45 Macrophotography / Microphotography Images of Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars
The macrophotographic image of the moth above shows many different flecks of color. If you have ever handled a butterfly or moth, you will have noticed these tiny flecks of color come off onto your hands. It's amazing to see them this close and to know that is the color we are seeing when we look at a butterfly.
Look at the spots on the hindwings. They look like a small leaf has been drawn on them.
Since some of the discussion on this topic may also include parts of the butterfly, I have included this picture (below) to help clarify terms.
Close-Up Photography, Microphotography, or Macrophotography
Many people think that close-up photography, microphotography and macrophotography are the same. And in fact microphotography and macrophotography are typically considered to be the same thing. Close-up photography is very similar. Close-up photography is actually the act of taking pictures at a very close range, where the object being photographed fills the screen. So in a way, macrophotography could also be considered to be close-up photography as well. It is for these reasons that these terms are often confused and often interchanged with one another.
Through the use of a special macro lens, macrophotography allows the photographer to capture details that are not normally visible with the naked eye. These details would include things like the hair on an insect's body or the pattern of an insect's eye. It is these details that make the images viewed using macrophotography so interesting. It is here that we begin our journey through the macrophotography of butterflies, moths and caterpillars.
Macrophotography of a Butterly Head
The detail that has been captured in the images below is truly amazing. This picture reveals things about a butterfly that I might have never known. In one small area of a butterfly (which is already small) there are so many different kinds of fur and hair. It is incredible. But the most surprising thing is - the butterfly has hair on its eyeball! The striping on the curled proboscis is also very interesting.
The butterfly above does not have hair on its eyeball. The fur also appears to be a different texture than the photo above it. The details of the fur is phenomenal in both pictures.
In the images below, notice the fur, the antenna, the leg joints, and the colors. Click on thumbnails to view image, and then click on the image to view a larger image if desired.
Enjoy the images of butterfly and moth heads and wing parts below. Be sure and look carefully at the eyes, the antenna and the scales on the wings.
Yes, the skipper (pictured below) is a butterfly. Notice how clearly you can see the stripes on the antenna, the fur on the body, the veining in the wings, and the hair at the joint of the legs.
A moth has a feathered antenna like the one pictured above. Notice how the fur on the wings appears to be different than the fur on the body.
Click on thumbnails to view image, and then click on images indicated to view an even larger image. As you view these images, look at the different types of feet, horns, eyes, and hairs on these caterpillars.
No butterfly discussion would be complete without a picture or two of the butterfly that travels long distances through the lifetimes of several generations - the Monarch Butterfly.
The following five videos will take you through the complete life cycle of the monarch butterfly from the mating, to the hatching out of the eggs, through the stages of a caterpillars life, through metamorphosis and finally to becoming a butterfly.
To see the video of the mating process, click here. You will be taken to youtube to watch the video there. It would not allow me to embed it here for your convenience.
You can then, click the video below to watch the egg hatching.
To watch the next video of the caterpillar's change through 5 instar stages, click here. The youtube video that is featured here would not let me imbed it into this hub, so I created the link for you.
Through the macrophotography of butterflies, moths and caterpillars, we have journeyed into the world where one learns to crawl before learning to fly- a world where the worm transforms into a beautiful butterfly or moth. Macrophotography brings the intricate world of the butterflyand moth to us providing us a glimpse into a world unseen so we may appreciate the delicate beauty of the butterfly and moth all the more.
I hope you have enjoyed this journey through the macrophotography of the butterfly, moth and caterpillar and will join me again:
- What is Macrophotography? 33 Macrophotographic Images
- Macrophotography of Flowers; 52 Macrophotographic Images of Flowers
- Macrophotography of Insects; 53 Macrophotographic Images of Insects Plus Video
- Macrophotography of Spiders; 34 Macrophotographic Images plus Videos of Spiders
- Macrophotography of Dragonflies; 50 Macrophotographic Images of Dragonflies plus Videos
- Macrophotography of Flying Insects; 64 Macrophotographic Images of Flying Insects
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Comments" "Macrophotography / Microphotography of Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars; 45 Macrophotographic Images"
Wow! Awesome photos! This is a fascinating hub but the butterflies take on a somewhat sinister look when photographed this way.
Voted up across the board except for funny.
Sounds like you had some nice ideas about it, anyway. You're right, not worth arguments. If you check out designs in a parlor (in a non committal way; and tattooists don't do a hard sell; it's unprofessional) you might see a design that dh 'eventually eventually' doesn't dislike. Not worth discord, but no need to close your mind to it, right? because it sounds like you do at least like the idea for one eventually; (colorful butterfly? faith-related?) you must know.
Well, okay. You mentioned a possible tattoo plan that you had, on one of lyricwriter's hubs, that you had talked to dh about. But I guess you must know just how much you liked the idea. Blessings.
YW. So you like the butterfly colors. So do you like colorful tattoos, eg, sleeves, too?
It's one that you have done on your arm. Like, with the upper arm only, it's called a half-sleeve; the whole arm, it's a full-sleeve.
The butterfly's colors keep reminding me of colorful (tattoos, that's all. Some designs look really nice.)
You know, I keep looking at the top photo and it still reminds me of a colorful sleeve tattoo!
Amazing, amazing, amazing work!! Im going to share this to my Facebook so I can remember to show it to my oldest daughter tomorrow. She will LOVE the images because she is all science-y.
I didn't know NE Ohio had giant silkmoths until this past summer. I found one of those monsters on my porch - he was bigger than my hand. I took about a hundred pictures of him :)
Exactly. David could say he was 'fearfully and wonderfully made'; we have a glorious Creator.
Reminds me of the Bible verse which says about a lily, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
I guess perspective makes all the difference: under glass in a museum, against magnified many times, when you can see all the remarkable details.
When seen this close up, the details on moths, caterpillars and butterflies are simply gorgeous! Thanks for assembling this beautiful hub and voting it that and also useful.
Hi there. You've been writing a lot about these Macrophotographic Images. Very interesting. voted up.
Still amazed at how you can shoot these beauties so close without them flying off.
I loved this one and the images amazing.
Congratulations on a brilliant hub and here's to so many more to share on here.
Take care and I wish you a wonderful day.
Eddy.
Stunning photographs - you seem to know such a lot about so many wonderful things! Wonderful hub!
Even more important... as entomologist/naturalist I study insects through photography in stead of collecting them. This means that I must rely on guides to help identify specimens.
HSB: I have the Peterson's first guide to butterflies and its helpful. The Kaufman field guide to North American Butterflies is really good as is the stokes butterfly book that you have listed here.
What a great collection of photographs of these lovely specimens! This kind of hub is right up my alley! Thanks for sharing.
Hmm.. Butterflies are still just ugly bugs with beautiful wings arent they? ;)
I kid...beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as many ardent bug-lovers find themselves repeating!
Hi homsteadbound
I love butterflies.
Thank you for giving me a close up look through macrophotography. Beautiful!
Voted up, up and away!
Have a good weekend
interesting hub. Minute details of the parts of insects captured . Voted up. Beautiful Best wishes.
What a peculiarly pretty Hub. The colours on some of them butterflies are stunning. Glad to be doing this challenge with someone who has so much niche expertise.
PS: Great hub, mind. Butterflies look great, 'normal size', but when you get really close they are clearly insects! lol Many a tattooist have gotten inspiration from their colors, of course. Blessings.
Interesting and beautiful. The moth is one of my favorite of insects. Though my favorite is the bumblebee. Wait until you see a hummingbird Moth.
Voted up. Impressive, and colorful (almost like tattoos), but for me still a bit too spidery ...
All God's creatures, of course.
Blessings.
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