by Krishna Mohan
Chocolate Albatross
Monsoon had just begun. It was late evening. Through the incessant drizzle I noticed a small yellow brown butterfly sheltering on the bi-lobed leaves of Malabar Bauhinia(Bauhinia malabarica). On closer inspection it turned out to be a male Chocolate Albatross butterfly (Appias lyncida).
I wanted to take a closeup photo but it was impossible with my Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM as butterfly was around 12 feet from the ground and all I could get using that lens would have been a tiny image. So I took my Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM fitted it with Canon EF 2X II Extender on my Canon EOS 7D thus increasing the focal length to 960mm (in 35mm terms). Now with this magnification I could reach up to the butterfly without disturbing it.
With rain clouds all over the evening sky, Light was fading fast. I used my new Manfrotto 0055CXPRO3 Carbon Fiber tripod to setup the rig. Covered it with Storm jacket to prevent rain damaging the camera and lens. Used my Canon Speedlite 580EX II flash as fill light to get this beautiful shot. Even at full power 580EX was good enough to get f/9.5 at that distance. The depth of field at that distance was razor thin. you can see the eyes are sharp but wingtips are not.
Chocolate Albatross , Appias lyncida is a butterfly of the Family Pieridae. It is found in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Indochina, Taiwan, Hainan and possibly South China.
In India, the butterfly ranges across South India, peninsular India, Nicobar islands, Sikkim to Assam, and onto Myanmar. In South India, the Chocolate Albatross is to be found along the foot of the Western Ghats. It is found throughout the year in the Nilgiris where it is locally common. In the northern parts of peninsular India it extends into Orissa and North up to Lucknow.
The Chocolate Albatross has a wingspan of 55 to 70mm. The male is white above with chocolate-brown or black margins, and, bright lemon-yellow below with chocolate-colored markings. The female is white and densely clouded with dark-brown.
The butterfly shows seasonal dimorphism and is very variable wet and dry season forms exist.
The Chocolate Albatross is a forest butterfly and prefers rainy highlands, up to a level of 3000 ft. Flying strongly and swiftly close to the ground, the Albatross is frequently found in jungle clearings and along stream banks. The males are often found circling around trees and bushes. The Chocolate Albatross often mudpuddles, sometimes in large numbers. The butterfly occasionally visits flowers and has been recorded to visit Verbena flowers in Kodagu.
The larvae have been recorded on Crataeva religiosa, Capparis roxburghii and Capparis heyneana.
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 7D
Lens:
EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +2.0x
Exposure Mode:
Manual exposure
Exposure Time:
1/250 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/9.5
ISO Used:
200
Flash Used:
Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
n.a.
Focal Length:
600.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2010:06:06 18:18:33
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 1.8" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1271 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
Tags: aarampuli, Akruthi, amlapatrah, amli, Amlosa, Appias, Appias lyncida, Arthropoda, ashmantaka, ashmayukta, Asia, bakbakhol, basavanapaada, Bauhinia, Bauhinia acida Korth., Bauhinia castrata Hassk., Bauhinia hawkesiana F. M. Bailey, Bauhinia malabarica, Bauhinia malabarica var. reniformis Baker, Bauhinia platyphylla Miq., Bauhinia rugulosa Miq., beolphiu, Butterfly, Caesalpinioideae, Canon EF 2X II Extender, Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM, Canon EOS 7D, Canon Speedlite 580EX II, Casparea castrata (Hassk.)hassk., Cercideae, Cheppura, Chocolate Albatross, chocolate brown, Dakshina Kannada, Fabaceae, Fabales, gumbati, India, Insecta, karmai, Karnataka, koral, korat, kotra, Kudugulu, Lepidoptera, Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Malabar Bauhinia, malai-y-atti, Mandara, Mantharai, migong thak, Pauletia acida (Korth.)hassk., Pedda-ari, Pieridae, Piliostigma acidum (Korth.)benth., Piliostigma malabaricum (Roxb.) Benth., Piliostigma malabaricum var. acidum (Korth.)de Wit, Pul-ari, Pul-dondra, Puli chinta, puli-y-atti, tanki, Vellathi, yamalapatrah, Yellow
Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (0)
by Krishna Mohan
Fatal Attraction
I was trying to test Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM which was courteously provided by Shivashankar with my Canon EF 1.4x II Extender when I spotted these mating Common Grass Yellows(Eurema hecabe) on a Peacock Flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) plant. On closer inspection there was this dark brown spider stuck on the head of the male. I wanted to capture the whole sequence so I quickly changed to my Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro with Canon MT-24EX macro twin light flash and captured the whole sequence. I have posted 4 most interesting shots from this sequence.
