Monarch Wings

Though these were all taken within 15 minutes of one another, it shows Monarch butterflies with various stages of wing health.

First there's this individual, with perfect wings and vibrant colors. It's likely this is a relatively young individual.

July 25, 2021 at Duke Farms
Photo 148653086, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

The next Monarch seems to have intact wings, but has a more faded look. Butterfly wings have little scales on them, and when some of these are lost through normal wear and tear, their color fades.

July 25, 2021 at Duke Farms
Photo 148652861, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Sometimes there's more tear than wear evident on butterfly wings. This individual not only looks a little faded, but has lost part of its wings. (While I long assumed the wings got torn while escaping from a predator, some butterfly watchers have said they suspect the wings are more likely torn while navigating through prickly plants.)

July 25, 2021 at Duke Farms
Photo 148653147, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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