<< Previous Next >>

Monarch Resting


Monarch Resting
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6160] (21052)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-02-05
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-02-07 10:13
Viewed: 648
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus

Click here to see a caterpillar, a chrysalid, and a cluster .

The Monarch butterfly is known by scientists as Danaus plexippus, which in Greek literally means "sleepy transformation." The name, which evokes the species' ability to hibernate and metamorphize, is actually inspired by the Greek myth of Danaus, in which the daughters of Danaus, king of Libya, flee Libya for Greece in order to avoid marrying their cousins. The long, migratory journey of the Monarch butterflies is reminiscent of the daughters' flight.
Adult Monarchs possess two pair of brilliant orange-reddish wings, featuring black veins and white spots along the edges. Their wingspan is about four inches, and they weigh less than half an ounce. Males, who possess distinguishing black dot (stigmata) along the veins of their wings, are slightly bigger than the females.

Each adult butterfly lives only about four to five weeks. But one of the many wonders of the Monarchs is the annual creation of a unique "Methuselah generation." As autumn approaches in their sites of migratory origin, a very special generation of butterflies is born. Unlike their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents -- all of whom had ephemeral lives measured only in weeks -- these migratory butterflies survive seven or eight months. In human terms, given our average life span of 75 years, this would be like having children who lived to be 525 years old!

This generation performs the incredible feat of flying from Canada and the United States to the center of Mexico -- after which they begin the northward journey again. Once they reach the United States, a kind of relay race begins: their short-lived offspring, with only four or five weeks to live, continue making the trek northward over several generations.

Source
JoseMiguel, phlr, Adanac, SkyF has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Bonsoir Manyee
Beau spécimen aux couleurs sobres mais parfaitement exposée. Les détails sont superbes et la netteté excellente.

Merci pour l'envoie...JP

Hi Manyee,
This butterfly has outstandings colors on their wings!
Your POV let us appreciate it with good details, the same than the patterns on it.
I like a lot the composition made and presentation.
The dark background makes an excellent contrast with the white spots seen on the body of the insect.
Congratulations, thanks for share and my best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2007-02-07 20:44]

Hi Manyee,
Gosh this is super, lovely composition, colors and detail. Thanks for sharing with us.
Rick

Amazing close up rich in colors and details,
Andrea

Witaj Maynee!
Pieknosci! Doskonaly kadr,POV i DOF. Przesliczne kolory i pouczajacy opis.
Gratuluje i serdecznosc - Roma

Hello Maynee,
This is a nice capture of those Monarchs. I like those butterflies! You caught them in a very good composition, POV with superb exposure. We loose a little detail because of this dark BG but it is still a superb post. Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2007-02-09 6:44]

Hello Manyee,
cant wait for their return in the summer. I usually do have a lot in my garden. I like this shot a lot, the dark BG shows of this monarch very well. Godd sharpness and lovely colors. A very nice diagonal composition.
TFS..Sky

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF