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Monarch Butterfly


Monarch Butterfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-01
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): 40-49 Points (Chapter 6), 50-60 points (chapter 5), 50-60 Puntos (chapter 6), Butterflies & Moths 2, Monarchs [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-10-01 18:47
Viewed: 4983
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus

The monarch butterfly is sometimes called the "milkweed butterfly" because its larvae eat the plant. In fact, milkweed is the only thing the larvae can eat!

Adult female monarchs lay their eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves. These eggs hatch, depending on temperature, in three to twelve days.

The larvae feed on the plant leaves for about two weeks and develop into caterpillars about 2 inches long.

After awhile, the caterpillars attach themselves head down to a convenient twig, they shed their outer skin and begin the transformation into a pupa (or chrysalis), a process which is completed in a matter of hours.

The pupa resembles a waxy, jade vase and becomes increasingly transparent as the process progresses. The caterpillar completes the miraculous transformation into a beautiful adult butterfly in about two weeks.

The butterfly finally emerges from the now transparent chrysalis.
It inflates its wings with a pool of blood it has stored in its abdomen. When this is done, the monarch expels any excess fluid and rests.

The butterfly waits until its wings stiffen and dry before it flies away to start the cycle of life all over again.

Eastern populations winter in Florida, along the coast of Texas, and in Mexico, and return to the north in spring. Monarch butterflies follow the same migration patterns every year. During migration, huge numbers of butterflies can be seen gathered together.

Most predators have learned that the monarch butterfly makes a poisonous snack. The toxins from the monarch's milkweed diet have given the butterfly this defense. In either the caterpillar or butterfly stage the monarch needs no camouflage because it takes in toxins from the milkweed and is poisonous to predators. Many animals advertise their poisonous nature with bright colors... just like the monarch!

Source
Mousehill, chiliu, coasties, TAZ, ddg, Vicky, sway, wallhalla15, Luc, touristdidi, FranciscoSales, firelord, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Great color and contrast on the wing Manyee, also the fact that is it visibly eating at the moment make it a very nice photo. The crop is good and tight with enough space around the wings. Great out of focus background to isolate the image. Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1457 W: 0 N: 1176] (6526)
  • [2005-10-01 20:29]

Hi Manyee,
This is a great shot!
Beautiful colour, very good light and sharpness, great background and frame.
Well done and thanks for sharing!

Hi Manyee

Excellent capture. The sharpness and detail are excellent. Nice light and colours. Excfellent note. Well done. Thanks.

Hi Manyee
Great capture of the monarch - saturation, DOF and composition are excellent. An added bonus is that the flower is similar in color. Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-10-01 22:46]

A real beauty i love it Manyee, fantastic colours & great composition, sharpness dof & pov are very nice you did a great work,

My regards,
Christian

It's a beauty, Manyee.
Lovley colours and good contrast.
It's very well composed and the POV are also very good.
Well seen from the OOF BG.
Excellent work.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-10-02 3:21]

Wow ! What a superb and interesting Monarch that you have very well captured ! The composition is lovely and the close-up gives many details ! Congratulations Manyee and thanks for sharing.

Hi Manyee,

Good job, very nice shot, colors and details. Very well.

Monika

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 867 W: 24 N: 1008] (5507)
  • [2005-10-02 4:59]

Bonjour Manyee, great shot with a lot of bright colors and superb sharpness. Congratulations Didier.

  • Great 
  • Vicky Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 45 W: 0 N: 94] (468)
  • [2005-10-02 5:40]

Brilliant capture, Manyee. The clarity and colours of the wings are wonderful. The unobtrusive background shows off the subject to it's best advantage. Great note too, thank you. Very well taken.
Best wishes, Vicky

  • Great 
  • sela Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 47 W: 0 N: 39] (738)
  • [2005-10-02 13:27]

What a very great image. Beautiful macro.

  • Great 
  • sway Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 305 W: 85 N: 319] (1276)
  • [2005-10-02 15:14]

HI Manyee,
A beautiful shot of this butterfly.
Great colours.
Nice sharp focus.
Lovely composition
Great work.
:)

Beautilful butterfly Manyee. Very good colors, good DOF and very good sharpness. Good informative note.

Lovely capture, Manyee. I am just back from my vacation and have lots of photos to check out and edit. I will supply a proper critique later my friend.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-10-04 7:01]

Excellent composition with fantastic colours and details. Good job on the BG too.
Toni

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-10-07 14:27]

Personal assessment of the photo: very good.
Strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you Manyee.
We had exeptional weather for the season here: around + 29C during more than a week. So I was outdoor taking a lot of photos. Today all returns to normal: + 10C with rain.

Beautiful monarch shot, Manyee. I like the tight composition. The sharpness and colours are superb against the neutral out-of-focus background.

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 481 W: 0 N: 895] (2862)
  • [2005-11-19 13:22]

Hi Manyee.
wonderful photo,nice colors this monarch,good contrast,good composition.Great shot.
Saludos...RICARDO.

When you call them "stained glass of nature" you could be more right!

Lush colors, beautiful butterfly! Looks like a good picturefor a stained glass window pattern!

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2234 W: 188 N: 1912] (8073)
  • [2006-01-22 11:15]

Excellent colors and sharpness. Very nice macro.
SkyF

Olá Manyee,
Cores e detalhes excelentes! Grande foto, perfeita!!!

Francisco Sales

Manyee,
On focus butterfly and flowers (almost) but this is a necessity.
Colours match!
Compo is okay.
TFS
Annick

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