Dwarf Tulip - Tulipa pulchella violacea in reflected ultraviolet photography, simulated bee and butterfly vision IV

Today about an early spring flower, I have written about before HERE, a Dwarf Tulip (Tulipa pulchella violacea) in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter as well as my XBV filters for simulating butterfly and bee vision. Lens was a UV-Nikkor 105mm quartz fluorite lens. Light source was sunlight. All shots were done at f8.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Human Vision:

UV vision:

Simulated Bee vision:

Simulated Butterfly vision:

Quadriptych in human vision, UV, and simulated butterfly and bee vision (left to right, top to bottom):
 

This dwarf tulip has an unusual pattern, its center is not UV bright, the inside petals reflect UV somewhat, but the bottom of the petals only in simulated bee and butterfly vision show an otherwise invisble pattern and all this gets quite nicely visible. First time ever that insects see more in the visible light part of the spectrum, than we do!

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