Posts Tagged: butterfly

What's Better Than Seeing a Monarch Butterfly?

Question: What's better than seeing a monarch butterfly? Answer: Seeing two monarch butterflies sharing the same blossom on a butterfly...

Two migrating monarchs land on a butterfly bush in Vacaville, Calif. to sip some nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two migrating monarchs land on a butterfly bush in Vacaville, Calif. to sip some nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarchs engage in what appears to be a territorial battle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarchs engage in what appears to be a territorial battle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A kaleidoscope of orange and black as the two monarchs seek the same blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A kaleidoscope of orange and black as the two monarchs seek the same blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings up! The monarchs take flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings up! The monarchs take flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch vs. Honey Bee: 'Nectar for Me, None for You'

The monarch migration is well underway. The iconic butterflies fluttering into California from the Pacific Northwest engage in "nectar stops" to fuel...

A migrating monarch butterfly finds nectar in a zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A migrating monarch butterfly finds nectar in a zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee wants nectar, too. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee wants nectar, too. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The honey bee buzzes the wings of the monarch hoping it will leave. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The honey bee buzzes the wings of the monarch hoping it will leave. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch takes the hint. A bee wants that nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch takes the hint. A bee wants that nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Oops! Wrong Species, Wrong Gender

So here's this male monarch nectaring on a pink zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden. The nectar is rich and he is as hungry as a migrant...

A painted lady, Vanessa cardui, touches down next to a male monarch, Danaus plexippus, on a pink zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A painted lady, Vanessa cardui, touches down next to a male monarch, Danaus plexippus, on a pink zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male monarch lets the painted lady know that his advances are unwelcome. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male monarch lets the painted lady know that his advances are unwelcome. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Okay, I'm leaving" The painted lady takes off as the monarch also prepares to leave. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Okay, I'm leaving" The painted lady takes off as the monarch also prepares to leave. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"I'm leaving, too!" The male monarch takes flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"I'm leaving, too!" The male monarch takes flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Vanessa cardui: Luck Be a Lady

When Frank Loesser (1910-1969) wrote and composed "Luck Be a Lady" in 1950, he wasn't thinking of a butterfly. But when we spotted this Painted...

A Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui, with chunked-out wings, nectars on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui, with chunked-out wings, nectars on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Painted Lady, looking ready for take-off, sips nectar from a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Painted Lady, looking ready for take-off, sips nectar from a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Seen Any Dead Butterflies? USGS Survey Seeks Specimens in Six States

Have you seen any dead butterflies lately? If you live in Alabama,  Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma or Texas, the United States...

A monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A buckeye butterfly, Junonia coenia, on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A buckeye butterfly, Junonia coenia, on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Read more