Still Not a Monarch

by Karen Adams

Title

Still Not a Monarch

Artist

Karen Adams

Medium

Photograph - Fine Art Digital Prints - Photography

Description

What You Think You Know

Sometimes we think we know what we know
Just to one day find it just ain’t so
Life viewed from a new perspective
May flip an old directive
Time well spent in introspection
Time for education and reflection
Time to say I may be wrong
That’s not weak. That is strong.


This is the ventral view of the butterfly pictured in "Not a Monarch."
When I looked out over my garden and saw this orange and black beauty dancing around my Butterfly bush, I jumped up and grabbed my camera and flew out the door. I don't get too excited anymore when I see Monarchs. I am extremely happy, but I don't jump up! Monarchs are a pretty common visitor, but this is not. Most people looking at this butterfly might immediately know they are looking at a Monarch . . . . but they would be mistaken. This is a Viceroy butterfly. The coloring is similar, but their design markings are quite different. The Viceroy (limenitis archippus) has a black line across the hindwing and a single row of white dots in the black marginal band. Where Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) are rare in Florida, Georgia, and the Southwest, Viceroys are brown instead of orange, mimicing the Queen (Danaus gilippus).

Being a copycat is not something frivolously done by the Viceroy butterfly. This mimicry is a defensive behavior. It is seen with other butterflies too. Some cases occur when a palatable species closely resembles unpalatable or toxic species to avoid being eaten. Early experiments suggested that the viceroys use Batesian mimicry to defend themselves against predators, but later research has shown that both the Monarch and Viceroy taste bad and are toxic. So they protect each other!

Once again, nature astonishes me with the beauty and the genius of the Creator! This Viceroy did not spend much time in my garden. After just a few minutes he flew off. Later I thought I saw him again and ran back outside . . . only to be disappointed that it was 'just a Monarch.' I had to laugh at myself as I then took some shots of it!


Not a Monarch

I know you know what you think you know
But truth may come as quite a blow
Familiar fluttering orange and black wing
Does not always mean a King
You may be fooled, you may be faked out
What you thought you knew is now in doubt
By nature’s genius mimicry
Copycatting symmetry.
Predators have learned not to eat
This distasteful toxic treat.
So carefully observe to see
To be sure what it may be
It's not a Monarch floating by
But a lovely Viceroy butterfly!





Thank you so much for looking at my images. I appreciate that very much.

I am very concerned with our environment and have decided to donate any money I make from any sales of this image to the ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND.....because the Earth needs a good lawyer! We all need to speak up and support efforts to protect our environment. We will not get a second chance!


**The watermark stamp will not appear on any purchased items. All images are protected by copyright law and cannot be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the artist.**

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July 16th, 2020

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