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Images in Ultraviolet (UV) Light

A Survey of UK Wildlife in Ultraviolet (UV) Light

The bulk of the images are not a 'highlights' presentation but includes all the technically useful images we recorded - we show the 'failures' as well as the 'successes'. Most plants and insects are very dull in UV - i.e. 'black' in UV, just reflection in shiny surfaces, or a mimic of the general colouration.

No animals (including insects) were knowingly harmed despite their looking dead - they have simply been chilled to about 4C to render them torpid. Those where even this was insufficient to quiet them were either photographed 'on the run' or held under a net (very obvious in a few images). Everything was released at or near their point of capture - usually within our own 2 acre plot.

If you are interested in the methods used to obtain the images or want to do some detailed study on them your should read the details at Photographic & Processing Details

Highlights

For casual visitors we have collected here those images that we think are particularly interesting or pretty. They also appear in their appropriate sections.

Flowers & Leaves

A huge group of mostly wild species showing the front and back of petals - an importance discovered by accident in early trials and systematically carried through whenever possible on all the subjects.

Dragonflies & Damselflies

Dragonflies are particularly interesting because, apart from the spectacular Broad-bodied chaser male, the normally viewed top of the insect of rather dull in UV, while the underside is sometimes distinctly marked.
Dragonflies are basically visual creatures without pheromones (chemical signals) so visual recognition is important. Some dragonflies are known to have vision in the UV part of the spectrum.
The Odanata work was started at the instigation of Wendy Harris from Swansea University and required the invaluable help of local BDS recorder Alan Nelson. The paper entitled Odonata colour: more than meets the eye? is published by the International Journal of Odonatology. You can also see the Swansea News Centre Press Release.

Butterflies

These insects are show some interesting marking in UV but in our view it is more incidental echoing of normal colour patterns than having any special functions. However there are exception and unexpected pattern. Butterflies with spots tend to have these bright in UV regardless of any general dullness.

Moths

These insects (mostly night fliers) are basically pheromone signallers and marking are mostly designed to disguise or startle predators - many are extremely cryptic with normally hidden bright underwings to flash when startled. Hence we have not noticed anything exciting in this section except that some of the moths are really beautiful anyway.

Insects (assorted)

An assortment excluding Lepidoptera & Odonata.
As far as we can tell Ladybirds (Ladybugs) have negligible UV colouration in the carapace. We have not tried to photograph their undersides because chilling does little to slow ladybird & netting such a small creature is too difficult.

Animals & Birds

Our kit is only suitable for small invertebrates and the like, but can be used for feather and a snake skin. Moorhen images use a different dual-camera technique to photograph the birds in the wild.

Calibration and Sundry

Assorted images of reproducible items and ad-hoc items.

Complete list in section order

Highlights

Flowers & Leaves

Dragonflies & Damselflies

Butterflies

Moths

Insects (assorted)

Animals & Birds

Calibration and Sundry

Comments and requests for image use

To make a comment, ask for information or to request a full resolution image, send us an email including the reference or the date for the image you are interested in.

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