Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) Butterfly

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) Butterfly

Description

Title:
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) Butterfly
Caption / Description:

The Small Copper, American Copper or the Common Copper, Lycaena phlaeas, is a butterfly of the Lycaenids or Blues family. It is a common and widespread little butterfly easily identifiable in the UK. (There are similar species in continental Europe.)

The upperside forewings are a bright orange with a dark outside edge border and with eight or nine black spots. The hindwings are dark with an orange border. Some females also have a row of blue spots inside the orange border and are known as form caeruleopunctata. The undersides are pattenered in a similar way but are paler. The black spots on the forewings are outlined in yellow and the dark colouring is replaced by a pale brownish, gray. The hindwings are the same brown/grey colour with small black dots and a narrow orange border. The caterpillars (larvae) are usually green, but some have a purple stripe down the middle of the back and along each side.

It is widespread and common across Europe, Asia and North America, and also found in North Africa south through Ethiopia.

It can be found almost anywhere in south/central England and Wales although never, it seems, in large numbers. Its distribution becomes more patchy in northern England, Scotland and Ireland.

It is found in a wide variety range of habitats from chalk downlands, heathland, woodland clearings to churchyards and waste ground in cities.

In bright sun it is a very active little butterfly with the males setting up small territories which they will defend vigorously against rival males or indeed any unlucky passing insect. Even the shadow of a large bird passing overhead is enough to get him going. Females are pursued mercilessly and mating usually occurs low down in vegetation.

Description taken from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycaena_phlaeas

Tags / Keywords:
  • Biota
  • Life
  • Vitae
  • Eukaryota
  • Animalia
  • Animals
  • Arthropoda
  • Arthropods
  • Insecta
  • Insects
  • Lepidoptera
  • Moths
  • Butterflies
  • Skippers
  • Lycaenidae
  • Gossamer-winged butterflies
  • Blues
  • Lycaena
  • Lycaena phlaeas
  • Small Copper

Admin

Date Original Photo Taken:
Original File Name:
Photoshop stack.psd
Event:
Rating:
Date this image added/last updated on website:
Original File Dimensions:
4303px x 2835px
File Type:
JPEG
Color Mode:
RGB
Original Image Color Profile:
Adobe RGB (1998)

Location

Location Created:
Sublocation:
City:
Market Harborough
Province/State:
Leicestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
World Region:
Europe
Geo-location:
52.474957764008, -0.95030074795889 View on map

Rights

Copyright Status:
Copyrighted
Licensing Status:
Rights Managed
Available for Editorial Use:
Yes
Available for Commercial Use:
Yes
Copyright Notice:
© 2010 Dave Kennard

Camera Data

Date Digital Resource was created:
Shutter speed:
1200 s
Aperture:
f/5
Camera Model:
Canon EOS 450D
ISO:
100
Exposure Compensation:
0
Focal Length:
100mm
Focal Length (35mm equiv.):
Metering Mode:
Multi-segment
Flash:
On, Fired
Exposure Mode:
Manual
White Balance:
Manual
Light Source:
Exposure Program:
Manual

Additional shooting metadata

Lens:
Canon EF 100mm F2.8 Macro USM
Filters used:
Additional Optics used:
Setup:
Handheld, 16 shots
Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Flash with 'light tent' diffuser

Post Processing

Image Modified:
Software used:
  • Adobe Photoshop CS4
  • Adobe Camera RAW
Post Processing:

CR2s converted in ACR
Focus stacked using automatic focus stacking in PS CS4
Masks modified slightly and image cleaned up a bit in PS CS4