The videos on this page are available for downloading the mp4 file by clicking on the name of the video link below. Select the "I" icon on the right side of the player and download by selecting the download icon.  We do ask that you give credit to the photographer/videographer or creator and to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in a format similar to the example below: Credit: John Doe, USFWS Some of the video productions contain music that has been licensed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

If you have any problems downloading or finding a video, please contact Rhonda Miller via email at rhonda_miller@fws.gov.

Videographers: Brett Billings, Ryan Hagerty, and Doug Canfield, USFWS/NCTC.

Video and Shot Logs

Milkweed and Pollinators 1 (00:09:29) (Monarch Butterflies)

  • Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate) in field-zoom in slowly for closer look at blossoms
  • Close-up of inflorescense of swamp milkweed with a rust colored skipper-Indian skipper (Hesperia sassacus)
  • Giant Swallowtail: Papilio or Heraclides cresphontes flittering on swamp milkweed
  • Close-up of giant swallowtail- this butterfly never stops moving
  • Even closer view of giant swallowtail
  • Zoom out for wide angle view
  • Orange milkweed-(Butterfly milkweed-chigger flower) Asclepias tuberosa
  • Close-up of butterfly milkweed with several beetles
  • Several stalks of giant milkweed zoom in and pan up
  • Aphnrodite (Frilillary) Speyeria idalia perched on blossom of musk thistle (Bristle, thistle, nodding thistle): carduus nutans-accompanied by bumble bee
  • Clearwing hummingbird moth: Hemaris thysbe sampling common milkweed: Asclepias syriaca
  • Several bumble bees: Apidae bombus on common milkweed
  • One cluster of milkweed with several bumblebee harvesting pollen
  • Close-up of bumble bee on echinacia or coneflower; Echinacea purpurea
  • Even closer look at bumble bee
  • Back to single cluster of common milkweed with several bumble bees as in shot #13
  • Tiger swallowtail: Papilio glaucas sampling common milkweed
  • Several bumble bees on milkweed clusters-panning to follow zoom out for wide angle view
  • Dark brown? Arizona skipper close-up on common milkweed
  • Close-up of milkweed beetle: Tetraopes tetrophthalunus on leaf of common milkweed
  • Milkweed beetle on milkweed flowers
  • Pearly crescent spot: Phyciodes tharus and bog frilillary: Proclossiana Eunomia on common milkweed-joined by Japanese beetle: Popillia japonica
  • Various skipper butterflies on common milkweed
  • Japanese beetles and grey moth on common milkweed flower
  • Zebra swallowtail butterfly (Protagraphium Marcellus) on common milkweed flower-medium shot
  • Zebra swallowtail on common milkweed flower-close up
  • Zebra swallowtail and bees on common milkweed flower
  • Close-up zebra swallowtail feeding on common milkweed flower
  • Fuzzy, yellow bee on common milkweed flower
  • END

Milkweed and Pollinators 2 (00:09:48) (Monarch Butterflies)

Date: February 8, 2016

  • Caption: Orange Butterfly
  • Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
  • Butterfly weed: Asclepias tuberosa with Common Black Ground Beetle: Pterostichus melanarius
  • Several clusters of blossoms of Butterfly weed.
  • Close-up of blossoms of Butterfly weed. Zoom in on one cluster. One cluster is unopened.
  • Close-up of flowers and Common Black Ground Beetle crawling on flowers.
  • Two butterflies on butterfly weed. One is Zebra Swallowtail: Protographium Marcellus. The other is Common Sulphur: Colias philodice
  • Close-up Zebra Swallowtail on Orange Butterfly weed.
  • Same butterfly, but front view—eventually flies off.
  • Common Northern Bumble Bee: Bombus fervidus gathering pollen from Orange Butterfly Weed. Small winged bug attacks bumble bee and drives it off.
  • Common Sulphur on Orange Butterfly Weed (Milkweed).
  • Several clusters of Milkweed—zooming in on one cluster.
  • Close-up of Orange Milkweed with several pollinators including California Checkered Beetle: Aulicus terrestris.
  • Pearl Crescent Butterfly: Phyciodes tharos on orange milkweed.
  • Black wasp on butterfly weed—several small pollinators also present
  • Caption: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Green Comet
  • Milkweed
  • Asclepias viridiflora
  • Green Comet Milkweed – zooming in on one cluster of unopened buds for close-ups. Each stem on stalk contains several clusters of flower buds.
  • Close-up of several clusters of Green Comet Milkweed.
  • Bumble bee flies in and lands on milkweed—harvests pollen and flies away.
  • Bumble bee returns and lands on milkweed.
  • Close-up of one cluster of blooms hanging down.
  • Caption: U.S. fish and Wildlife Service
  • Common Milkweed
  • Asclepias syriaca
  • Several stalks with many clusters of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) zoom in – several pollinators and one bumble bee
  • Close-up of one cluster of blooms of Common Milkweed and and Golden Northern Bumble Bee (Bombus fervidus) gathering pollen.
  • Wide angle shot of Common Milkweed.
  • Close-up of single cluster of Milkweed and Bumble Bee.
  • Back to wide angle view of Milkweed with several clusters of blooms.
  • Close-up of single cluster of opened blossoms of Milkweed and Bumble bee harvesting pollen.
  • Back to wide-angle view.
  • Close-up of cluster of Milkweed blooms.
  • Close-up of single cluster of Milkweed and two Bumble bees.
  • Medium view of Milkweed clusters.
  • Back to single cluster and Bumble bee.
  • Several close-up clusters of Milkweed and Bumble bee.
  • END

