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Vanishing Act
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Vanishing Act

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted October 23, 2014145 views6 comments
Why are the Monarchs vanishing? Deforestation in Mexico, recent bouts of severe weather, and the growth of herbicide-based agriculture destroying crucial milkweed flora in the Midwest.

This is one of only a few Monarchs I've spotted here all season.
Same with the Honey Bee, a very sparse presence.

F/13, 1/500th, ISO 500, 1D M3, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 + 1.4x ext.
Clear/sunny @ 11:23am using a monopod for support.

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 23, 2014 at 6:30 PM
Howard, I have seen just two this year. Nice job on the photo. Keep it to remember them by. :frown:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 23, 2014 at 10:21 PM
Fine look at this Monarch, Howard. I only saw two this year, with one of them laying eggs, but I couldn't find the caterpillars. Last winter was really hard on them in Mexico, hopefully there will be improved weather this year....
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Bunch on October 26, 2014 at 10:31 AM
Fine shot of this beauty Howard. Maybe there were few monarchs around your area because they were all in Dallas this year. After seeing quite a few Monarchs in the air around White Rock lake I decided to check a patch of milkweed where I have been able to get some photos in the past and much to my delight the plants were covered by monarchs. In a patch of plants along the shoreline about 30 feet long there were hundreds of them. I photographed them for seven straight days before they moved on and got lots of good shots including one shot of a Monarch tagged by Monarch Watch from the Univ. of Kansas. They have a website www.monarchwatch.org if you want to check it out to get more info on the Monarchs. I have been meaning to send them an email with the tag number of the monarch but haven't done it yet. There were also many monarchs in the Great Trinity forest in S. Dallas this year. A friend of mine has a website dallastrinitytrails.blogspot.com with shots of the Trinity forest monarchs. Since this experience I am now a big fan of Monarchs and all butterflies. I am going to plant some milkweed to do my part for the recovery of these beautiful creatures.
Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on October 26, 2014 at 12:36 PM
Well composed and fine detail, Howard. I just got back from a week of backpacking in Utah. Saw a few monarchs; in fact, more than all summer here in Ohio, but I did not try photographing them. I like this angled front view. :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on October 29, 2014 at 10:56 PM
Hi Howard :wavey: Glad to hear that there are still some monarchs left. love the colors and detail of this beautiful capture of the monarch :toast:


Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on October 30, 2014 at 7:57 AM
Love this somewhat head-on pose, Howard - an angle which still gives an excellent view of the wings. Very nicely done !!
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments