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Plain Tiger - African Monarch


Plain Tiger - African Monarch
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-06
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-10-09 23:22
Viewed: 928
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
African Monarch Butterfly
Danaus chrysippus
AKA: Plain Tiger

Last Monday I went to Butterfly Creek, Auckland’s Butterfly house. It was wet and very overcast but I was pleased to see quite a few butterflies flying there.

And it wasn't too hot either...

The Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) or - outside Asia - African Monarch is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa.

It is believed to be one of the first butterflies to be used in art. A 3500 year old Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest illustration of this species.

The adult butterflies are orange with wide black borders around the wings, and a variable number of white spots in the black tips of the forewings. The head is black with white spots, and the thorax black with a white dorsal line. The abdomen is brown. The butterflies only have four legs.

This is the male who has more prominent black markings near the centre of each hind wing. The undersides are similar to the upper surfaces.

The Plain Tiger is a medium sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 7–8 cm. The body is black with many white spots. The wings are tawny the upper side being brighter and richer than the underside. The apical half of the fore wing is black with a white band. The hind wing has 3 black spots around the center. The hind wing has a thin border of black enclosing a series of semicircular white spots.

The range of the Plain Tiger extends from Africa and southern Europe, eastwards via Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar to China and Sulawesi. It is a very common species.

Thanks to Wikipaedia
siggi, ramthakur, jconceicao, eqshannon, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1385 W: 56 N: 4777] (16434)
  • [2008-10-09 23:27]

Hi Janice,
An absolutely beautiful capture of this Plain Tiger and a wonderful composition. The butterfly, the flower, and the background are all excellent with beautiful colors and fine details.
Siggi

Elegant capture of this butterfly we see in plenty here in India, Janice.
Glad to realise you have this species in your butterfly park in Zew Zealand.
The image is very sharp and colourful. The lantana flowers add to the beauty of this composition.
TFS and regards.

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1061 W: 290 N: 3962] (13384)
  • [2008-10-10 0:17]

Hello Janice,
a nice point of view to present this colourful chrysippus. I like the fine orange-brown nuances
of the wing pattern. I think, a smaller aperture - perhaps f/9 - would have worked well to
achieve more sharpness also on parts of the flower and the posterior parts of the hindwings.
Best wishes, Peter

Hello Janice,

Fantastic close up of this butterfly.
Nice colours with excellent detail.
Lighting and composition are good.

I have never been to one of these places...there was one at the Cleveland Zoo but I bypassed it to see the Rain forest bio dome instead...beautiful imafge in nice colours. A great opportunity for you!
bob

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2411 W: 94 N: 5569] (17712)
  • [2008-10-10 10:56]

Hello Janice,
What a beauty! Excellent natural colours and a great sharp focus. BG, POV and composition are very good.
Have a nice weekend,
Peter

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-10-11 8:42]

Hello Janice, thanks for sharing this beauty a very nice shot. Ganesh

Hello Janice.,

Excellent shot in tall frame with this beautiful monarch on yellow lantana. The sharpness and details are well demonstrated with pleasing shallow depth. I like it. Well done and thanks for sharing. Best regards.

Jusni Nasirun
Kodiang
Sunday October 12, 2008

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