Monarch Butterfly 1 (00:14:22) (Monarch Butterflies)

Date: 03/17/2015

Location: USA National Wildlife Refuges

Description: Single Monarch on ground

  • Monarchs in evergreen
  • Small group of Monarchs in Eucalyptus
  • Close up of Monarch Chrysalis
  • Single Monarch on Flower
  • Single Monarch on plant
  • Monarch Larvae on stem
  • Overwintering Monarchs on Pine. Tagged Monarch
  • Clustered Monarchs with Tags
  • Close up on Clustered Monarchs
  • Clustered Monarchs flutter wings
  • Clustered Monarchs with Tags
  • Bright Orange Monarch in cluster
  • Clustered Monarchs medium shot with Tags
  • Clustered Monarchs on tree
  • Clustered Monarchs cold morning
  • Close up on Cluster
  • Close up on Cluster no movement in butterflies
  • Medium shot of Monarch cluster
  • Cluster of monarchs on cypress
  • Medium shot of still Monarch cluster
  • Close up on Monarchs on Cypress
  • Single Monarch in foreground cluster in background
  • Super Close up on Monarchs
  • Medium shot cluster of Monarchs on Cypress
  • Monarchs in Cluster
  • Single Monarch Flutters on ground flies away
  • Monarchs start to move in cluster
  • Close Up on Monarchs
  • Medium shot of Monarch narrow cluster
  • Monarchs start to move in cluster
  • Sunlight on small cluster on Eucalyptus
  • Close up on Monarchs in cluster fluttering
  • Medium shot of large cluster fluttering
  • Monarchs dangle at bottom of branch
  • Monarchs moving at the end of large cluster
  • Lots of butterflies fluttering
  • Defocused shot of butterflies 
  • Focused shot of same shot
  • END

Monarch Butterfly 2 (00:10:07) (Monarch Butterflies)

Date: March 20, 2016

  • Various shots of adult Monarch butterflies on swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate)
  • Various shots of adult Monarch butterfly on smooth sumac leaves and berries
  • MS Monarch butterfly adult perched on branch with blue FWS shirt in background
  • Various shots of adult Monarch butterflies on Common Milkweed and stocks
  • END

Monarch Lifecycle 1 (00:09:46) (Monarch Butterflies)

Date: March 20, 2016

  • Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) egg on milkweed leaf (Asclepias syriaca) – several shots/angles
  • Monarch egg with first instar caterpillar emerging
  • Time lapse Monarch egg hatching
  • First instar caterpillar eats old egg
  • First instar caterpillar walks around on leaf
  • Second instar Monarch Butterfly caterpillar on leaf (some with aphid in foreground)
  • END

Monarch Lifecycle 2 (00:10:21) (Monarch Butterflies)

Date: March 20, 2016

  • Third instar Monarch Butterfly caterpillar (Danaus plexippus) on leaf – several angles
  • Fourth instar Monarch caterpillar on leaf, walking, eating leaf
  • Fifth instar Monarch caterpillar, walking on leaf, eating, two caterpillars eating leaf
  • Fifth instar Monarch caterpillar “J” – hanging from milkweed leaf
  • Fifth instar caterpillar changes to chrysalis time-lapse and real-time
  • END

Monarch Lifecycle 3 (00:13:47) (Monarch Butterflies)

Date: March 20, 2016

  • Various close-ups of chrysalis
  • Time-lapse chrysalis changing colors
  • Time-lapse of two chrysalides changing color and butterflies emerging
  • WS Monarch emerging from chrysalis and pumping-up wings (time-lapse)
  • WS Monarch emerging from chrysalis #2 (time-lapse)
  • WS Monarch emerging from chrysalis – real-time footage
  • CU tilt-up from Monarch’s wings to body with old chrysalis
  • WS tilt-up from Monarch’s wings to body with old chrysalis
  • CU Monarch’s wings – 3 versions
  • CU Monarch’s head while clinging to chrysalis
  • MCU tilt-up from Monarch’s wings to head, attached to old chrysalis
  • Adult Monarch butterfly footage: Monarch on thistle – several shots
  • WS Monarch butterflies flutter near milkweeds
  • MS/CU Monarch hanging on sunflower (Helianthus)
  • MS Monarch perched on late-Summer milkweed (Butterfly weed)
  • MCU Monarch perched under Common Milkweed leaf
  • MS Monarch perched on tall Milkweed pod
  • MS/Zoom-in Monarch on Fall red sumac leaves and berries
  • END