Fatal Attraction
This Adanson’s House Jumper (Hasarius adansoni) had caught hold of the male by the head while in the act of mating. It had killed it and is now proceeding towards the female which was still stuck to the mate.
Fatal Attraction
It was a precarious perch for the spider as it had to manage the dead body of one and struggling butterfly on the other. The female was desperately trying to escape from the clutches of the spider but was unable to do. Spider manage to twist and turn the body of the dead male and lurched forward to reach for the female.
Fatal Attraction
After nearly 15 minutes of struggle the female managed to tire out the spider and gain the upright position. With bit more struggle she was able to release herself from the mate and fly away free and alive. It was such an awesome sight that I was amazed how she managed to do that.
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode:
Manual exposure
Exposure Time:
1/80 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/8.0
ISO Used:
100
Flash Used:
Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
As Shot
Focal Length:
100.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2009:09:13 10:31:59
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 1.8" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1271 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode:
Manual exposure
Exposure Time:
1/200 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/11.0
ISO Used:
100
Flash Used:
Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
As Shot
Focal Length:
100.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2009:09:13 10:25:19
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 1.8" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1271 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode:
Manual exposure
Exposure Time:
1/200 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/11.0
ISO Used:
100
Flash Used:
Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
As Shot
Focal Length:
100.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2009:09:13 10:24:52
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 1.8" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1271 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Exposure Mode:
Auto exposure
Exposure Time:
1/100 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/5.6
ISO Used:
800
Flash Used:
Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
As Shot
Focal Length:
420.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2009:09:13 10:20:36
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 1.8" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1271 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
Tags: Adanson's House Jumper, Akruthi, Arachnida, Araneae, Araneomorphae, Arthropoda, Asia, Attus capito, Attus forskaeli, Attus nigro-fuscus, Attus tardigradus, Caesalpinia, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Caesalpinioideae, Canon EF 1.4x II Extender, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro, Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM, Canon MT-24EX macro twin light flash, Coliadinae, Common Grass Yellow, Cyrba picturata, Cyrene fusca, Dakshina Kannada, Dwarf Poinciana, Ergane signata, Eris niveipalpis, Euophrys nigriceps, Eurema, Eurema hecabe, Evarcha longipalpis, Fabaceae, Fabales, flamboyan-de-jardin, Guletura (Hindi), Hasarius, Hasarius adansoni, Hasarius albocircumdatus, Hasarius citus, Hasarius garetti, India, Insecta, Jacobia brauni, Jotus albocircumdatus, Karnataka, Kenjige (Kannada), Krishnachura (Manipuri), Krishnachura Radhachura (Bengali), Krishnochuda (Oriya), Large Grass Yellow, Lepidoptera, Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, mating, Mayurkonrai (Tamil), Mexican Bird of Paradise, Nebridia borealis, Panorpida, Peacock Flower, Phiale fusca, Pieridae, Plexippa nigrofusca, Plexippus adansoni, Plexippus ardelio, Poinciana, Pride of Barbados, Ratnagandhi (Telugu), Red Bird of Paradise, Salticidae, Salticus citus, Salticus oraniensis, Salticus ruficapillus, Salticus scabellatus, Salticus striatus, Sankasur (Marathi), Settimandaram (Malayalam), sex, Sidhakya (Sanskrit), Sidusa borealis, Tachyskarthmos annamensis, Vitia albipalpis
Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (4)
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