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LIVING JEWEL


LIVING JEWEL
Photo Information
Copyright: Radomir Jaskula (cicindela) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 3103] (9226)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-04-25
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400, 35-105 mm 1:4,5-5,6, @ ISO 50
Exposure: f/7.8
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Beetles and Bugs of the world, Insects (Insecta) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-05-12 13:57
Viewed: 5335
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello my Friends!
Today continuation of Moroccan pictures, this time something not so huge like lizard :>

This is a Julodis aequinoctialis (Olivier, 1790) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), a member of beetle family named in English Jewel Beetles (in Polish: bogatkowate). The family includes some 15000 species, mainly in the tropical regions.

Traditionally, below a few words about species:

Distribution: N Africa: Morocco (incluging Western Sahara), Algeria, Tunisia, and Lybia, also Senegal and Niger

Habitat: different places with bushes and grass

Size: up to 30-34 mm

Subspecies: 7 subspecies, with at least 2 known from Morocco:
- ssp. carinifrons Théry, 1930
- ssp. coelaticollis Reiche, 1877
- ssp. cyrenaea Obenberger, 1940
- ssp. deserticola Fairmaire, 1859
- ssp. floccosa (Klug, 1829)
- ssp. tubu Descarpentries & Bruneau de Miré, 1963

The name jewel beetles is given after coluration of these beetles, many of them are really fantastic and very colourful. Interesting is that their colours are iridescent, what means that hue changes with the angle from which a surface is viewed.

Thanks to these unique colouration dead beetles from this family was used in some cultures as money.

Some species - including European Melanophila acuminata - are attracted to recently-burned forests to lay their eggs. These species can sense wood smoke for up to 80 km away, and can see infrared light!

And last but not least, I would like to dedicate this picture to Ulla (uleko) who decided to come back to TN after longer absence :>


As always - thank you in advance for comments and vistits! :>
matatur, CatherineD, rousettus, ramthakur, uleko, aes_thor, Alex99, CeltickRanger, cataclysta, anel, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To LordPotty: thank you once more time! :>cicindela 1 05-14 15:18
To matatur: thank you!!cicindela 1 05-12 14:48
To lousat: Moroccan trip :)cicindela 1 05-12 14:27
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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)
  • [2009-05-12 14:06]
  • [+]

Hi Rado,what a impressive pic! And what a impressive beetle! The colors are a great spectacle,i like a lot this metallic green,another beauty from your moroccan trip,you was lucky to have time to found strange beauties like that! My best compliments,have a nice day,LUCIANO.

Thanks for this beautiful reproduction of a strange looking beetle Radomir, POV and DOF are both well chosen for this sharply exposed image and your notes very informative. Well done indeed!
Mehmet

Hello Radomir,
What a beauty! Excellent capture, with great DOF and good management of light. The details are really impressive. Congratulations!
Catherine

Hi Radomir,
This is such a strange beetle.
I've seen shiny coloured beetles and hairy beetles,but never a shiny coloured hairy one.
Your composition and POV are perfect.
So is the sharpness and detail.
Everything is just perfect.
A great shot!
Cheers & TFS
Steve

excellent beauty and wonderful close-up. congratulations Radomir.
superb sharp details, splendid coloration and POV/DOF. Nicely composed and noted. many thanks for sharing and information.
best wishes my friend
Ahmet

An immaculate bug image that leaves nothing to crib about, Radomir.
This is a gem of a picture from your African tour.
Such images set very high standards on TN, my friend.
Thanks for sharing it and best regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2009-05-12 22:37]

Dear Radomir,
Thank you so much for your very kind dedication! This is a very fine member of the Jewel Beetle family, all covered with little hairs! Excellent low POV, sharp details and fine metallic colours. I wonder if the hairs are there to keep it cool? So you've been down south - will you be coming up north this summer too??
Many thanks and kind regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2009-05-12 22:50]

A wonderful macro Radomir!
This large Buprestid beetle is shown from a great lateral POV with excellent sharpness, DOF and lighting. How wonderful to be able to photograph such a large Jewel Beetle!
The few Swedish species are small and rare! Thanks and best regards,
Ivan

Hej!

Super ujęcie no i owad bardzo egzotyczny. Technicznie bardzo ładnie, doby opis i ciekawy obiekt. Gratuluję podróży i pozdrawiam!

Adrian

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 497 W: 111 N: 1535] (9539)
  • [2009-05-13 4:20]

Witaj,
Blyszczacy jak broszka, dobra ekspozycja, harmonijne kolory tla.
Pozdrawiam, Pawel

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2009-05-13 6:27]

Hi Radomir.
Thanks for next masterpiece from you. Fantastic quality of the image, tremendous reproduction of the amazing features of the beetle, including its hair (even on the legs). My congratulations.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-05-13 6:36]

Hello Radomir,
Beautiful photo of this beetle in excellent sharp details. Great natural colours. Nice POV, composition and DOF.
Regards,
Peter

Ciao Radomir, fantastic green jewel, splendid sharpness and superb details,wonderful macro, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Rafa Gold Star Critiquer [C: 172 W: 0 N: 7] (846)
  • [2009-05-14 13:51]

superb macro!

hello Radomir

excellent macro photo of this insect with fine POV, DOF and framing,
superb focus with great sharpness and rich details, TFS

Asbed

Czesc Radziu
Ten koles jest zajebisty. Nie dosc ze zwierzak fajny, kudlaty i kolorowy to jeszcze fotka swietna. Super ostrosc, piekne tlo, dobra kompozycja
Super
Krzysiek

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2009-05-17 8:55]

Hello Radomir,
What a curious creature! Excellent lateral view and very natural colors.
The sharpness is superb too. And a not common beetle.
Thanks for this interesting posting
Kind regards
Anne

Hi Radek,

This is incredible! Very high quality work of a Jewel beetle in a fine pose on a tree trunk. The details are literally impeccable, while the blurring technique has fully focused it against the background. I also captures some Julodis members but i could not find their exact ids yet. It may be ehrenbergi but not sure!
Have a nice night!
Cheers,

Bayram

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