Don's Blog Monarch Returns 9-18-24

Yesterday I saw my first monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippuss) in months. I believe they have

begun their migration to Mexico. This one is a female based on color. She is on some New England aster.

I was so excited I caught it in flight.

She was very flighty so it was difficult to get an image.

She did settle down briefly.

The monarch was named by Linnaeus in 1758. That is a long time ago. Danaus, a great-grandson of Zeus, was a mythical king in Egypt who founded Argos. Plexippus, one of fifty sons of Aegyptus was the twin brother of Danaus.

An alternate name explanation is that Danaus referred to Danae who was Danaus's great-great-granddaughter, to whom Zeus came as a shower of gold. I vote for Monarch as both male and female rule in their beauty.

      a monarch

      fluttering its wings

     

      I smell their shape

       Chen Liu