This Monarch is overladen with moisture from the stream, and will not survive to return to the safety of the trees. On some trees, the branches are completely hidden by enormous numbers of clustering butterflies. The wind blows the butterflies from the branches, and cooler temperatures inhibit their ability to fly. These Monarchs attempt to return to the boughs by crawling up the trunk of the tree. The sky comes alive with darting Monarchs as the temperature warms.
Scales fall like sequins from the beating wings.
Print 7 Nature's patterns are vividly rendered in this butterfly wing, enlarged 150 times. Print 8 Clusters of Monarchs huddled against the elements completely cover the branches that support them. Their combined weight often causes branches to break. Print 9 Like miniature solar panels, a group of Monarchs absorbs energy from the sun high in the mountains of Central Mexico. A female Monarch butterfly opens her wings in response to the warmth of the midday sun.