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Monarch of the Sky


Monarch of the Sky
Photo Information
Copyright: Derek Grant (PeakXV) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 121 W: 0 N: 544] (3135)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-08-22
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D 60, AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR DX
Exposure: f/11, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2012-08-22 8:58
Viewed: 2213
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Any purple flowers seem to be a magnet for this species. In the case a thistle temporally sates the appetite of this vivid Monarch.

The Monarch is one of the largest Canadian butterflies (wingspan: 93 to 105 mm). The upperside is bright orange with heavy black veins, and a wide black border containing a double row of white spots. There is a large black area near the wing tip containing several pale orange or white spots. The underside is similar except that the hindwing is much paler orange. Males have a sex patch, a wider area of black scales on a vein just below the centre of the hindwing.

The centre of the Monarch's vast range is in North America, but it occurs south to Argentina and has spread to Bermuda, the Azores, the Canary Islands, Hawaii, and even India, New Zealand, and Australia. It strays regularly to Europe, but has not become permanently established there because of lack of suitable foodplants. In Canada it occurs from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island, at times well beyond the northern limits of its foodplants, with one old record from the Northwest Territories at Fort Providence (Cary, 1907).

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Tribe: Danaini
Genus: Danaus
Kluk, 1780
Species: D. plexippus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_%28butterfly%29

http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species
marius-secan, maaciejka, williewhistler has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Derek,
One of the most interesting and lovely species of butterfly I have ever seen. The details, focus and sharpness are splendid.
Thanks for sharing this beauty!
Marius.

Hi Derek,
beautiful photo of this butterfly. Amazing colours. Great composition.
Thanks for sharing,
Maciek
PS.
Sorry, no more point for today :(

Hello Derek,lovely details and colours in a classical pose,they don`t come much better than this.Well done.
Les

hallo Derek
super sharpnessand great details
nice lightand beautiful colours
thanks greeting lou

  • Great 
  • senn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 58 W: 2 N: 155] (1384)
  • [2012-08-22 12:37]

great detail and colour rendering, .. effectively managed bg, ..

looks like an artificial butterfly. very intense colours and good sharpness.
regards
Pierre

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2012-08-23 4:17]

Great capture my friend,very very excellent details and magnificent point of view to create this magic contrast between the colors of the monarch and the blue of sky!Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

Ciao Derek, great macro of fantastic butterfly on beautiful blue sky, fine details, splendid sharpness and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Hello Derek,
a lovely picture of this Monarch with great detail and fantastic BG. great colour and composition.
best wishes,
samiran

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