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The monarch


The monarch
Photo Information
Copyright: Livio Soares de Medeiros (livios) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12-22
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm 1:3,5-5,6II
Exposure: f/8, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-02-01 10:07
Viewed: 1107
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Class: Insecta (insects)
Order: Lepidoptera (butterflies)
Family: Danaidae (Milkweed butterfly family)
Genus: Danaus
Species: 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.

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.

(Source: www.insecta-inspecta.com/butterflies/monarch/)
Dave, radz, dew77, anavazao, phlr, chouette, coasties, soccer, axiotea has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • agea0 Silver Star Critiquer [C: 12 W: 0 N: 0] (88)
  • [2006-02-01 10:09]

Hello Livio!
Pretty photo, Wonderful colours. Very well presented:)

Agnes

  • Great 
  • Jannie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 250 W: 6 N: 246] (1127)
  • [2006-02-01 10:11]

Very good POV and composition. Colours are very saturated and the detail looks great. I like the composition.

TFS

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 379 W: 14 N: 533] (2835)
  • [2006-02-01 10:27]

Belíssima composição, Livio. Cores e formas maravilhosas, boa nitidez e enquadramento. O contraste do verde com o alaranjado, em especial, está fantástico. Parabéns!
Zeca

  • Great 
  • tinman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458] (2663)
  • [2006-02-01 10:37]

Good colours and detail. not sure if I would have cropped a little more off the right side. TFS

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3074 W: 233 N: 5867] (19734)
  • [2006-02-01 11:00]

Unusual subject and color palette for you, Livio. : )
Great capture of this monarch butterfly. Unusual POV. It looks like it is bowing to its audience. Great composition! TFS. : )

wow what a shot and nice colours well done

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 619 W: 11 N: 626] (3362)
  • [2006-02-01 12:22]

Beautiful shot,lovely colours,and nice POV.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-02-01 13:04]

Hello Livio!
Wonderful close up.POV,vivid colors,lighting,
details and composition are perfect.
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1165] (6442)
  • [2006-02-01 14:12]

Hi Livio,
Beautiful butterfly well captured,
very nice colours and great POV,
Thanks for sharing!

Hi Livio,
soooo pretty - the best choise of the flower - same colour, wonderful arrangement, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Olá,
umas cores espectaculares com uns detalhes e composição óptimos!
A borboleta está em uma posição muito bonita!
Ana:)

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1276 W: 133 N: 873] (2804)
  • [2006-02-01 16:34]

Such a beauty!
Very good POV!
Wonderful BG and colours!
Good on details too!
TFS!

  • Great 
  • nofer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1219 W: 367 N: 805] (2225)
  • [2006-02-01 18:44]

É por isso que eu tenho inveja... He... He... você consegue uma excelente nitidez!
Mas nesta foto exatamente o que está de melhor: cores e composição!!
Ótimo trabalho!
TFS
Reynaldo

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 47 N: 669] (2157)
  • [2006-02-01 19:18]

Cool POV for a very nice picture Livio!
Thanks,
Dave

Olá Livio,
Ótimas cores aqui, boa composição e luz.

Francisco

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
  • [2006-02-01 21:12]

Livio.- Que bonita foto me gustan los colores felicidades Luis52

Very nice capture of this monarch! Colors are beautiful and POV excellent. Nice green OOF BG. Thanks for sharing!

Great work Livio. Good depth of colour. Perfect POV. Sharpness, detail and clarity are spot on. Congrats!

Once again a good pic Livio! Good colours and the Composition, POV and DOF make for a great pic! The detail is also good in this shot. TFS, Sheriff

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-02-05 12:16]

Very nice perspective. I like the head on view it gives the photo more depth. Great DOF and colors.
SkyF

Hi Livio!
WOW! Excellent macro! Beautiful colors, composition, DOF! Great work!
TFS ;-)
regards
Dorota

Bonjour Livio
Très belle prise de vue,les couleurs vives, l'éclairage, les détails et la composition sont parfaits
superbe ce papillon
Merci ...JP

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