Monarch Pair On Swamp Milkweed

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the 'king' of all butterflies, and among the most striking and beautiful of butterflies, a symbol of... more

by Morris Finkelstein

Title

Monarch Pair On Swamp Milkweed

Artist

Morris Finkelstein

Medium

Photograph

Description

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the 'king' of all butterflies, and among the most striking and beautiful of butterflies, a symbol of freedom. The wings are reddish orange with a network of black veins, and the undersides have white and pale orange spots along the margins. The adult Monarch is large with a wingspan of about 4 inches. Habitats include parks, fields, and gardens. The migratory journey of these majestic butterflies southwards begins in the early fall. There are 3 to 5 generations of Monarch Butterflies each year.

This pair of beautiful Monarch butterflies collecting nectar from Swamp Milkweed flowers was photographed at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, in St. Charles County, Missouri on 8-7-2020. I used a Nikon D850 camera body and a Nikon 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR telephoto lens to capture this image. Settings: 1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 360. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), also called Marsh Milkweed, is a perennial plant native to North America in the family Apocyanoceae. It grows in moist soils and is known for its pink flowers which attract butterflies, particularly Monarch butterflies, and pollinators with its nectar.

The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area was acquired by the State of Missouri from the federal government in the late 1940's. This 7000-acre area was used during World War 2 for production and storage of TNT and DNT, and during the 1960's for the processing of Uranium ore. Subsequently, the large property was thoroughly decontaminated, and then used as a wildlife conservation area.

I am honored that my photograph was featured in the Fine Art America groups:
Macro Marvels, 8-11-2020
Visions Of Spring - Glances Of Summer, 8-11-2020
Bugs Bugs And More Bugs, 8-13-2020
Insects - Spiders, 8-23-2020
Midwest America Photography, 9-29-2023
Your Very Best Photography, 9-30-2023

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Uploaded

August 9th, 2020