Macro Before they are Monarchs

Before they are Monarchs · **9 Likes**

While Monarch butterflies are said to be falling in number, various agencies ask people to plant milkweed in order to provide a "nursery" for the larva. I have a section of land that I allow the milkweed to grow every year. Here are a couple of images of what Beautiful Monarch butterflies look like before metamorphosis.

**Tonytee** · 07-05-2019, 09:02 PM - **1 Like**

A very lovely capture indeed. Beautifully photographed colors, sharpness, exposure and composition. What's not to love? Thanks for sharing.

TT

**DW58** · 07-06-2019, 08:22 AM - **1 Like**

Kudos to you for the nice photos and for growing Milkweed. Monarch caterpillars are just so cool looking.

lesmore49 · 07-06-2019, 08:57 AM - **1 Like**

Never seen a Monarch caterpillar...beautiful. Excellent photos.

**Sailor** · 07-06-2019, 10:42 AM - **1 Like**

Beautifully done!

Jer

**joelbolden** · 07-06-2019, 10:30 PM - **1 Like**

Being a member of the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society I appreciate anyone taking an interest in growing pollinator plants. Of the 10 milkweed varieties native to PA, I have 5 growing and they're all used by Monarchs(among other butterflies). Those are beautiful, clear pictures and I appreciate you setting aside land for the plants.

MarkJerling · 07-06-2019, 11:48 PM - **1 Like**

Very nice! Monarchs are popular here and many people grow milkweed for them.

**SCGushue** · 07-08-2019, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by joelbolden

Being a member of the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society I appreciate anyone taking an interest in growing pollinator plants. Of the 10 milkweed varieties native to PA, I have 5 growing and they're all used by Monarchs(among other butterflies). Those are beautiful, clear pictures and I appreciate you setting aside land for the plants.

Thank you for the comments. If I remember from my Field Biology days, way back when......, the species growing on my area is A syriaca. A. Incarnate grows nearby too. I don’t recall ever coming across any of the other species, but, I will be on the lookout as I often take field guides for flowering plants when hiking.

Stephen

---------- Post added 07-08-2019 at 11:06 AM ----------

Originally posted by MarkJerling

Very nice! Monarchs are popular here and many people grow milkweed for them.

At first I was surprised that Monarchs would be in NZ. Then I did some research. I had forgotten that NZ is not an “island” but the remnant of a continent that still remains above water. Easy for Monarchs to have gotten there in the past. I also see that there is also Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust.

Thank you for opening my eyes to the extent of their range.

Stephen

MarkJerling · 07-08-2019, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by SCGushue

Thank you for the comments. If I remember from my Field Biology days, way back when......, the species growing on my area is A syriaca. A. Incarnate grows nearby too. I don’t recall ever coming across any of the other species, but, I will be on the lookout as I often take field guides for flowering plants when hiking.

Stephen

---------- Post added 07-08-2019 at 11:06 AM ----------

At first I was surprised that Monarchs would be in NZ. Then I did some research. I had forgotten that NZ is not an “island” but the remnant of a continent that still remains above water. Easy for Monarchs to have gotten there in the past. I also see that there is also Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust.

Thank you for opening my eyes to the extent of their range.

Stephen

It's interesting in that no-one knows how they got here. There are several theories but it seems likely that they may be an introduced species. But, they have been seen in New Zealand since before European migration. The swan plants (on which they feed almost exclusively) appear to have been introduced from Africa.

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07-05-2019, 09:02 PM - 1 Like	#2
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,461	A very lovely capture indeed. Beautifully photographed colors, sharpness, exposure and composition. What's not to love? Thanks for sharing. TT

07-06-2019, 08:22 AM - 1 Like	#3
DW58 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Rural Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,064	Kudos to you for the nice photos and for growing Milkweed. Monarch caterpillars are just so cool looking.

07-06-2019, 08:57 AM - 1 Like	#4
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,343	Never seen a Monarch caterpillar...beautiful. Excellent photos.

07-06-2019, 10:42 AM - 1 Like	#5
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Beautifully done! Jer

07-06-2019, 10:30 PM - 1 Like	#6
joelbolden Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Stormstown, Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 605	Being a member of the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society I appreciate anyone taking an interest in growing pollinator plants. Of the 10 milkweed varieties native to PA, I have 5 growing and they're all used by Monarchs(among other butterflies). Those are beautiful, clear pictures and I appreciate you setting aside land for the plants.

07-06-2019, 11:48 PM - 1 Like	#7
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Very nice! Monarchs are popular here and many people grow milkweed for them.

07-08-2019, 10:51 AM	#8
SCGushue Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,449 Original Poster	Originally posted by joelbolden Being a member of the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society I appreciate anyone taking an interest in growing pollinator plants. Of the 10 milkweed varieties native to PA, I have 5 growing and they're all used by Monarchs(among other butterflies). Those are beautiful, clear pictures and I appreciate you setting aside land for the plants. Thank you for the comments. If I remember from my Field Biology days, way back when......, the species growing on my area is A syriaca. A. Incarnate grows nearby too. I don’t recall ever coming across any of the other species, but, I will be on the lookout as I often take field guides for flowering plants when hiking. Stephen ---------- Post added 07-08-2019 at 11:06 AM ---------- Originally posted by MarkJerling Very nice! Monarchs are popular here and many people grow milkweed for them. At first I was surprised that Monarchs would be in NZ. Then I did some research. I had forgotten that NZ is not an “island” but the remnant of a continent that still remains above water. Easy for Monarchs to have gotten there in the past. I also see that there is also Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust. Thank you for opening my eyes to the extent of their range. Stephen

07-08-2019, 04:40 PM	#9
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Originally posted by SCGushue Thank you for the comments. If I remember from my Field Biology days, way back when......, the species growing on my area is A syriaca. A. Incarnate grows nearby too. I don’t recall ever coming across any of the other species, but, I will be on the lookout as I often take field guides for flowering plants when hiking. Stephen ---------- Post added 07-08-2019 at 11:06 AM ---------- At first I was surprised that Monarchs would be in NZ. Then I did some research. I had forgotten that NZ is not an “island” but the remnant of a continent that still remains above water. Easy for Monarchs to have gotten there in the past. I also see that there is also Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust. Thank you for opening my eyes to the extent of their range. Stephen It's interesting in that no-one knows how they got here. There are several theories but it seems likely that they may be an introduced species. But, they have been seen in New Zealand since before European migration. The swan plants (on which they feed almost exclusively) appear to have been introduced from Africa.