Large Skippers Mating

Image taken last month at a Butterfly Conservation Society site near Cheltenham, the whole site appeared to be infested with little red mites and consequently most of the butterflies were covered in them.

Canon EOS 5D, 180/3.5 + 1.4x, f14, 1/160 + fill flash -2ev, tripod

Hi Larry

A very nice behavioural shot. good exposure too and flash is well controlled and not obvious.

I had a similar issues last year photographing Common Blues. I found a great site but lots of the butterflies were invested with red mite thingys.

cheers

Sean

Hi Larry

They look as though they are having as much fun as you did taking them. Nice behavioural shot!

David

Very nice capture, It would be interesting to see a close up of the parasite, if possible.

Good to see you posting Larry
A fine shot with their golden colouring showing particularly well and really catching the eye.

Lovely image; there's a real evening feel to this with the warm light.

Mark

Thanks for kind comments, yes David I really did enjoy taking this shot even though I was standing amongst a 5 foot stand of brambles, first time I had taken a shot since april, unfortunately I don't have a shot showing a red mite up close, I noticed that they would "hang around" on the tops of knapweed, scabious and umbillifiers (spelling??) waiting for the butterflies to come visiting. One particular Marbled white was absolutely covered in them although it didn't seem to affect its flight or feeding.

Great capture Larry and nice comp.
John
Aberdeen