Hi Amila, I love the eyes on that Apely! The White Four-ring is cool looking too. What kind of lens do you use for your super macro shots? They are incredible!
Hi Larry, Thanks! Yes, I too am pleased with the eyes of the Apefly, which was a garden tick for me. Both these were photographed on Saturday. I am using Canon 40D + Canon 100mm Macro f 2.8 Lens + Canon MR-14EX Macro Ring Lite. The last item in this list got added to my kit, last Wednesday.
Hi Sasani, Thanks! This ‘difference’ is I think partly due to my new Macro Flash, which really helps to ‘pop’ the colours out. If your inquiring mind wants to know why the first one is called the Apefly, it is due to the head of its larva having a ‘monkey-face’ design!
Indeed, Tabib. This Four-ring is somewhat of a misnomer!
Hi Spookydragonfly, Thanks! They are butterflies. Further reading for you: here.
Hi Pat, Thanks! Glad you too love the eyes of the Apefly. I am glad I got it in focus. A pair of Apeflies turned up on Saturday, Sunday and today at the same woody patch in my garden at around 2.00 p.m.!! There were constantly settling on the leaves of several plants there. Unlike most butterflies Apefly do not have a particular larval host plant but their larva is known to feed on mealy bugs instead!
Great photos, as usual. I was trying to place the Apefly from a taxonomic standpoint. I was thinking metalmark at first, and although the pattern fits, the behavior does not. When you mentioned that it eats mealy bugs, I realized that It's a relative of a species from eastern North America called the harvester. Suddenly it all made sense.
Thanks, Vickie! The White Four-ring uses grasses as their larval food plants and it is the commonest butterfly in my yard. They are always found qute lowdown in the vegetation and is a real pain in the neck to photograph!
Hi Doug, Yes, your Harvester sounds like a close enough relative to the Apefly. Thanks for sharing that - I can now point that to my North American clients! Thanks also for doing a post on it and for the plug!
BTW, a pair of Apeflies arrived at around 2.30p.m at the same spot in my garden as before!
Dear All, The family to which the Apefly belongs: Lycaenidae is Doug's favourite butterfly family. Visit his blog to find out why.
Baihualing – The Sequel
-
At this moment, Baihualing is the eBird hotspot in China which has by far
the largest number of species – 486. With 398 species, Nanhui is trailing
far beh...
Opening Dors
-
My current dayjob mostly revolves around identifying and counting dung
beetles. When Europeans settled Australia, they brought their farm animals
with them...
May Days
-
Apologies to regular readers who perhaps realised I had gone AWOL without
leaving a forwarding address. I promise to get back to you all very soon.
Yes, it...
American Prairie (Reserve) Critique
-
It has been five years since I reviewed the American Prairie. At that time,
they were known as American Prairie Reserve. The name may have changed, but
t...
A Warbler That Refuses To be Ignored
-
The Yellow Warbler is one of the most commonly seen warblers in Connecticut
this time of year. The males are bright yellow with black beady eyes, and
red...
Tabin Wildlife Reserve
-
21-26th April 2022
The gang's next destinations were at Tabin Wildlife Reserve located around
1 hour 30 minutes drive from Lahad Datu town on the East...
Four weeks on Fuerteventura
-
The full list of birds seen during our four week stay on the island. Had a
car for 3 days, which only added the species in italics but got us to some
inter...
The trees are dead! Long live the forest!
-
Dead trees are vital habitats for nourishing life. Then why do we have a
problem with them? The Green Ogre - Nature's layers unraveled
To read more, visit ...
Seventeen-year Cicadas: Watching a Nymph Transform
-
Seventeen-year Periodic Cicadas have been emerging slowly and silently in
my east Tennessee yard for the past week. No drumming music to attract
mates. ...
Loose Feathers #800
-
*White-crowned Sparrow / Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS*
Birds and birding news
- Tomorrow is NJ Audubon's World Series of Birding, a big day tournament ...
The Last Post
-
So this is the end: my last ever post on this blog. My new blog is here
After almost exactly 12 years I've decided to wind up this blog. There are
vari...
October in the garden
-
[image: The Urban Gardener | Dendrobium Orchid]
Come October and a gardener's mind turns to things colourful and bountiful.
My garden is flourishing in a gi...
Waiting for Snow
-
Tufted Titmouse 2-6-18
On this gray winter's morning I sit here awaiting the next winter storm. We
have been in a pattern of snow, warming rain, melt the s...
Cock of the Blue Rock
-
Watching a Blue Rock Thrush on 1980s housing estate in the pretty Cotswold
town of Stow on the Wold on the 28th December wasn't where I expected to be
spen...
Take Part in The RSPB Big Wild Sleepout!
-
This month the RSPB are encouraging us all to swap our comfortable homes
for nature’s home for a night and discover a secret world of wildlife by
taking pa...
A tiny voice
-
I haven't posted anything here for nearly three years.
This blog used to be my daily journal, my far-reaching arms to hold close
to my friends. Facebook ...
An ending...a continuation...a beginning
-
I've always hated when blogs I love just stop dead. I find myself wondering
what happened to the blogger. Did they die suddenly? were they taken ill or
hea...
Killdeer Chick in Yellowstone National Park
-
These were taken at West Thumb Geyser Basis, along the beach. It was really
cool to get to watch these little chicks up close and personal. I had never
see...
Photo of the Week (10/03/2012): Safety Stop
-
For the beginner diver this is one of the most discomfiting times of a
dive, the safety stop, 3 minutes at 5 meters with the aim of eliminating
microbubbl...
