Monarch Butterfly - Danaus plexippus - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) » Milkweed Butterflies & Glasswings (Danainae) » Milkweed Butterflies (Danaini) » Danaus » Monarch - Hodges#4614 (Danaus plexippus)

Photo#232133

Copyright © 2008 Daniel J. O'Donnell

Monarch Butterfly - Danaus plexippus -

Bartlesville, Washington County, Oklahoma, USA
October 8, 2008
Size: approx. 3 inches

Are the blue highlights seen on the wing tip in this blow up normal for a monarch?

Images of this individual: tag all

Monarch Butterfly - Danaus plexippus - female

Monarch Butterfly - Danaus plexippus - female

Monarch Butterfly - Danaus plexippus - female

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Contributed by Daniel J. O'Donnell on 8 October, 2008 - 8:13pm
Last updated 8 October, 2008 - 11:17pm

RE: Blue Highlights

I checked 11 of my images and didn't find any. Oddly, I shot a syrphid this weekend and one view had several parallel blue lines adjacent to the normal white lines. Two other photos from slightly different angles showed no blue. I'd guess mine were photographic artifacts, but have no thoughts on yours.

… Ron Hemberger, 8 October, 2008 - 11:57pm

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Maybe refraction?

Thanks Ron! I'm not sure, but if I had to bet I'd say that that the lighting in this photo was just right to catch some light refracted off of the surface of the wing in those areas. I have never seen such a phenomenon on a monarch and it seems odd that it is so localized. It will be interesting to see if anyone else has observed this!
DJ

… Daniel J. O'Donnell, 9 October, 2008 - 5:47am

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With you, I eagerly await other comments.

But I don't know how many a photo of a Monarch will draw, tho.

… Ron Hemberger, 9 October, 2008 - 8:47am

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Similar effect observed

Ron,
A friend of mine has also seen blue highlights on the wings of a monarch and has recorded an image at: http://www.pbase.com/m3ling/image/64716744. He used a flash as I did, so I'm fairly certain that the highlights are due to refraction of the flash. Interesting stuff!
DJ

… Daniel J. O'Donnell, 9 October, 2008 - 12:56pm

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