Curse of the Black Monarch

An unusual black phase Monarch, (Danaus plexippus)

An unusual black phase Monarch, (Danaus plexippus)

Here is a more typical looking Monarch for comparison purposes.

Fiery Skipper, (Hylephila phyleus)

More butterfly wings in back-light

Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus)

Butterflies in Backlight

 A Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), stops to fuel up on, arguably its most preferred nectar source, Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum).



Gulf fritillary, (Agraulis vanillae) - In the Fall, heading to the Rio Grande Valley for the winter.

Butterfly Tree

Live! Monarch (Danaus plexippus) chrysalises adorn this beautiful mantel piece.



My children helped me feed these caterpillars in plastic jars and then transfer the chrysalises to the tree once they had dried and hardened a bit.




How can an insect produce metallic touches like gold and silver?  Organic jewels designed to be admired.



Many butterfly chrysalises shed their camouflage and become translucent hours before they eclose (emerge from their chrysalis) like these Monarchs pictured above.



Unfortunately many Chrysalises not chosen for the indoor Butterfly Tree that were left in the wilds of the front flower bed did not survive to adulthood.  I saw them devoured or at least tasted by lizards, spiders, birds, squirrels, wasps, and other unseen villains, who knew that these supposedly distasteful butterflies had so many enemies.

Danaus plexippus recently eclosed.



Here is the butterfly garden in front of our house that may have attracted the abundance of butterflies this year.  I have not seen so many Monarch visitors since this fall season several years ago.



Already sporting festive Halloween coloring.