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Splash of Color
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| [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.
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wallhalla15, methos, ramthakur, dew77, Jamesp, Luis52 has marked this note useful
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- Zeno
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 483 W: 0 N: 1345]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(10867) - [2007-03-09 10:26]
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Hi Manyee,
The dark background is really superb and gives this shot a lot of depth.I like the strong contrast in this photo.
Well done!
regards,
Zeno.
Hello Manyee,
I saw the monarch last saturday in my favorite butterfly house. ;-) This is a beautiful butterfly shot. Colorfull with very good sharpness and very good details. Very good POV and composition. Very good job. Well done. Thank you for posting my friend.
Gr.
Heinz
Nice picture with nice presentation.
Useful note as well.
The colors are great. I find the right wing a bit soft and I do not know what it is but those white speckles and scratches bother me.
I tried a WS to improve. Hoep you do not mind.
A matchless image of this highly photogenic butterfly, Manyee.
The wings spread wide open offer a fine perspective on this butterfly's superb grance and charm.
Ram
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- dew77
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(13270) - [2007-03-09 12:45]
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Hello Manyee,
Wonderful butterfly close up.Exposure is spot on.I liked vivid colors,contrast and lighting a lot.
TFS..:-)
Beautiful picture Manyee.
Excellent coloured presentation.Picture is good arrected.
tfs. Stev
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- Jamesp
(18906)
- [2007-03-10 2:04]
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Hi Manyee
Good, sharp shot with lovely colours. The butterfly contrasts so well with the deep greens and blacks.
James
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- Luis52
(15809)
- [2007-03-10 12:47]
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Hola Manyee.-Bella Monarca, con hermosos colores en sus alas extendidas. Foto muy nitida. Saludos Luis52.
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 275 W: 11 N: 411]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(1811)