Monarch Stock (00:14:22)

Date: March 17, 2015



— Single Monarch on ground

  • Monarchs in evergreen
  • Small group of Monarchs in Eucalyptus
  • Close up of Monarch Chrysalis
  • Single Monarch on Flower
  • Single Monarch on plant
  • Monarch Larvae on stem
  • Overwintering Monarchs on Pine. Tagged Monarch
  • Clustered Monarchs with Tags
  • Close up on Clustered Monarchs
  • Clustered Monarchs flutter wings
  • Clustered Monarchs with Tags
  • Bright Orange Monarch in cluster
  • Clustered Monarchs medium shot with Tags
  • Clustered Monarchs on tree
  • Clustered Monarchs cold morning
  • Close up on Cluster
  • Close up on Cluster no movement in butterflies
  • Medium shot of Monarch cluster
  • Cluster of monarchs on cypress
  • Medium shot of still Monarch cluster
  • Close up on Monarchs on Cypress
  • Single Monarch in foreground cluster in background
  • Super Close up on Monarchs
  • Medium shot cluster of Monarchs on Cypress
  • Monarchs in Cluster
  • Single Monarch Flutters on ground flies away
  • Monarchs start to move in cluster
  • Close Up on Monarchs
  • Medium shot of Monarch narrow cluster
  • Monarchs start to move in cluster
  • Sunlight on small cluster on Eucalyptus
  • Close up on Monarchs in cluster fluttering
  • Medium shot of large cluster fluttering
  • Monarchs dangle at bottom of branch
  • Monarchs moving at the end of large cluster
  • Lots of butterflies fluttering
  • Defocused shot of butterflies 
  • Focused shot of same shot
  • Medium shot of large cluster minor fluttering
  • Super close up of wings
  • Super close up of wings
  • Monarchs in sun lots of activity
  • Monarchs Eucalyptus
  • Monarchs in cluster fluttering
  • Monarchs Medium shot
  • Monarchs in bright sun
  • Close ups on Monarchs fluttering in sun
  • Medium shot Monarchs in sun
  • Eucalyptus and Monarchs 
  • Monarchs explode off of Eucalyptus
  • Monarchs in tight formation in sun
  • Monarchs on tree in sunlight 
  • END

Monarch Tagging (00:05:59) (Monarch Butterflies)

Date: March 20, 2016

  • Various shots of adult Monarch butterflies on swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate)
  • Various shots of adult Monarch butterfly on smooth sumac leaves and berries
  • MS Monarch butterfly adult perched on branch with blue FWS shirt in background
  • Various shots of adult Monarch butterflies on Common Milkweed and stocks
  • END

Pollinators 1 (00:06:40) (Monarch Butterflies)

Date: February 2016

  • Close-up of Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio Machaon) feeding on common thistle bloom
  • Closer view of head of Tiger Swallowtail with proboscis in bloom of thistle bloom
  • Zoomed out but Tiger Swallowtail is still on thistle
  • Zoomed back in for close-up of head of Tiger Swallowtail
  • Tiger Swallowtail – back – flat view
  • Close-up of Tiger Swallowtail with proboscis in thistle flower, feeding
  • Swallowtails in motion—two swallowtails in flight, panning to follow
  • Tiger Swallowtail and Bumble Bee (Bombus fervidus) both on thistle flower. Bee flies off leaving Swallowtail – viewed from different angles
  • Back to close-up of Tiger Swallowtail going from flower to flower of thistle
  • Back to close-up of Tiger Swallowtail on blossom of thistle
  • Cabbage White – “Small White” – European cabbage white butterfly: Ascia monute perched on green leaf with wing partially opened
  • Close-up of Honey Bee: Apis mellifera on blossom of cultivar (Lazy Susan) harvesting pollen
  • Eastern Black Swallowtail: Papilio polyxenes and Common Thistle with preboscus in blossom. Just before it flies away – can see colors on underside of wing
  • Northern Cloudy Wing: Thorybes pyledes feeding on thistle
  • Great Spangled Frilillary: Speyeria Cybele on thistle bloom
  • Bumble Bee on blossom (Echinacea purpunea) harvesting pollen
  • Hummingbird Moth: Hemaris thyshe going from blossom to blossom of Milkweed
  • Close-up of Hummingbird moth on Milkweed blossom
  • Hummingbird moth on Monarda (Bee balm) flower
  • End