Golden Tortoise Beetle

Golden Tortoise Beetle - Charidotella
With the very nice weather I have found myself gardening this last week.  Planting annuals is risky at this time of year, so I have been also building protective coverings for the sensitive plants.  While being busily preoccupied with said structure, a tiny gleam of gold crawling up my fence came to my attention.  The photos above do nothing to convey the exact meaning of the word "gold", as I was certain that a ladybug had been dipped in a gold broth and came out with the exact same sheen.

Although I am goal orientated, I quickly allowed my easily distracted side to take control of the situation.  I knew I had found a treasure, figuratively at least, and my passion for photographing the diminutive came online as it were.  Capturing the beast I carried it back to my studio where its image would be rendered onto one of my camera's sensors.  I set my equipment up for shooting macro, a system I have found to be exceptional over the years.  Three flashes controlled remotely with a 105 macro lens and a 35 mm extension tube.

When threatened, the golden tortoise beetle withdraws all of its appendages and exposes only the outer carapace.  Unlike other beetles it can protect its head by pulling it underneath the protective covering (above left).  When not threatened it protrudes these fragile elements and gets about the business of living.  They belong to a variety of leaf-eating beetle, feeding on morning glory and other such plants.  Given how this plant thrives much to the chagrin of my vegetables, letting it loose in my garden seemed only appropriate after I was done shooting it.

Another interesting thing about golden tortoise beetles is that they can change colour.  "Golden tortoise beetles aren’t always so golden. In fact, they can change color depending on the season or even their mood using the liquid beneath their transparent shell. Underneath the shell are three layers of cuticle, each covered in tiny nooks and crannies that appear smooth when covered with liquid, and reflect light perfectly like a mirror. But when a golden tortoise beetle is agitated or under attack from a predator, it contracts the spaces between the layers of cuticle and forces liquid out of the grooves — doing away with the iridescence and usually revealing a brownish-orange color." from Baynature.

 I will finish my miniature greenhouse today.  While enjoying gardening, there is always the welcome distraction of coming across life, whatever its form may take.  Maybe I won't get it done.

 Thanks for reading.   www.ericspix.com   Eric Svendsen

Comments

  1. nachtwacheApril 21, 2020 at 11:41 AM

    Awesome , detailed information and for photo buffs hints how to take great photos!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I found a black widow spider in a plant pot today

Image
The spider I found is a western black widow spider, one of three species of black widow that occur in North America.  The fact that this one has another red patch on the back of its abdomen above the spinnerettes tells us that it is an immature individual. The one thing that people know about black widow spiders is that they are extremely poisonous.  Their venom is something like 15x more toxic than that of a rattlesnake.  The saving grace is that there is very little venom injected from a black widow bite than what a rattlesnake can deliver.   The good news is that black widow bites seldom lead to death.  You are more likely to suffer nausea, muscle pain, and swelling around the bite.  Symptoms usually last only 12 hours or so.  Death may be a result in people with compromised immune systems or in the very young or the elderly.   In 2018, it was reported that there were 1015 cases of people bitten by black widows.  Of those, there were no deaths, but 5 people had potentially life-thre
Read more

The passing of a generation

Image
Kathryn's mom and dad with our children, Josh and Leanne. A generation, for North America, tends to be between 20 and 30 years.  During that time a couple will give birth and raise children to see them repeat the pattern as they themselves have done.  Each generation has its own set of standards, values, and ideals based upon their experiences and culture, and some of that is passed down to their offspring.  What changes are the life experiences of the following generation and the new customs and ideals that are blended together as a couple becomes a family. Kathryn's mom passed away a few days ago, she was predeceased by her husband several years ago.  Both of them were the grandparents of my children, the mother and father of my wife, Kathryn.  It was my pleasure to know them and to love them as my own, for to me they were Mom and Dad.  And they were there to welcome my children into the world just as my children were with them in spirit when they left it.   We ourselves have
Read more

Henry Fair - A good man lost to us all.

Image
There is a great deal I have always appreciated about Henry Fair.  The first thing that comes to mind when I think of him is that he was kind.  He always had time, always expressed himself well, and always cared for kids.  I think that's the second thing that comes to mind; Henry had a great passion for kids.   His devotion to helping others was best illustrated by his time spent teaching alternate learning at Garibaldi Secondary School.  KOALA (Kids On Alternate Learning Aims) was a program for at-risk youth that Henry ran for many years.  He was compassionate and understanding towards those under his purview and treated everyone with the same degree of care and professionalism.   One of the more amazing things about Henry was that nothing seemed to phase him.  I can tell you from experience that a remedial program will test the patience and metal of anyone, yet he never let it get to him.  Every student was valuable to him and worth his time and effort.  He was a constant advocat
Read more