Tallgrass Prairie Photography
Monarch
Nature Photography by Gary D.Tonhouse

© Gary D. Tonhouse 1997-2008

Monarch on Ironweed
Polk City Cemetery
Polk City, Iowa

The Monarch is unique among butterflies in that it is the only species of 
butterfly that does not hibernate, but migrates in changing seasons. 

It undergoes FOUR changes in form (metamorphoses) during its lifetime: 
It begins as a tiny egg. 
In the second stage it becomes a black, 
yellow and white striped caterpillar (larva).
 During this stage, the caterpillar sheds its skin (molts) up to 
four times as it grows to its full length of about two inches.
In its third stage, the monarch forms a protective covering called 
a chrysalis, or pupa. This pupa is shiny and green with gold speckles. 
In its final stage, the monarch emerges from the
 pupa as a beautiful black and orange butterfly. 
This entire process takes about a month. There are usually 
three to four generations of monarchs produced each year. 

Equipment used to capture image:
 Camera: Nikon F4s
                   Lens: Nikor 100mm F2.8 Micro
               Tripod: None used this time
    Film: Fuji Provia 100
  Aperture set at F2.8
 Shutter: 1/250        
This is one image that I did not use a tripod.
Shutter speed was high enough for me to hand hold.
Created several images and most were tack sharp.
As soon as Monarch warmed  up from his over night sleep,
he left his perch on the Ironweed plant.