soft subdued colors. Details, POV and composition are all very good. The highlighted fring on the wings is a really nice detail. Very nicely done! :-) TFS!

Nice image of this little butterfly. Detail and clarity are good.

Hi Alan, I have to say that I really like this picture. What I like most is the composition. The focus is very sharp, and the DOF is perfect, and the BG is nicely blurred. Well done, thanks for sharing.

Jan-Hendrik

Hi Alan

Wow... Great shot, as usual! I love the colours. Awesome OOF BG. Good light and depth of colour. Tack sharp with great detail. Nice work. Thanks.

Alan, beautiful natural shot - very clear and colorful. Fantastic composition and great details. Superb colors. Well done & TFS!

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-08-18 5:12]

Hi Alan!

Quite good photo of this common, beautifull and very hard to capture butterfly. I like its colours and composition with this nice plant.

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 289 W: 0 N: 339] (1351)
  • [2005-08-18 6:07]

Nice shot Alan, I like the composition, the POV is good too... it look like she is looking your way. She got very pretty eyes. :) Good DOF and details, thanks for sharing. :)

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-08-18 6:14]

Hi Alan,

I really like the composition in this picture. Exposure is great. Dof could have been a bit wider, but I think you didn't have enough light for a higher f-stop.

Regards,
Pieter

Hi Alan,
yes this blue once are really cute and small, they have a funny face. It is lovely. I like this shot. Well done.

Martina

Very nice Alan. Well composed with great colors and details. Excellent notes, Well done.

Lovely shot Alan!
The colours are superb, lighting perfect.
POV and composition are really good though I find the parts of plant on the left side a bit distracting.
Overall, superb photo.
WELL DONE & TFS

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2005-08-18 10:16]

Hello Alan!
Very nice capture.Lighting,colors,POV,details and composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2005-08-18 16:58]

Alan, how beautiful this is.

Great composition and pov. Lovely colors. Maybe I'd try to clone out the plant on the left, but that's an opinion.

I enjoy lighing and the blurred bg too.

I really like the composition, with just enough foreground objects to 'set the scene' and no background to distract. The diagonal stalk and the 'upside down' post of the butterfly are nice. Good contrast and sharpness.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-08-19 4:05]

What a pretty and interesting butterfly that you have well captured ! Composition, colors, soft BG, DOF, details and sharpness are great ! Thanks for sharing Alan.

Beautiful little critter, great shot !!!

Cindy Lee

A lovely sharp image.Great detail on the butterfly.Light is good to.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-08-19 21:54]

Hi Alan, I do not have the time to write a decent comment. I give to you the well deserved smiley. It is a perfect picture even if personaly I would have removed the leave over the butterfly. Very strong visual impact.

Thank you for sharing pictures and notes and for the enjoyment which they give to me.

Have a wonderfull weekend!

Hi Alan,
Great shot!
Very sharp and clean, beautiful composition.
TFS!

  • Great 
  • Eko Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 187 W: 10 N: 38] (121)
  • [2005-08-22 9:54]

Hi Alan!
Wonderful macro.Lighting,POV and DOF are beautiful.I liked faultless composition very much.Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
  • [2005-08-23 12:51]

I had mis this good shot Alan,
very good composition, the pov is great and the dof is good, the light is the winner in the shot, with the colours, very good job,
gr. jaap

Hi Alan, nice sharp capture of this gorgeous little butterfly. Great POV and composition. The background color sets off the butterfly perfectly. TFS!

Hi Alan, lovely portrait of this small butterfly. I think you've done a great job with the composition, just right. Lovely details on the butterfly and a good job with the exposure. Very nicely done :)

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 4 N: 746] (2774)
  • [2006-04-14 15:45]

Great shot Alan, the POV and composition are both perfect as is the sharpness and background.
A lovely shot!
Thanks for sharing.
Michael.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF