Monarchs and Painted Ladies

Monarchs and Painted Lady butterflies have waltzed through September, and much of October together, without a thought for the Winter social season down South.  They've been feasting on the nectar of flowers, and basking in the sunshine here in the North.  The unusually wet Eastern Canadian Summer, and hot, sunny weeks in September, have produced a lot of nectar, and kept butterflies in the Northern Hemisphere.

They're having a nectar banquet, storing energy for the long voyage to Mexico.  The four thousand kilometre (about 2,500 mile) journey will take about six to eight weeks.  They're in no hurry to pack their bags. 

Even for a daytime luncheon, the butterflies really dress up!  Monarchs are larger than the Painted Lady butterflies.  Their deep orange coloured wings are rimmed in black, with white polka dots.  Monarch wings are veined, and look much like stained glass windows.

Painted Lady butterflies are smaller, and move more quickly.  Their wings too, are orange and black, however they're dappled with colour.  The black and white pattern is found only in the top corner of the front wings.  Their upper bodies are a blue green colour, and they look like they're wearing a silk bodice or vest.

The Viceroy butterfly is a no show at this gathering.  It is often mistaken for a Monarch.  The Viceroy has a distinctive black line, running in a semi-circle across the hind wings.  Only true Monarchs at this garden party!

The male Monarch (above) is taking a rest from fluttering.  How can you tell if it's male or female?  Do you see the small, black oval shaped dot on one of the thin veins near the tail of the butterfly?  That is one of the butterfly's scent glands - and only the males have them.  The female butterflies do not have these oval dots, and their veins are thicker.

Here's a female Monarch (above and below).  You can see the veins are wider, and she has no black oval dot alongside the vein near her tail.  Not only that, she has a Ladybug-in-waiting with her!  An Asian Ladybug, wearing a bright yellow and black polka-dotted suit is in attendance.

More and more guests arrive at the party, savouring the buffet lunch.  

A Painted Lady glances over at the bee, and realizing that she is not the Queen bee, relaxes her wings just a little.   A butterfly can't truly relax...after all, the butterfly paparazzi (that would be me) are here!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams,  Widow's Endorphines Photographic Images Incorporated.