Cute picture, but it's faked - that monarch is dead. When monarchs die they dry out, causing the muscles in the legs to contract, which then makes the legs curl inwards. If you look closely, you can see both front legs bent inwards (monarchs also only have four functional legs, which is why this monarch is sitting on its face). You can also see its proboscis partially uncurled and sitting off the the side. The wings have also been spread out further than monarchs naturally hold them, when at rest.
This monarch died very young in its adult life, the wings naturally tatter over time. I really hope that OP found it dead, and didn't kill it to stage a photo for reddit.
Source - I've raised and released thousands of monarchs.
thatfinesse on October 1st, 2018 at 23:46 UTC »
Submit this to a photo competition right away.
UpdootDaSnootBoop on October 2nd, 2018 at 00:01 UTC »
Unfortunately, my dog would have eaten it before it could have landed :(
Muchashca on October 2nd, 2018 at 03:44 UTC »
Cute picture, but it's faked - that monarch is dead. When monarchs die they dry out, causing the muscles in the legs to contract, which then makes the legs curl inwards. If you look closely, you can see both front legs bent inwards (monarchs also only have four functional legs, which is why this monarch is sitting on its face). You can also see its proboscis partially uncurled and sitting off the the side. The wings have also been spread out further than monarchs naturally hold them, when at rest.
This monarch died very young in its adult life, the wings naturally tatter over time. I really hope that OP found it dead, and didn't kill it to stage a photo for reddit.
Source - I've raised and released thousands of monarchs.