This was a very lucky shot for me - under the hot, afternoon sun, I found this little fella resting. My Tamon 90mm macro lens was on my camera at the time, so I managed to quickly whip it out and get some quick handheld shots at ISO400 (moving closer and closer each time).
The one thing that interests me is that this little fella has two tiny appendages at the back of the wings - I'm not sure if it has any motor functions or whether it was just the wind that was moving them, but they're just quite odd to look at.
It's a Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), one of the most common hairstreak varieties in the US. As for the tail, it is thought to mimic insect antennae and thus mislead birds into biting at the wrong end and only getting a chunk of wing while the butterfly escapes. That's why you have the almost 'eye' like markings on the wing and the butterfly looks 'backwards' from a distance.
Great shot, I think cropping in a little tighter would make it even better. I love how out of focus the background is, letting me focus on the butterfly.
Thanks all. I just learnt one new thing about these little hairstreaks.... ;-)
:)atwl
BTW Gordon... someone else pointed out that it is a hairstreak, but not the common gray one - he identified it as a male tongeia filicaudis, and showed me a picture that's very similar in pattern and colour.
BTW Gordon... someone else pointed out that it is a hairstreak, but not the common gray one - he identified it as a male tongeia filicaudis, and showed me a picture that's very similar in pattern and colour.
Could well be - I was identifying it from an online database - the pictures could be wrong or I could well be wrong too - they all look pretty similar. Looking at it again it looks a bit too brown and not bluey/grey enough to be a grey hairstreak. I'll try and find the picture I used before...
Could well be - I was identifying it from an online database - the pictures could be wrong or I could well be wrong too - they all look pretty similar. Looking at it again it looks a bit too brown and not bluey/grey enough to be a grey hairstreak. I'll try and find the picture I used before...
What online database are you referring to?
I'd like to get to know a few sites so that I don't have to ask for ID each time I catch a bug, lol....
You might also find the free field guide useful that you can get here
Edit: Just realised you are posting this from Malyasia - I think that particular hairstreak is local to your area only - no wonder it isn't in any of the (north american biased) resources I've been looking at !
I'm sure you can find specific guides for your locale too, I just searched google for butterfly guides
