Monarch Butterfly
Tonight’s walkabout uncovered a male Monarch Butterfly; perhaps the most familiar American butterfly. Its wings show the recognizable orange and black pattern with a 3-4 inch wingspan. Female monarchs have darker veins on their wings; the males have a spot in the center of each hind wing. Males are also slightly larger than female monarchs. Eastern Monarchs migrate, sometimes thousands of miles, to Mexico in late summer or autumn. Western Monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains migrate to California. To capture an image of these amazing butterflies requires an abundance of patience, a decent telephoto lens, and a bit of luck.
