Monarch on Swamp Milkweed

Monarchs are quite plentiful at the moment and it's not too hard to find one willing to be photographed. They are currently our commonest large butterfly. This is a male - you can tell by the two spots on the hindwings which are scent glands that produce pheromones used in courtship. It took a bit of patience, but I finally got a clean shot of it with its wings open.

Monarchs as a species are not threatened, but the migrating monarch - those that fly from the eastern US to Mexico in the fall - are under stress. This individual will not migrate, but its descendants, if it is lucky enough to have any, will make the trip. Let's hope it finds a mate soon and makes some little caterpillars!