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Glamorous - to *Sabine*


Glamorous - to *Sabine*
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: 2009-12-12
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D300, Sigma 105 F2.8 Macro.
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Macromania [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-12-17 8:39
Viewed: 4254
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 51
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello dear friends,
Today I`d like to dedicate this one to my TN friends Sabine and Stephan
http://www.treknature.com/members/wishnugaruda/
I realy like their amazing colourful super macros.
I hope they and you like it.
See you in TN.


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
loot, uleko, horias, siggi, eng55, Luis52, Silvio2006, waylim, anel, flashpoint, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
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To BIODEIA: Biloga...Mello 1 12-18 05:08
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2009-12-17 8:44]

Hello Fransisco,
A superb macro of the caterpillar of a species of butterfly (probably Nymphalidae). The POV is great and shows the features with excellent sharpness and colours against a pleasing natural BG.
The high quality of the image as a macro makes it afine tribute to Sabine, our TN friend and macro specialist.
Thanks and best wishes,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 293 N: 4497] (16383)
  • [2009-12-17 9:05]

Hello Francisco,
a nice picture of the caterpillar - really not easy for a photographer becuase of the bizarre
protrusions leaving the focus plane in all directions. Details made visible by your picture are impressive.
I aggre with the suggestion of Ivan 'Argus' that it belongs to the Nymphalidae.
Best wishes, Peter

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
  • [2009-12-17 9:28]
  • [3]

Hi Francisco

Now that is one interesting caterpillar and a lovely dedication to Sabine. I am sure
she will be thrilled to bits. Caterpillars are one of those phenomena of nature which
time and time again can give you a lame jaw and then it just drop open in shear
amazement. Over and above the fact that this is truly a totally weird looking animal
so is its design something quite special. For example, one piece of information I
picked up in your note: "Caterpillars have about 4,000 muscles (compare to humans,
with 629)". That is a piece of not so trivial information that deserves a "WOW".

You did a great job in capturing this specimen. The f/10 aperture stretched quite a
bit and although the complete insect is not entirely within the range of the DOF the
important parts is and that created a feast for the eyes. The colours are brilliant and
well saturated. It is a cunning composition with the caterpillar crawling from the rear
and then turning to the left to present a side view of its frontal areas. Aren't those
pink bristles something to scream about?

Well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2009-12-17 9:31]

Hello Francisco,
Wonderful capture of this spectacular caterpillar showing interesting details. Beautiful colours and very well composed too.
I'm sure Sabine will love this!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 837 W: 58 N: 2084] (11033)
  • [2009-12-17 9:45]

Francisco
What a beauty1
Great sharp details and lovely colors.
Congratulation!
Horia

hello Francisco
this is a super caterpillar
never seen before
great details and beautiful colours
very nice pose
greeting lou

Dear Francisco,
I have a book about Nature's defences against enemies, and your capture beats everything!!

The shiny black face resembling a mask, carrying "corals" on top and, and the body spikes imitate thorns in the Brazilian Jungle...

I REALLY like your layout - and the green back-ground matches exactly the "poisonous" green frilly skirt.

Your green :) notes are excellent reading - and support ably the thrilling creature.

Congratulation on your work.

Warm Regards
Ingrid

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2009-12-17 12:42]

Hello Francisco,
A very well detailed caterpillar, the curving of the caterpillar make this picture very attractive, I like the POV and DOF, also the colours are very good.
Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2009-12-17 13:29]

Hi Francisco,
It's magnificent close up.I liked colors,sharpness,POV and composition a lot.Wonderful dedication for Sabine.
Thanks for posting..

  • Great 
  • bedri Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 111 W: 0 N: 237] (1284)
  • [2009-12-17 15:02]

Hi Francisco,
Superb macro, congratulations. TFS.
Best regards,
Bedri..

Francisco...
Nessa voce arrasou........
Onde achou essa maravilha?
Parabéns... Estou morrendo de inveja....
RsRsRsRs

Beijo...

Andréia... (a Bióloga)

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2009-12-17 17:53]

Hola Francisco.
Hermoso y colorido Gusanito. Una foto muy bella y bastante bien lograda. Finos detalles en toda la imagen.
Saludos Francisco.
Luis52.

Ciao Francisco. Fascinating macro shot wit brigh natural colours and perfect sharp. What intrigant sinouse perspective!

Roberto

Ciao Francisco, splendid caterpillar with fantastic colors, superb macro with great sharpness and fine details, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Hola Francisco,
Excellent photo. I have never seen such intrecated and more armed capterpillar I have ever seen. Great details. Lovely colors. This little things loos like a walking plant. Beuatiful, Does it turn into a little dragon instead of a butterfly? Just kidding. Excellent.
Way

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-12-18 10:40]

Hello Francisco,
What a fantastic photo of this caterpillar. Great sharpness, details and splendid colours. Wonderful POV. Good DOF and composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2009-12-19 4:36]

Hello Francisco,
Very striking picture of this amazing looking caterpillar. It almost looks like if it would wave to us.
Excellent sharpness, beautiful colors and perfect framing.
Great again!
Kind regards
Anne

Hi Franzisco,
oooohhh, thank you sooooo much for this crazy little guy, I love that one so much.
Looks like rose antennaes, lovely one.
I'm on holidays right now and had no time to look to TN for some days now.
So I'm astonished and very happy to find this post for Stephan and me today.
Stephan is sitting next to me and also says: woooooow, excellent!
Thanks again my friend, so kind of you ...
greetings from the cold Germany - we have 12 degree C - but not warmth - minus!!! 12 degree under 0!!! And snow!
Enjoy the warmth in your country, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hello Francisco,
Fantastic caterpillar, with nice flashy colors. The composition and sharpness are really excellent. Another treasure from Brazil! Cheers,
Catherine

  • Great 
  • tcr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 8 N: 538] (3384)
  • [2009-12-19 12:09]

O ângulo de tomada pouco comum produziu um ótimo resultado. Ótimas cores e luminosidade.
Até a próxima.

eccellente risultato per la macro di un soggetto davvero difficile
da inquadrare e focalizzare....Francisco sei riuscito nel migliore dei modi
con una ottima definizione del dettaglio

buona domenica sERGIO

This caterpillar look verry interesting and have so nice colours.
Verry good photo.
Friendly regards.Alin.

Ótimos detalhes. O animal é bem curioso, e normalmente passa despercebido na nossa frente. Parabéns pelo registro!

Hi MF Francisco,

Impressive capture of this beautifully coloured caterpillar with great DOF providing a 3-D effect.
i like the way that you captured this prety beauty MF.
TFS and have a nice day and new week!
Cheers,

Bayram

unbelivable caterpillar, TFS Ori

O duro de fotografar essas jóias, é que elas não permanecem totalmente em primeiro plano, sendo que quando usamos o MACRO das maquinas, poucos milimetros adiante ou após o centro da imagem , ja se perde a nitidez...
Mesmo assim , um ótimo regi9stro, parabens
Enio

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