Category: butterfly

Danaus is a genus of butterflies found worldwide. It contains 12 different species, with two of them found in Southern Africa (Danaus chrysippus and Danaus dorippus). I think this is a D. dorippus, but I am not sure as the two species look very similar.

Danaus butterflies are commonly known by many different names, including Tigers, Milkweed, Monarchs, Wanderers, and Queens.

They are among over 650 different species of butterflies found in South Africa.

An interesting fact to distinguish butterflies from moths is that when at rest, moths either fold their wings tentlike over the body, wrap them around the body, or hold them extended at their sides, whereas butterflies hold their wings vertically (as seen in this picture).

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 6400 | 1/750sec | ev-0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 10% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Butterflies are some of the most difficult creatures to photograph from a game drive vehicle. Constantly on the move, they are very hard to capture with a camera.

I love this image of a Citrus Swallowtail (or Christmas Butterfly | Scientific name: _

Papilio demodocus_) which I was able to take a few days ago.

Three times per year they go through four development stages (metamorphosis) from egg, to larva (or caterpillar), to pupa (or chrysalis) before they turn into this very beautiful butterfly (adult form). The adult female lives normally just under seven days, the males just under four days.

Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/300mm | ISO 200 | 1/2000sec | f2.8 | ev-0.5 | 300mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 20% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography