Touch of Orange
by Nava Thompson
Title
Touch of Orange
Artist
Nava Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A photo taken by Nava Thompson of a butterfly on a cone flower in the spring in NW Arkansas...................................................Butterflies may have one or more broods per year. The number of generations per year varies from temperate to tropical regions with tropical regions showing a trend towards multivoltinism.........................Egg of Ariadne merioneButterfly eggs are protected by a hard-ridged outer layer of shell, called the chorion. This is lined with a thin coating of wax which prevents the egg from drying out before the larva has had time to fully develop. Each egg contains a number of tiny funnel-shaped openings at one end, called micropyles; the purpose of these holes is to allow sperm to enter and fertilize the egg. Butterfly and moth eggs vary greatly in size between species, but they are all either spherical or oval......................Butterfly eggs are fixed to a leaf with a special glue which hardens rapidly. As it hardens it contracts, deforming the shape of the egg. This glue is easily seen surrounding the base of every egg forming a meniscus. The nature of the glue is unknown and is a suitable subject for research. The same glue is produced by a pupa to secure the setae of the cremaster. This glue is so hard that the silk pad, to which the setae are glued, cannot be separated..................................Eggs are almost invariably laid on plants. Each species of butterfly has its own hostplant range and while some species of butterfly are restricted to just one species of plant, others use a range of plant species, often including members of a common family.................................................The egg stage lasts a few weeks in most butterflies but eggs laid close to winter, especially in temperate regions, go through a diapause (resting) stage, and the hatching may take place only in spring. Other butterflies may lay their eggs in the spring and have them hatch in the summer. These butterflies are usually northern species, such as the Mourning Cloak (Camberwell Beauty) and the Large and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies..................................Caterpillars of Junonia coenia.Butterfly larvae, or caterpillars, consume plant leaves and spend practically all of their time in search of food. Although most caterpillars are herbivorous, a few species such as Spalgis epius and Liphyra brassolis are entomophagous (insect eating)..............................Some larvae, especially those of the Lycaenidae, form mutual associations with ants. They communicate with the ants using vibrations that are transmitted through the substrate as well as using chemical signals...................The ants provide some degree of protection to these larvae and they in turn gather honeydew secretions. Others such as Phengaris arion communicate with ants to form a parasitic relationship.
Uploaded
February 24th, 2014
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Viewed 535 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/28/2024 at 5:25 PM
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Comments (23)
John M Bailey
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Anita Faye
Wonderful closeup Nava! Featured on Groovy Butterflies! http://fineartamerica.com/groups/groovy-butterflies.html
Nava Jo Thompson
Randy---thank you for your kind comments about 'Touch of Orange'---and for the feature in Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery! I very much appreciate the honor!
Randy Rosenberger
My all time favorite combo of beauty in a floral, and a lovely detailed "flying flower" upon it. It just doesn't get any better than this one, Nava! Love the beauty of this piece and the quality and care that went into its composition! It is my pleasure to PROMOTE this piece of beauty on our FEATURED ARTWORK section of the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group. Thanks for sharing! Liked Forever, Elvis
Nava Thompson replied:
Randy---thank you very much---and happy that you like the 'flying flower'----that is what they really are. Thank you for the honor of the feature in Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group!
Doug Kreuger
Nava Jo, What a very special image this is—on so many levels! Of course, I love the the amber tints and glowing orange pops of color! The relaxed appearance of these pink cone flower petals suggests a mutually rewarding, natural relationship between the butterfly and its host.. Very fine work my friend! L/V&F
Nava Thompson replied:
Doug---thank you! I so appreciate your artistic insight---and it always causes me to go back and study the image--and I learn from it. Thank you for your encouragement and support! :)