www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi

Am I right in thinking this is a male peacock. I only got closeups, before it warmed up and zipped off. Did not get a proper look at coloured side of wings.

No idea of the sex but that's a wonderful shot of the 'tiles' on the wing. It really shows off the capabilities of your Canon 65mm macro - you must have been extremely close and, with the short focal length, you have good depth of field, even at f/11.

Mike

Thanks - it's about 2x magnification on this one.

I was fortunate that it was resting on a cold part of the day. It is a Peacock then ?

It is a peacock, and from what can be seen of the foreleg I would say a male. Only male Nymphalids have a true 'brush-foot', without visible articulations and claws at the end.

And yes - a marvellous close-up shot!

Guy

padfield wrote:It is a peacock, and from what can be seen of the foreleg I would say a male. Only male Nymphalids have a true 'brush-foot', without visible articulations and claws at the end.

I never knew that, Guy.

It's funny - they seem so dark from a distance but up close they're quite brown really.

What a beautiful photo.

Lee

David M wrote:

padfield wrote:It is a peacock, and from what can be seen of the foreleg I would say a male. Only male Nymphalids have a true 'brush-foot', without visible articulations and claws at the end.

I never knew that, Guy.

See for example:

http://delta-intkey.com/britin/pap/www/nymphadi.htm

To quote from that website:

'...forelegs with two tarsal joints and brushlike in males, those of females having 4 tarsal joints with short setae...' (referring to the family Nymphalidae).

Guy

padfield wrote:

David M wrote:

padfield wrote:It is a peacock, and from what can be seen of the foreleg I would say a male. Only male Nymphalids have a true 'brush-foot', without visible articulations and claws at the end.

I never knew that, Guy.

See for example:

http://delta-intkey.com/britin/pap/www/nymphadi.htm

To quote from that website:

'...forelegs with two tarsal joints and brushlike in males, those of females having 4 tarsal joints with short setae...' (referring to the family Nymphalidae).

Guy

Interesting stuff. I wonder why the females have double the number of tarsal joints. Is it due to the need for superior dexterity when laying eggs?

Beauty in subtley the close up views of the scales is stunning

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Many thanks for the id and the interesting info.