Monarch Butterfly on Orange and Red Lantana

An original fine art photograph by Shelley Neff Design and Photography featuring a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) that is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae sipping nectar from a brilliant orange and red-coloured Lantana. Considered an iconic pollinator species and is also known as milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black veined brown butterfly. Its wings feature an easily recognisable black, orange, and white pattern. The eastern North American monarch population is noteable for its annual southward late-summer/autumn migration from the United States and southern Canada to Mexico. During the fall migration, monarchs cover thousands of miles, with a corresponding multi-generational return north. The western North American population of monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains often migrates to sites in California but has been found in overwintering Mexican sites as well. Monarchs were transported to the International Space Station and were bred there. Sadly, after a ten-fold drop in the population of the eastern monarch butterfly population over the last decade, a 2016 study predicted an 11%–57% probability that this population will go extinct over the next 20 years. Makes the perfect gift for any butterfly conservationist or nature enthusiast. Looks perfect on any product but especially business cards, postcards, posters, greeting cards, postage stamps, air fresheners, bath mats, door mats, plates, napkins, trivets, stickers, tiles, buttons, magnets, photographic or canvas prints and can be personalised by adding your name or other text by choosing 'Customise It'. Please contact us directly if you need assistance with customisation or would like to see this image on a different product. To see all other products in our store matching this design go to http://www.zazzle.com/sneffygirl* and click on the ‘Butterflies > Monarch Butterfly on Orange and Red Lantana’ category. Thanks for your interest!