Cockrell Butterfly Center Series - 4

Posted by Eric Fry (Houston, TX, United States) on 30 June 2008 in Animal & Insect.

Owl's Eye Butterfly, female - Caligo atreus

A very large butterfly, this one measured 5 1/2 to 6 inches from the top to the bottom of the wings. The only other one they have at the Cockrell in that size class is the Blue Morpho.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you all have a great day,
Eric

Check out the photography of a friend of mine outside of Aminus3:
Brian Dykes' Blue Echoes Photography - Beautiful nature and city images from the guy that turned me on to Adobe Lightroom

vfxy Photoblogs

Comments (21)

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States

such detail! keep it up -- you may need to get a photographers job w/ the Audobon Society! marvelous shot!

30 Jun 2008 5:35am

@dj.tigersprout: Thank you so much, you're too kind, DJ. They're much prettier than their caterpillars, aren't they?

saeed from ahwaz, Iran

Great macro as same! amzanig details and nice tonality indeed! I love your macroes Eric!

30 Jun 2008 6:28am

@saeed: Thank you so much, Saeed. I'm glad that you like them so much!

Peter Miller from Lichfield, United Kingdom

Another superb capture and sharp

30 Jun 2008 9:08am

@Peter Miller: Thank you, Peter.

paulski from Muncie, IN, United States

beautiful butterfly; love the detail here. well done...

30 Jun 2008 10:01am

@paulski: Thanks, Paulski. They do have some intricate patterns in the wings, don't they?

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

I love this! One of the many beauties of nature.

30 Jun 2008 10:08am

@Ana Lúcia: Thank you, Ana Lúcia. I love the beauty of the small things in nature.

Dimitrios from ATHENS, Greece

a golden buterfly! impressive

30 Jun 2008 11:42am

@Dimitrios: Thank you so much, Dimitrios!

Veronelle from Lens, France

Great macro, lovely colours

30 Jun 2008 11:55am

@Veronelle: Merci, Veronelle. This is actually one of the more "drab" butterflies on exhibit at the Cockrell.

willow from Chelsea, United States

Eric, your macro work is incredible! The lighting on this one makes the butterfly seem to glow. Beautiful!

30 Jun 2008 12:33pm

@willow: Thank you very much, Willow, I really appreciate the compliment!

Ekaputra Tupamahu from Malang, Indonesia

Great macro Eric! well done...

30 Jun 2008 12:40pm

@Ekaputra Tupamahu: Thanks, Ekaputra!

Mustafa from Tehran, Iran

great shot ... u found a great one !!!!

30 Jun 2008 3:55pm

@Mustafa: Thank you very much, Mustafa.

Namaki from Bordeaux, France

beautiful shot ! the texture is perfect !

30 Jun 2008 4:08pm

@Namaki: Merci, Namaki

Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom

Super shot, the details are outstanding.

30 Jun 2008 4:25pm

@Richard_Irwin: Thank you, Richard!

Observing from Local, United Kingdom

Amazing pattern and detail..... and quite large too. Great work Eric.

30 Jun 2008 4:41pm

@Observing: Thanks, Mike! I wish I could have gotten closer to one, but they seem to be one of the more skittish species at the Cockrell.

Earnest from Oklahoma, United States

Nice detail there, Eric... Does this butterfly eat any other sort of building?

30 Jun 2008 5:57pm

@Earnest: Only metal structures, Earnest. People with artificial hips are at particular risk from this horrid beast!

MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom

This series is outstanding Eric, stunning macro shot's of these butterflies.
5* :)

30 Jun 2008 8:28pm

@MaryB: Thank you so much, Mary, but I've saved what I feel are the best shots for last! ;)

Roman from Thunder Bay, Canada

...beautiful butterfly, Eric and a beautiful capture. I didn't know that they are so big.. this guy could probably scare our owls, here in the north...lol !!!

cheers
Roman

1 Jul 2008 12:05am

@Roman: Thanks, Roman. They are quite a sight to see up close, especially as the largest butterflies we have here are swallowtails, almost puny in comparison!

Thomas Griffioen from Bocas del Toro, Panama

Simply great!

1 Jul 2008 12:22am

@Thomas Griffioen: Thank you, Thomas!

Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States

What a gorgeous butterfly... they are so peaceful to watch...

1 Jul 2008 4:17am

@Fliss: Thanks, Fliss. The Cockrell is a very peaceful place (until the schoolkids show up! LOL). It's best to visit in the summer when one is dressed approriately for the climate inside; it is kept at a constant 80 degrees and 80% humidity year round! I went in the winter some years back and was miserable, as I hadn't dressed in layers...

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

Lovely butterfly shots. Is this from a stakeout? I've made a couple of attempts on hills along rural highways and it was very difficult to find one of these little boogers staying in place for more than a second or two.

1 Jul 2008 8:49pm

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

OK, never mind. Should have read your last answer.

1 Jul 2008 8:50pm

@Twelvebit: Thanks for the compliments, Twelvebit. If you ever have some down time while you're in Houston, you should check out the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. You won't be disappointed!

zecarlos from Lisboa, Portugal

What a gorgeous photo. I love it.

4 Jul 2008 10:27pm

@zecarlos: Thank you very much, Zecarlos!

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Nikon COOLPIX P5100
1/60 second
F/3.1
ISO 162
47 mm (35mm equiv.)