Cats Galore!

Today’s post features some of the many Monarch “cats” (caterpillars) that we’ve been finding in our Lake of the Ozarks butterfly garden. We have quite a lot of milkweed plants, which is the Monarch’s host plant. For the past 2-3 weeks, the Monarch activity around the garden here has been quite high. Here are a few of my favorite macro photographs I’ve taken in the garden:

Monarch caterpillar

Monarch caterpillar

Monarch caterpillars

Monarch caterpillar

Monarch caterpillar

Monarch caterpillar

Monarch caterpillar

In case you are wondering, the Monarch activity has been so busy here as they begin their southward migration for the winter.

As a special treat, I collected five Monarch cats and have them in some mesh butterfly cages. Three of the five have just transformed into their chrysalis … and I have been time-lapse photographing this transformation process. The last two cats are feeding heavily and will begin their transformation very shortly. Additionally, I hope to time-lapse photograph their emergence from the chrysalis, into the mature Monarch butterfly, which should begin soon!

Photographic Equipment Used:

  • Canon 5D Mark 3 body
  • Canon 180mm, f/3.5 macro lens
  • Bogen 3221 tripod, with ballhead
  • ISO 200 and ISO 400
  • Aperture f/3.5 thru f/16
  • Shutter Speed 1/30 sec. thru 1/1500 sec.

 

 

Posted in Butterfly Photography, Insect Photography, Macro Photography, Nature Photography, Wildflowers
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