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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Insects in flight in controlled setup Page 6
Image Taken on 23 May 2012
at 13:44 Image of day on 20 Jun 2012
Here the Cockchafer Beetle is creeping over hawthorn foliage, wings
neatly hidden and protected under the cases.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20120620_da1_20120523_1344_117_ft1 cockchafer beetle on hawthorn twig (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 23 May 2012
at 13:41 Image of day on 20 Jun 2012
We found this impressive (30mm long) Cockchafer Beetle (also called the May Bug)
in the moth trap (along with a poor catch of only about 100
moths). Here he is in flight. When not flying the slightly
blurred wings lay along the body under the wing cases of
which his right is clearly visible and the left is edge-on to the
camera.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20120620_da1_20120523_1341_110+1344_114 ft1 cockchafer in flight with hawthorn leaves (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Aug 2015
at 15:17 Image of day on 06 Oct 2015
Here are images from 2 flights of a Comma Butterfly merged into
an almost believable pair.
We take 3 frames in quick succession in this setup in the hope of
at least one having something in it. Sometimes we get 2
successive frames we know are only about 200mS part and even we
find it hard to believe the maneuverability.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20151006_da1_20150802_1517_554+557_ft1 comma butterfly in 2 flights (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 21 Apr 2019
at 15:40 Image of day on 20 May 2019
Comma Butterflies used to be Autumn-only visitors here, but now we see them in
Spring as well. The upper and lower wings are completely different colours, the
white 'comma' only showing on the bottom of the wing (right hand image of 2
separate flights).
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20190520_da1_20190421_1540_279+276+20190422_1508_188_ft1 comma butterfly in 2 flights with laurel (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Jul 2010
at 15:36 Image of day on 23 Aug 2010
Unable to choose between the various images we took of this individual,
here is a montage as they actually appeared in their frames over
about 2 minutes. An unusually obliging flyer.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20100823_da1_20100710_1536_104+1537_113+1538_122_ft1 comma butterfly in flight (artistic montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Jul 2013
at 13:52 Image of day on 12 Sep 2013
Taken indoors in flight, this shows the undersides of the Comma
Butterfly's wings, including the white 'comma' on both sides of
the insect at once.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20130912_da1_20130722_1352_316+1310_290_ft1 comma butterfly in flight showing underwing with thistle flower (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Oct 2010
at 15:27 Image of day on 05 Dec 2010
3 days later we netted this surprisingly spruce Comma butterfly and brought
it in for some images in flight.
First showing the bottom of the wings with the white 'comma'.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20101205_da1_20101010_1527_364+1545_446_ft1 comma butterfly in flight with blackberry fruits (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Jul 2009
at 14:52 Image of day on 08 Aug 2009
The Comma butterfly used to be a Spring and Autumn only sighting here
but this year we are seeing them regularly. The 'comma' is the white
shape on the brown underwing.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090808_da1_20090705_1452_124+1518_197 ft1 comma butterfly in flight with clover flowers (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 16 Sep 2010
at 15:05 Image of day on 05 Nov 2010
The mint bed outside the back door has been allowed to flower and
some of the butterflies like to feed on it now many other flowers
are turning to seed. First the crenelated Comma butterfly, named
for the white spot when the wings are closed.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20101105_da1_20100916_1505_050+1556_153_ft1 comma butterfly in flight with mint flower-head (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Oct 2010
at 15:40 Image of day on 05 Dec 2010
And now the top view with our resilient yellow buddleia still
making new flowers as you can see at the top of the floret.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20101205_da1_20101010_1540_433+1611_009_ft1 comma butterfly in flight with yellow buddleia (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Aug 2009
at 14:26 Image of day on 17 Sep 2009
This tatty individual is our first sighting of ANY
'blue' butterfly for 2 seasons. He never produced a good single
top and bottom wing visible in a single shot, so here is a
montage of a single flight about 1/4 seconds apart.
 butterfly (accurate montage approx 250ms apart) with clover (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090917_da1_20090802_1426_078+_079+1527_175 ft1 common blue (q) butterfly (accurate montage approx 250ms apart) with clover (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 06 Aug 2009
at 10:48 Image of day on 17 Sep 2009
A closer and more sedate view of the beautiful patterned wing.
.jpg)
Ref: 20090917_da1_20090806_1048_026_ft1 common blue butterfly on thistle flower(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Aug 2019
at 09:34 Image of day on 20 Oct 2019
A Common Carpet Moth makes a couple of flights
 in flight + greater willow herb flowers (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20191020_da1_20190825_0934_156+0935_161+1126_019_ft1 common carpet moth (epirrhoe alternata) in flight + greater willow herb flowers (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 11 Aug 2013
at 10:42 Image of day on 02 Oct 2013
A very common moth here that 'disappears' when perched on bark - the
light rear wing is then hidden under the forewing.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20131002_da1_20130811_1042_038+1052_064_ft1 common carpet moth in flight with hawthorn (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Jul 2009
at 14:39 Image of day on 03 Sep 2009
We netted a couple of male darter dragonflies. We were surprised to find the second
about 50% heavier than the first.
 in flight with hawthorn twig (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090903_da1_20090725_1439_590+20090726_1243_003 ft1 common darter dragonfly male (130mg) in flight with hawthorn twig (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Jul 2009
at 14:56 Image of day on 03 Sep 2009
The apparent expression on the 'face' and the leg waving as it flew by really
cracks us up. We know its not real but still love it.
 in flight with hawthorn twig (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090903_da1_20090725_1456_671+20090726_1229_005 ft1 common darter dragonfly male (220mg) in flight with hawthorn twig (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 17 Sep 2010
at 12:34 Image of day on 08 Nov 2010
This image of a male of the same species is taken as a single exposure
using a strobe light - a very fast flash with the shutter held open.
80Hz means 80 flashes a second, so the image below last for about 1/10th second.
These have to be photographed against an extremely black
background (typically 20 flashes hit it) and are not photo montages but made
'in the camera' with the images appearing to be transparent.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20101108_da1_20100917_1234_018_ft1 common darter dragonfly male in flight strobe @ 80hz (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 16 Aug 2010
at 13:58 Image of day on 01 Oct 2010
A common darter dragonfly in flight.
Darters dragonflies are intermediate in size between Damselflies
and Hawker Dragonflies and you may spot them perching on
overhanging pond side foliage, taking off and returning to the
same spot.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20101001_da1_20100816_1358_053+1544_157_ft1 common darter dragonfly male in flight with flag iris leaf (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Aug 2009
at 10:09 Image of day on 10 Oct 2009
This quite old female common darter dragonfly is
very faded but in otherwise good condition and a good flyer.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20091010_da1_20090830_1009_115+1014_134_ft1 common darter dragonfly over mature female in flight with hawthorn twig (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 12 Sep 2010
at 14:35 Image of day on 08 Nov 2010
As the season advances dragonflies generally get tatty wings from
encounters with thorns etc. They continue to fly fine with quite
extensive damage - we are glad there are no nerves in dragonfly wings.
This Common Darter Dragonfly female is now past breeding and is
photographed with the actual teasel plant she was netted on.
Her head is turned bit toward the camera with her left eye at the top of the head.
 in flight with teasel netted on (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20101108_da1_20100912_1435_068+1444_081_ft1 common darter overmature female (torn wing) in flight with teasel netted on (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
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