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:
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.