Red and Black, Pt. 2 - _TNY_2504
On a visit to the Haga Ocean Butterfly House on the 24th of April (2023), I found a real treat - two males of the species known as the pink rose (Pachliopta kotzebuea).
They were initially hanging out in the chrysalides cabinet and the grating below it (where this and part 1 was taken), but eventually first one and then the other one took off. Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52904505677/
After a bit of searching, I managed to locate and shoot them both. One of the shots which I'm very pleased with can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52843014524/
This species belongs to the group known as the red-bodied swallowtails (no points for guessing why) which are interesting. As I understand it, these are poisonous and the red colour is a warning to predators that they are unpalatable.
But since it is butterflies, there is a whole bunch of mimicry involved. The mormon butterflies like the great yellow mormon (Papilio lowi) and scarlet mormon (Papilio rumanzovia) all try and mimic these to piggyback on the defensive tactics of the red-bodied species.
Do take the time to zoom in on the eye of this one. The Sigma 180 mm macro lens managed to capture some sweet detail on the compound eye, even showing the individual facets.
Here is a shot of a scarlet mormon (Papilio rumanzovia) - I'm sure you can see the mimicry: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52793446159/
P.S.
In case you're wondering about the origin of the scientific name, it was named by naturalist Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz for his commander named Otto von Kotzebue on the Russian ship The Rurik on its circumnavigational voyage from 1815-1818. The same von Eschscholtz also named P. rumanzovia after the Russian chancellor Nikolai Rumyantsev, presumably on the same trip.
Red and Black, Pt. 2 - _TNY_2504
On a visit to the Haga Ocean Butterfly House on the 24th of April (2023), I found a real treat - two males of the species known as the pink rose (Pachliopta kotzebuea).
They were initially hanging out in the chrysalides cabinet and the grating below it (where this and part 1 was taken), but eventually first one and then the other one took off. Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52904505677/
After a bit of searching, I managed to locate and shoot them both. One of the shots which I'm very pleased with can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52843014524/
This species belongs to the group known as the red-bodied swallowtails (no points for guessing why) which are interesting. As I understand it, these are poisonous and the red colour is a warning to predators that they are unpalatable.
But since it is butterflies, there is a whole bunch of mimicry involved. The mormon butterflies like the great yellow mormon (Papilio lowi) and scarlet mormon (Papilio rumanzovia) all try and mimic these to piggyback on the defensive tactics of the red-bodied species.
Do take the time to zoom in on the eye of this one. The Sigma 180 mm macro lens managed to capture some sweet detail on the compound eye, even showing the individual facets.
Here is a shot of a scarlet mormon (Papilio rumanzovia) - I'm sure you can see the mimicry: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52793446159/
P.S.
In case you're wondering about the origin of the scientific name, it was named by naturalist Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz for his commander named Otto von Kotzebue on the Russian ship The Rurik on its circumnavigational voyage from 1815-1818. The same von Eschscholtz also named P. rumanzovia after the Russian chancellor Nikolai Rumyantsev, presumably on the same trip.