Gallicissa: Macro Monday

Monday, 10 November 2008

Macro Monday

White Four-ring Ypthima ceylonica

Apefly Spalgis epeus

26 comments:

Anonymous said...: 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!; 10 November 2008 at 11:25
GG said...: oooh!
And just when you think your photos can't get any better!
Never seen a butterfly so up close. Beautiful!; 10 November 2008 at 11:32
Redzlan said...: Ha.. I see five rings there!
very good macro work.; 10 November 2008 at 12:52
spookydragonfly said...: Great shots! They look like moths?! What are they? Moths, Butterflies??; 10 November 2008 at 16:05
Pat - Arkansas said...: Up close and personal! Great photos, Amila. Love the eyes on the Apefly Butterfly.
Wishing you a wonderful day, and more butterflies to photograph.; 10 November 2008 at 20:30
Amila Salgado said...: 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!; 10 November 2008 at 22:04
Amila Salgado said...: Pat,I should have mentioned "They were constantly settling..."

Pardon my French.; 10 November 2008 at 22:42
Modesto Viegas said...: Good macro work! Excellent definition and colors!; 11 November 2008 at 01:07
oldcrow61 said...: Fantastic!; 11 November 2008 at 01:11
Amila Salgado said...: Thanks, Modesto!
Good to hear from Portugal.

Thanks, OC! Have a good day!; 11 November 2008 at 07:00
Vickie said...: I like the first one's fuzzy face and his striped eye. Love the details of your macro photography!; 11 November 2008 at 18:34
Doug Taron said...: 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.; 11 November 2008 at 19:14
Doug Taron said...: PS_ Your post inspired my to put up a photo of the Harvester over at my blog.; 11 November 2008 at 20:05
Amila Salgado said...: 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/; 11 November 2008 at 22:21
The Zen Birdfeeder said...: Sure sounds like the eyes have it! They sure "made" the image for me.; 12 November 2008 at 08:16
Adventure girl said...: These are so amazing! I am never disappointed here;); 12 November 2008 at 09:23
Chrissy said...: The details are exquisite. I really enjoy your macro photography. Have a wonderful week!; 12 November 2008 at 09:51
Amila Salgado said...: 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!; 12 November 2008 at 18:22
nina at Nature Remains. said...: Very nice.
It's nice to stop in and find the sights of warmer weather!; 15 November 2008 at 08:57
Amila Salgado said...: Thanks, Nina.
I am glad that I am in an aseasonal part of the world.; 16 November 2008 at 08:19
ST said...: nice work........; 16 November 2008 at 17:13
flowergirl said...: Gosh, the largest of the "eyes" is really like an eye, staring at you!

Amazing pictures! Are they common butterflies?; 16 November 2008 at 17:27
Amila Salgado said...: Thanks, ST.

Thanks, flowergirl.
White Four-ring is quite common. The Apefly is not.; 16 November 2008 at 22:14
Kathie Brown said...: Amazing! I can see the fuzz on them!; 17 November 2008 at 06:47
Leedra said...: Beautiful butterflies.; 19 November 2008 at 18:48
Amila Salgado said...: Thanks Kathie
Good to hear from you.

Hi Leedra,
Thanks! Have a great day!; 19 November 2008 at 18:55