Treasury flower - Gazania rigens in reflected ultraviolet photography and simulated bee and butterfly vision XXVIII

Today more outdoor shots of that long blooming flower, a orange-red Gazania flower, the Treasury flower - Gazania rigens shot in reflected ultraviolet photography, simulated bee and butterfly vision. All shots were done at f8 in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter, as well as my XBV filters for simulated bee and butterfly vision. Lens was a UV-Nikkor 105mm quartz fluorite lens. Light source was sunlight and some Nichia 365nm UV LED help.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Human vision:
 

Reflected UV:
 

Reflected UV with 365nm UV LED light:
 

Reflected UV with alternative UV filter:
 

Reflected UV with alternative UV filter and 365nm UV LED light:
 

Quadriptych of human vision, UV, alternative filtered UV (with and without UV LED light):
 

This Gazania's outer petals strongly reflect UV around 365nm, whereas the inner petal parts are quite darker, hence forming UV nectar guides for UV seeing insects. There are also some highly UV reflecting marks inside around a dark UV center, all invisible to us humans, but clearly visible to bees and butterflies, and all this gets nicely visible here.

I have written about this Gazania previously HERE
 
Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos