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"2006 8th Butterfly"


Photo Information
Copyright: Jorge Chemas (jchemas) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 561 W: 30 N: 749] (3390)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-17
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 30D, Canon 100-400L 4.5-5.6 IS USM, uv haze
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-08-27 10:55
Viewed: 852
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Monarch Butterfly(Danaus plexippus)

The Monarch Butterfly is the king of the insect world. Even though they are small creatures, they do phenomenal things. First, they develop from tiny eggs, to a caterpillar, become a chrysalis, and finally transform into a beautiful butterfly. They migrate, traveling great distances to over winter in a temperate climate. Amazingly enough, not one butterfly makes the entire round-trip journey. Winter butterflies are sluggish and do not reproduce. In spring they return to summer homes and breed along the way. Their offspring return to the starting point.
(Danaus plexippus) is the scientific name for the Monarch Butterfly. Related species in the family are found on all continents except the Polar Regions, wherever milkweed and related plants are found. It also provides the Monarch with an intriguing form of protection, since the milkweed juices assimilated by the Monarch make it poisonous to predatory birds. The beautiful orange color of the Monarch butterfly serves to teach predators that their intended meal might be toxic. Not all milkweeds produce cardiac glycosides, therefore not all Monarchs are poisonous. However, the warning orange color serves to disguise poisonous from the non-toxic Monarch.

Class: Insecta (insects)
Order: Lepidoptera (butterflies)
Family: Danaidae (Milkweed butterfly family)
Genus: Danaus
Species: Plexippus

The female Monarch lays about 400 eggs on the underside of a separate leaves of milkweed plants. It takes the little yellow eggs about two weeks to develop. At the end of about two weeks, the eggs start to change colors from yellow to light gray. Eventually, the caterpillar's head is visible through its eggshell.

Monarch Butterflies are able to obtain energy for flying from flowers they visit as they travel northward or southward. This way, they are now ready to migrate in the fall. Monarchs are highly protected by law, Especially in California,. If you molest a Monarch in Pacific Grove, California, you will receive a $500 fine, since they are in danger of extinction.

Each Autumn, thousands of Monarch Butterflies gather in southern Canada to migrate south. Some of these butterflies travel over 2,900 kilometers, just to overwinter in places such as Michoacan, Mexico in a small town called Angangueo. Other Monarch Butterflies also overwinter in Cuba, and Pacific Grove, as well as Newark, California. In sanctuaries such as the one in Angangueo, Michoacan in Mexico there are millions of these gorgeous butterflies. From morning until about 1:00pm, they are most active. You can see them flying around and almost blocking the sky. You will hear the fascinating sound of their wings flapping. During their long flight there is a great danger from predators.
The orange markings of their wings advertise the unmistakable fact that they might be a dangerous meal.

Thanks for visiting me and thanks in advance for your comments/critiques

JC
jeanpaul, wallhalla15, coasties, ddg, Evelynn, SkyF has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Salut Jorge
Encore une superbe photo d'un beau papillon venant de ta collection, belle composition et beau BG ainsi que les couleurs et les détails.
Bravo et merci...JP

hi jorge
il est tres beau ce monarque,j'aime ses couleurs ainsi que celle de la fleur,dommage que le ciel n'etait pas bleu.l'encadrement va bien avec.
laurent

Hi JC,
A beautiful picture of this Monarch and a very useful note too, I like the POV a lot , congrats
Goutham R

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 705 W: 13 N: 1405] (5027)
  • [2006-08-27 12:01]

Hi Jorge

Beautiful shot, Great POV and composition, the detail is superb and very crisp. The colours are lovely too with a nice frame.

TFS
Regards Hilary :)

Hello Jorge,
this is a very nice butterfly shot. Great sharpness, POV and very nice colours. Great framing and composition too. Thank you for posting.
Gr.
Heinz

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2006-08-27 13:20]

Hello Jorge , A Beautifull Photo ,beauty colours details compositie sharp pov bg and framing very good ,tfs Greetings teunie .

Hi Jorge

You show this pretty Monarch beautifully. Well composed and nicely presented. :-)

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2006-08-27 16:55]

Hi Jorge, very nice shot with great lighting and beautiful colors also. I like your POV and composition. Splendid Monarch, congratulations, Didier.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2006-08-29 18:43]

Hello Jorge,
I can't pass a monarch without having a second look. At the moment they are flying strong around here. This is a excellent shot and composition. Very nicely focused on the object and I love how the colors fade towards the back. POV, sharpness and presentation are great. Love your frame.
TFS..Sky

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