Posts Tagged: Danaus plexippus

Bring Back the Monarchs!

When a monarch butterfly comes fluttering through your yard, grab your camera. Marvel at it beauty, celebrate its presence, and keep it in your...

Backlit, the monarch resembles a stained glass window as it touches down on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Backlit, the monarch resembles a stained glass window as it touches down on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Side view of a monarch on a Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Side view of a monarch on a Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch spreads its wings, a glorious sight, even as the afternoon light fades. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch spreads its wings, a glorious sight, even as the afternoon light fades. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Saving the Monarchs

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation issued news today that is both disturbing and hopeful. Disturbing in that the monarch butterfly...

Monarch butterfly nectaring on Mexican sunflower, Tithonia, as a territorial male longhorned bee, Melissodes agilis, takes aim. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch butterfly nectaring on Mexican sunflower, Tithonia, as a territorial male longhorned bee, Melissodes agilis, takes aim. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch butterfly heading toward a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch butterfly heading toward a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is milkweed, the monarch's host plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is milkweed, the monarch's host plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Monarch and the Melissodes

Just call it "The Battle Over the Tithonia." A female monarch butterfly--gender identified by butterfly expert Art Shapiro, professor of evolution...

A male sunflower bee, Melissodes agilis, targets a monarch. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male sunflower bee, Melissodes agilis, targets a monarch. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Watch your backside! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Watch your backside! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Head to head: a monarch and a Melissodes square off. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Head to head: a monarch and a Melissodes square off. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Make Way for the Monarchs

It's good to see so many scientists and citizen scientists taking an avid interest in monarchs. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), probably...

A monarch butterfly on a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch butterfly on a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch butterfly finds just the right blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch butterfly finds just the right blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

At times, the monarch resembles a strained glass window. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

At times, the monarch resembles a strained glass window. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

When Monarch Butterflies Skip Meals

Got milkweed?  If not, monarch butterflies are in a heap of trouble.  An interesting study just published in journal PLOS One by...

Monarch butterfly sightings are becoming more uncommon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch butterfly sightings are becoming more uncommon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch butterfly grabbing a sip of nectar from lantana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch butterfly grabbing a sip of nectar from lantana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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