Observation date: September 22, 2024
Submitted by: Safleming
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: I saw this monarch butterfly on wild goldenrod on September 22, 2024. The weather was sunny and mild. The monarch looked normal to me at first. Then it opened its wings. I then noticed it had 2 different colored hind wings. I have never seen this before and would like to know if anyone else has seen something like this or know what caused the 2 colors. I believe this is a female due to it does not have the black spots on the wings. The monarch acted normal to me in flying from plant to plant.
Status: Migrant
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: September 28, 2024
Coordinator notes: There exists a rare variation found at times called a "bilateral gynandromorph," in which half of the individual is a female, and half is a male. Especially in species with sexual dimorphism, this can be very apparent with completely different color variations on each side. Variations can exist as well, where more female or more male can be present (75/25, 90/10, etc). Your individual appears to be all female, and there isn't any major sexual dimorphism in the Monarch species (male and female colors are usually pretty similar). A lighter version can be seen from time to time, and a white version exists in Hawaii. I have not heard of nor can find any record of a half and half individual in coloration - so if this is the case, it is a pretty cool find! -jmgesell
