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Lepidoptera Caterpillar for *Bayram*


Lepidoptera Caterpillar for *Bayram*
Photo Information
Copyright: Francisco Mello (Mello) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 140 W: 34 N: 480] (2419)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-11-30
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D300, Sigma 105 F2.8 Macro.
Exposure: f/11, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Dedications to Bayram-II, Bayram's Favourites-III [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-11-30 11:21
Viewed: 5132
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This week I will post 5 shots, one per day, of the same subject, always around the same time (5 pm in Brazil). Complete body, head, tail, eyes and respiratory system.

Today, the complete body, I`d like to dedicate to my "and, of course, our" friend Bayram (boreocypriensis)
I`m happy because as he sad in his intro "A good man is always a beginner!!! - always willing to learn", I realy believe that he is right.

At my work I have 23 years of experience and I can tell you that this is true. As an amateur photografer I only have a few years of experience and I`m happy because I can learn a lot with you Bayram and our friends on TN. Thanks and I hope you enjoy this one too.,


CATERPILLARS
Caterpillars are the larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). They are mostly phytophagous in food habit, with some species being entomophagous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered pests in agriculture. Many moth species are better known in their caterpillar stages because of the damage they cause to fruits and other agricultural produce.

The etymological origins of the word are from the early 1500s, from Middle English catirpel, catirpeller, probably an alteration of Old North French catepelose: cate, cat (from Latin cattus) + pelose, hairy (from Latin pilōsus).[1]

ANATOMY
Most caterpillars have tubular, segmented bodies. They have three pairs of true legs on the three thoracic segments, up to four pairs of prolegs on the middle segments of the abdomen, and often a single pair of prolegs on the last abdominal segment. There are ten abdominal segments. The families of lepidoptera differ in the numbers and positioning of the prolegs. Some caterpillars are fuzzy (which means they have hair) and they are most likely to cause itching of the hands if touched

Caterpillars grow through a series of moults; each intermediate stage is called an instar. The last moult takes them into the inactive pupal or chrysalis stage.

Like all insects, caterpillars breathe through a series of small openings along the sides of their thorax and abdomen called spiracles. These branch into the body cavity into a network of tracheae. A few caterpillars of the family Pyralidae are aquatic and have gills that let them breathe underwater.[2]

Caterpillars have about 4,000 muscles (compare humans, with 629). They move through contraction of the muscles in the rear segments pushing the blood forward into the front segments elongating the torso. The average caterpillar has 248 muscles in the head segment alone.

SENSES
Caterpillars do not have good vision. They have a series of six tiny eyelets or 'stemmata' on each side of the lower portion of their head. These can probably form well focused, but poorly resolved images.[3] They move their heads from side to side probably as a means of judging distance of objects, particularly plants. They rely on their short antennae to help them locate food.

Some caterpillars are able to detect vibrations, usually at a specific frequency. Caterpillars of the common hook-tip moth, Drepana arcuata (Drepanoidea) produce sounds to defend their silk nests from members of their own species,[4] by scraping against the leaf in a ritualized acoustic duel. They detect the vibrations conducted by the plant and not airborne sounds. Similarly, cherry leaf rollers Caloptilia serotinella defend their rolls.[5] Tent caterpillars can also detect vibrations at the frequency of wing beats of one of their natural enemies.[6]

DEFENSES
Many animals feed on caterpillars as they are rich in protein; adversely, caterpillars have evolved various means of defenses. The appearance of a caterpillar can often repel a predator, the markings and certain body parts can make it seem poisonous, bigger in size thus threatening, or non-edible. Some types of caterpillars are indeed poisonous, and are capable of shooting acid.[7]

Caterpillars have evolved defences against physical conditions such as cold, hot or dry environmental conditions. Some Arctic species like Gynaephora groenlandica have special basking and aggregation behaviours[8] apart from physiological adaptations to remain in a dormant state.[9]

You can see more information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar
bahadir, nglen, xTauruSx, boreocypriensis, Dis. Ac., Juyona, maurydv, jlinaresp, anel, Alex99, tcr has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jlinaresp: Muito obrigadoMello 1 12-01 11:14
To boreocypriensis: ThanksMello 1 11-30 13:26
To bahadir: ThanksMello 1 11-30 12:58
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Francisco,
This very unusual and interesting caterpillar. Wonderfully photographed with excellent sharpness and nice composition.
Great dedication to my supervisor Prof. Bayram too.
TFS and regards, Bahadır

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 293 N: 4497] (16383)
  • [2009-11-30 11:47]

Hola Francisco,
this is a beautiful and perfect picture of that caterpillar. Depth of field is great
so that all parts of the body ae vey sharp and the colour pattern is optimally presented.
The species belongs to the family Brassolidae. However, I cannot give the exact species identification.
Best wishes, Peter

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2009-11-30 11:47]

Hi Francisco . What a great looking Caterpillar. I am sure Bayram will love it. Its an unusual looking one. Which you have taken with fine detail and bright looking colours. The light grren stands out from the darker leaves. well taken TFS.
Nick..

Hello Francisco,
Beautiful close-up shot of this styrange larva with nice details and composition. Nice dedication too.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

Hi Francisco,

Thank you very much my friend. What an honor and privilege to receive this wonderful dedication!
This is really very unusual caterpillar which I have not seen before.
You have managed your toy in an excellent way to get such impressive shot.
Very high quality and professional looking shot indeed.
The colors are so great. Impressive work MF!
Thanks once more Francisco!
Have a great day!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Francisco,

an very nice close up from this caterpillar.
Fine colours.
Thanks for the workshop.

gert

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2009-12-01 0:36]

Hola Francisco,
sorprendente caterpillar,
detalles y buena nitidez.
magnífico trabajo.

**Obrigado, por escoger mi trabajo como favorito.
saludos amigo.

Hello Francisco,
a superb macro shot of this colourful caterpillar taken from a very good POV with fine details, very nice composition with a good contrast against a dark green BG
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-12-01 3:36]

Hello Francisco,
Great photo in beautiful clear colours and superb sharpness and details. Good POV and contrasting BG.
Deserved dedication to Bayram.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Francisco,
Excellent capture of this beauty, with fine colors and details, very good composition. Well done!
Catherine

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2009-12-01 10:29]

Hi Fransisco,
a truly fascinating creature you found here. Great details and clarity, the setting amongst the leaves shows this animals environment perfectly.
tfs
Paul

Olá Francisco,

Há um registro perfeito na textura da oruga na foto. Detalhes podem quase tocar! ... como em seus outros fotos, a coloração é surpreendentemente boa, muito bem compo.

TFS

Jesús

hello Francisco
this is a beauty
so good sharpness and very good light with great details
beautiful colours to
super!!
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2009-12-02 4:11]

Hello Francisco,
Caterpillars are often very fascinating by their special look. This one has an amazing head, which you show in detail in your following shot. The stripes of different colors on the abdomen are very fine too. And the curved pose on the leaf is "photogenic". I think that there is a theme "Caterpillar from South_America" on TN.
Thanks also for the instructive note.
Kind regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2009-12-02 21:18]

Hi, Francisco. again.
Nice presentation of an attractive caterpillar. You have selected a very cute moment and pose of the insect. Twig and leaf create a fine surroundings for the main hero of the shot. DOF is excellent as well as the composition. My kind regards and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • tcr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 8 N: 538] (3384)
  • [2009-12-03 11:12]

Ótimo ângulo de tomada da imagem e enquadramento, grande nitidez e cores naturais.
Até a próxima.

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