Pre-Butterfly by TwoPynts
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Description
Thanks to dBgraphix (Doug) for helping me identify this as a larval Gulf Fritillary. This is the Florida variety, not the Californian. In its butterfly stage, it looks a lot like some of the butterflies danob (Danny) has posted in his Macro Alien series. Upon reading about it, I discovered that it's primary food source is the Passionflower Vine. Doh! I just bought one for my garden!! It was eating something else though...so I'll just have to keep an eye out for it and pluck any I find...wearing garden gloves of course.
I really like the colors on this specimen, and the way it's spikes seem like polished black coral. I left him and a friend alone after taking a few photos. This image turned out the clearest. It is much easier photographing them at this stage -- they can't fly away on you. ;-] I wanted to post it large, but settling on giving you the full view here, and a large detail of it's head in the FORUM.
Olympus C8080 with color enhancement, border and other fine tuning in PhotoshopCS.
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Gulf fritillary
(Agraulis vanillae incarnata)
Lepidoptera: Heliconiidae
Characteristics: Bright orange on dorsal wing surface with black markings; ventral hindwing with silver spots. Forewing length: 25-39 mm.
Similar Species: The only other Orange County butterflies with silver spots on the ventral hindwing are the true fritillaries (genus Speyeria). However, the wing shape of Agraulis vanillae differs markedly from that of Speyeria.
Habits: Often found gliding through city yards, most common near stands of the larval food plant, passion flower vine.
Distribution: Limited almost solely to the cities and suburbs.
Flight Period: Continuously brooded. We have Orange County records for nearly every month, although the butterfly appears most commonly in September. Ron Vanderhoff records the species primarily from May to November in Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa.
Larval Foodplants: Introduced Passion flower vine (Passiflora spp.). This is one butterfly that could not breed in Orange County before the establishment of the foodplant as an ornamental.
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(this information was gathered from: MAMBA)
To see the life cycle of this amazing creature, visit sasionline.org.
Comments (43)
gwfa
beautiful macro shot...
nico3333fr
Great macro you've made here !
hotracer2
Fantastic macro, such bright colors, well done:):):):)
Lary
WOW! Amazing macro capture my friend, vivid colours and so clear details! CONGRATS! V*****
killerpumpkins
Yikes! This is beautiful. Great shot. I can imagine this as being a gormet meal for some bird. Great find and capture. KP
Ti-Paul
Now that's a close-up and half my friend!Awesome shot!Splendid colors with sharpness out of this world! Bravo! Now, which end is the head?My guess is on the right end! Have a nice day!:)
MaydaMason
impressive macro and outstanding colours!!
CameraObscura
The colours are remarkable. Having one collected butterflies, I must say, I have never come across a red catipillar. An incredible discover and excellent photograph.
Enmos
Awesome macro shot of this very beautiful caterpillar, a very cool looking specimen !! :o) Superb work here !! Thanks for the info and thanks to Doug for the identification !! :o))
Onslow
Super shot of an amazing beastie :)
MossSphere
Beautiful detail on this 'wee beastie' ! Those spikes look pretty fierce, I suppose it keeps the birds away!
1pearl
Excellent macro shot and colors !!!
DJB
Quite the alien look. Brilliantly captured.I like the fine detail captured on the spikes. Well these are nice to look at,but do not like what they do to the leaves.
sharky_
Beautiful macro on this caterpillar. Looks dangerous to handle. Incridible colors. Aloha
Zacko
MACRO to the extreme, love this one!!!!! Soooo cool, look at that red and that green. Just one amazing compo. Well done indeed, have a great one #:O)
sdowning
GREAT colors and contrast!
Chaos911
impressiv macro, super excellent!!!
diomedes66
WOW! This is a superb macro! Although the subject is a little less than tasty :-) Don't forget your gloves if you need to move this guy; looks like he's got 'personal protection' down to a science! Magnificent!
Cosme..D..Churruca
Amazing creature... excellent photography !
thesymphonyofthelife
the contrast between the colors are very good, it's an excellent macro with nice litghning. have a good day
Tedz
A stunner here...what detail You show :]
zulaan
Wow ! What a colors and a beautiful little creature ! Perfect macro shot !!! ;)
rodomolo
Excellent colors ands macro. :))
Lledeline
Wonderful macro/
soulofharmony
never seen anything like this.. awesome photography and pov.. sublime :)...)
Davidy
What can anyone say, apart from brilliant. I like the way is is busy munching. Wicked !
Akinom
WOW... a stunner Kort! I'm in awe! v Never seen this kind!
parb1194
A fantastic macro and such wonderful color. Bravo!!!! ;o)
Punaguy
Whew! Up close and personal here! Awesome capture! Aloha!
Richardphotos
outstanding clear macro of a beautiful catipillar. they are much slower but I like the butty stage better. I accidently killed a very hairy black catipillar when I was cutting the grass.