Painted Redstart in Ocean Springs, Mississippi!
-
On Jan. 5, Nancy Madden found a *Painted Redstart* just east of Ocean
Springs, Mississippi, on the Jackson County Christmas Bird Count. The bird
has been...
Twitching a rarity
-
Week 40 - 08 October 2011, Pivot Fields
There is nothing worse than getting news of a first and national rarity
whilst you are away on a business trip, so...
IBCM V - Lake Skinner and the Quino Checkerspot
-
Wednesday was the final day of the IBCM California workshop. The weather
forecast had been marginal, however we woke to a gloriously sunny day as we
heade...
Common Kingfisher - Thalangama, Sri Lanka
-
Common Kingfisher photographed at Thalangama this morning. The bird was far
away and I had to crop the image a fair bit. It was pretty quiet from a
bi...
I'm No Dog Hater...
-
..but it's the owners who sometimes get on my wick.
So I'd arranged to go out with my mate P the other evening. I've known him
for years and I suppose I'd...
Those not-so-fab "Mom" days...
-
Ain't no shame momma.
Today was one of those mornings. I woke up to a shrill little
"YEAAAAAAAAAKKKKKGURGLE" in my ear. LO (little one) was wedged between ...
I am a naturalist guide specialising in bird watching and wildlife tours. I have keen interests in Theravada Buddhism and Vedic Astrology. I became an ardent Buddhist in October, 2012 after meeting Venerable Waharaka Abhayaratanalanka--who attained the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana in February, 2017. I studied at St. Peter's College, Colombo 4.
26 comments:
Hi Amila, I love the eyes on that Apely! The White Four-ring is cool looking too. What kind of lens do you use for your super macro shots? They are incredible!
oooh!
And just when you think your photos can't get any better!
Never seen a butterfly so up close. Beautiful!
Ha.. I see five rings there!
very good macro work.
Great shots! They look like moths?! What are they? Moths, Butterflies??
Up close and personal! Great photos, Amila. Love the eyes on the Apefly Butterfly.
Wishing you a wonderful day, and more butterflies to photograph.
Hi Larry,
Thanks!
Yes, I too am pleased with the eyes of the Apefly, which was a garden tick for me. Both these were photographed on Saturday. I am using Canon 40D + Canon 100mm Macro f 2.8 Lens + Canon MR-14EX Macro Ring Lite. The last item in this list got added to my kit, last Wednesday.
Hi Sasani,
Thanks! This ‘difference’ is I think partly due to my new Macro Flash, which really helps to ‘pop’ the colours out. If your inquiring mind wants to know why the first one is called the Apefly, it is due to the head of its larva having a ‘monkey-face’ design!
Indeed, Tabib.
This Four-ring is somewhat of a misnomer!
Hi Spookydragonfly,
Thanks! They are butterflies.
Further reading for you: here.
Hi Pat,
Thanks! Glad you too love the eyes of the Apefly. I am glad I got it in focus. A pair of Apeflies turned up on Saturday, Sunday and today at the same woody patch in my garden at around 2.00 p.m.!! There were constantly settling on the leaves of several plants there. Unlike most butterflies Apefly do not have a particular larval host plant but their larva is known to feed on mealy bugs instead!
Pat,I should have mentioned "They were constantly settling..."
Pardon my French.
Good macro work! Excellent definition and colors!
Fantastic!
Thanks, Modesto!
Good to hear from Portugal.
Thanks, OC! Have a good day!
I like the first one's fuzzy face and his striped eye. Love the details of your macro photography!
Great photos, as usual. I was trying to place the Apefly from a taxonomic standpoint. I was thinking metalmark at first, and although the pattern fits, the behavior does not. When you mentioned that it eats mealy bugs, I realized that It's a relative of a species from eastern North America called the harvester. Suddenly it all made sense.
PS_ Your post inspired my to put up a photo of the Harvester over at my blog.
Thanks, Vickie!
The White Four-ring uses grasses as their larval food plants and it is the commonest butterfly in my yard. They are always found qute lowdown in the vegetation and is a real pain in the neck to photograph!
Hi Doug,
Yes, your Harvester sounds like a close enough relative to the Apefly. Thanks for sharing that - I can now point that to my North American clients! Thanks also for doing a post on it and for the plug!
BTW, a pair of Apeflies arrived at around 2.30p.m at the same spot in my garden as before!
Dear All,
The family to which the Apefly belongs: Lycaenidae is Doug's favourite butterfly family. Visit his blog to find out why.
Gossamer Tapestry. http://gtapestry.blogspot.com/
Sure sounds like the eyes have it! They sure "made" the image for me.
These are so amazing! I am never disappointed here;)
The details are exquisite. I really enjoy your macro photography. Have a wonderful week!
Thanks, Nancy!
I have a lot of good subjects in my yard to keep me busy.
Hi AGWB,
Thanks! I am pleased to hear that.
Hi Chrisss,
Thanks for the theme: ‘Macro Monday’, which I copied from you.
You too have a great week!
Very nice.
It's nice to stop in and find the sights of warmer weather!
Thanks, Nina.
I am glad that I am in an aseasonal part of the world.
nice work........
Gosh, the largest of the "eyes" is really like an eye, staring at you!
Amazing pictures! Are they common butterflies?
Thanks, ST.
Thanks, flowergirl.
White Four-ring is quite common. The Apefly is not.
Amazing! I can see the fuzz on them!
Beautiful butterflies.
Thanks Kathie
Good to hear from you.
Hi Leedra,
Thanks! Have a great day!
Post a Comment