Nature Spitfire

Spitfire · 07:28 AM

the Spitfire Caterpillar - they are named "Spitfire" because they squirt acid when they are disturbed! ( I haven't put it to the test ) they always clump together like this, this is a small bunch, its not uncommon to see a clump 10 times this size.

(this was with a Pentax A 70-210 F4 which has a macro function, even though exif data says 35mm, don't know why that is

)

slowpez · 08-16-2012, 01:51 PM

Ugh. Glad you didn't test the acid. That is one (or several) ugly critters. Hopefully we don't have any over here. Nice sharp shot though.

**Ash** · 08-16-2012, 02:10 PM

Intriguing creature.
Thanks for sharing Cee Cee.

**Bob Harris** · 08-16-2012, 06:28 PM

never seen anything like that CC, interesting photo for sure.

hks_kansei · 08-16-2012, 06:32 PM

I remember those things from when I was a kid, I hated them back then, and still do.

Good photo though.

calculator01 · 08-16-2012, 10:37 PM

Where's the airplane?

I like the caterpillars though.

Ratmagiclady · 08-16-2012, 10:58 PM

Ooh, that's a nice shot of, whoever those critters are.

(I thought it was the airplane, too, when I clicked. )

Though actually, if there are any lepidopteriftical experts about the Southeastern US, they say the butterfly count is really low this year. That's cause they're at *my* house. I'm not from here, so I don't know what sorts these guys really are, mostly. A lot of different kinds of butterflies, though. I'd be hard-pressed to try and photograph many, though. (they mostly keep moving, and if they stick around I actually am just happy to hang out.

) Anyway, it's fun and wondrous for me, but it's also pretty unusual, and I hope it's not about something being wrong. So if there's any real butterfly fans... PM me. I've been meaning to look into it.

GeoJerry · 08-16-2012, 11:02 PM

Amazing, I've never heard of these things. Oz has the most unusual collection of wildlife, especially nasty critters.

joe.penn · 08-16-2012, 11:16 PM

Very nice Cee Cee - the colors are outstanding! Was there much pp involved with the contrast? That lens seems to render near identical to the [A 35-105 3.5 Macro], the red is spot on!

**Bruce Clark** · 08-17-2012, 02:03 AM

It's that time of the year again. I will keep a lookout for them. A good shot and very colourful, the red twigs are so natural.

**Cee Cee** · 08-17-2012, 04:30 AM

Originally posted by slowpez

Ugh. Glad you didn't test the acid. That is one (or several) ugly critters. Hopefully we don't have any over here. Nice sharp shot though.

I don't think it's a burn through the floor of the spaceship "alien" type acid, more of a skin irritant ( Spitfire sawfly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) as kids we were always taught to keep away from them.
cheers

Originally posted by Ash

Intriguing creature.
Thanks for sharing Cee Cee.

thanks for the conmments Ash.
cheers

Originally posted by Bob Harris

never seen anything like that CC, interesting photo for sure.

nature throws up some strange ones, they clump together like that with there heads facing out as a communal defesive mechanism, so I read in wikipedia
cheers

Originally posted by hks_kansei

I remember those things from when I was a kid, I hated them back then, and still do.

Good photo though.

thanks for the comments, .... no, I haven't grown fond of them either
cheers

Originally posted by calculator01

Where's the airplane?

I like the caterpillars though.

ha ha

, I thought this might happen, glad you liked the shot.

**eaglem** · 08-17-2012, 05:35 AM

Haven't seen Spitfires for years now, they must be extinct in WA.

daacon · 08-17-2012, 05:49 AM

Another one here that has never seen that species - nice detail.

**Cee Cee** · 08-17-2012, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by Ratmagiclady

Ooh, that's a nice shot of, whoever those critters are.

(I thought it was the airplane, too, when I clicked. )

thanks for your comments Ratmagiclady,
cheers

Originally posted by GeoJerry

Amazing, I've never heard of these things. Oz has the most unusual collection of wildlife, especially nasty critters.

