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Swallowtails in Corsica
e6filmuser
Registered Users Posts: 3,378 Major grins
This species is the last of those I photographed at the remote, arid roadside area, where lots of butterflies were feeding on yellow thistle flowers. The thistle was probably the Clustered Carline Thistle Carlina corymbosa but I am no botanist!
I have to say that it was refreshing to revert to my prefered lighting regime, daylight, after almost exclusively using flash for higher magnifications for many months in England.
The Swallowtail Papilio machaon is a rarity in Britain, the race P. m. britannicus requiring a moist habitat for the functioning of the male genital claspers, such that it is confined to fenlands.
A separate species, the Corsican Swallowtail Papilio hospiton has shorter "tails" and differences in wing patterns.
The images here are of the continental European race of P. machaon. The yellow (rather than black) abdomen indicates that they are later than first brood, hardly surprising in September. They did not give opportunies to shoot with their wings opened flat.
These images are not quite of the standard of the others from the same locality, probably due to my unaccustomed use of AF.
EM-1, Olympus ED Digital 4/3 70-300mm AF. AF used, hand-held, harsh sunlight.
Harold
I have to say that it was refreshing to revert to my prefered lighting regime, daylight, after almost exclusively using flash for higher magnifications for many months in England.
The Swallowtail Papilio machaon is a rarity in Britain, the race P. m. britannicus requiring a moist habitat for the functioning of the male genital claspers, such that it is confined to fenlands.
A separate species, the Corsican Swallowtail Papilio hospiton has shorter "tails" and differences in wing patterns.
The images here are of the continental European race of P. machaon. The yellow (rather than black) abdomen indicates that they are later than first brood, hardly surprising in September. They did not give opportunies to shoot with their wings opened flat.
These images are not quite of the standard of the others from the same locality, probably due to my unaccustomed use of AF.
EM-1, Olympus ED Digital 4/3 70-300mm AF. AF used, hand-held, harsh sunlight.
Harold
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Doug and Cathy
www.goldenstarphoto.com
http://www.facebook.com/artist.goldenstarphoto?ref=hl
Thanks.
Harold
Brian v.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
Thank, Brian.
The only place you can see them in the wild in the OK is Wicken Fen reserve, and I don't know if access is suitable for photography.
They are quite common in the warmer parts of Europe and I have see the Scarce Swallowtail on occasion.
Harold