Thanks GeoJerry, yes we do have our share of wierd and/or dangerous critters, these aren't so bad though, just best avoided.
cheers

Originally posted by joe.penn

Very nice Cee Cee - the colors are outstanding! Was there much pp involved with the contrast? That lens seems to render near identical to the [A 35-105 3.5 Macro], the red is spot on!

I use GIMP with UFRaw plugin to process the raw files, for some reason I always have to adjust the black level a tiny amount with all my lenses otherwise the pitures look a little washed out, but the "A" lenses allways look more contrasty than the others, I do like them, I have the 35-105, and the 50/1.7 as well. With this shot I have lifted the brightnes & colour a little using the curves. Below is the raw with that small black level adjustment otherwise all neutral just jpeg & resize.

charliezap · 08-17-2012, 08:03 AM

A nasty looking bugger Colin.Glad they are where they are and not here.

--charliezap

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08-17-2012, 08:03 AM	#15
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686	A nasty looking bugger Colin.Glad they are where they are and not here.--charliezap

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08-16-2012, 01:51 PM	#2
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462	Ugh. Glad you didn't test the acid. That is one (or several) ugly critters. Hopefully we don't have any over here. Nice sharp shot though.

08-16-2012, 02:10 PM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Intriguing creature. Thanks for sharing Cee Cee.

08-16-2012, 06:28 PM	#4
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	never seen anything like that CC, interesting photo for sure.

08-16-2012, 06:32 PM	#5
hks_kansei Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 834	I remember those things from when I was a kid, I hated them back then, and still do. Good photo though.

08-16-2012, 10:37 PM	#6
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	Where's the airplane? I like the caterpillars though.

08-16-2012, 10:58 PM	#7
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Ooh, that's a nice shot of, whoever those critters are. (I thought it was the airplane, too, when I clicked. ) Though actually, if there are any lepidopteriftical experts about the Southeastern US, they say the butterfly count is really low this year. That's cause they're at my house. I'm not from here, so I don't know what sorts these guys really are, mostly. A lot of different kinds of butterflies, though. I'd be hard-pressed to try and photograph many, though. (they mostly keep moving, and if they stick around I actually am just happy to hang out. ) Anyway, it's fun and wondrous for me, but it's also pretty unusual, and I hope it's not about something being wrong. So if there's any real butterfly fans... PM me. I've been meaning to look into it.

08-16-2012, 11:02 PM	#8
GeoJerry Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,158	Amazing, I've never heard of these things. Oz has the most unusual collection of wildlife, especially nasty critters.

08-16-2012, 11:16 PM	#9
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Very nice Cee Cee - the colors are outstanding! Was there much pp involved with the contrast? That lens seems to render near identical to the [A 35-105 3.5 Macro], the red is spot on!

08-17-2012, 02:03 AM	#10
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	It's that time of the year again. I will keep a lookout for them. A good shot and very colourful, the red twigs are so natural.

08-17-2012, 04:30 AM	#11
Cee Cee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Glenroy, Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,441 Original Poster	Originally posted by slowpez Ugh. Glad you didn't test the acid. That is one (or several) ugly critters. Hopefully we don't have any over here. Nice sharp shot though. I don't think it's a burn through the floor of the spaceship "alien" type acid, more of a skin irritant ( Spitfire sawfly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) as kids we were always taught to keep away from them. cheers Originally posted by Ash Intriguing creature. Thanks for sharing Cee Cee. thanks for the conmments Ash. cheers Originally posted by Bob Harris never seen anything like that CC, interesting photo for sure. nature throws up some strange ones, they clump together like that with there heads facing out as a communal defesive mechanism, so I read in wikipedia cheers Originally posted by hks_kansei I remember those things from when I was a kid, I hated them back then, and still do. Good photo though. thanks for the comments, .... no, I haven't grown fond of them either cheers Originally posted by calculator01 Where's the airplane? I like the caterpillars though. ha ha , I thought this might happen, glad you liked the shot.

08-17-2012, 05:35 AM	#12
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,148	Haven't seen Spitfires for years now, they must be extinct in WA.

08-17-2012, 05:49 AM	#13
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Another one here that has never seen that species - nice detail.