Monarch butterfly habitat degradation and destruction has become a well-known issue and the public has responded to the call for action by planting their landscapes and gardens with their plant of preference, milkweed. But is any species of milkweed appropriate? Unfortunately, many people have been purchasing and planting a tropical species of milkweed, rather than the…
Monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, may be one of the most distinctive of all Lepidopterans, almost everyone can identify the formerly ubiquitous species as they flutter by. Their bright orange and black markings make them recognizable to humans and serve as a warning to predators; they may be beautiful, but they are also bitter and toxic. Most…
The great migration has begun! While many birds migrate to southern climes to overwinter, the migration of monarch butterflies can be so dramatic and impressive, people gather at popular viewing sites to see the sky darken with winged beauties and swarms can be tracked by weather radar. In spite of a tough year, due to drought,…
Disappointing Decline Each year monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, travel 3,000 miles migrating to and from overwintering sites in Mexico. It is known to be one of the most spectacular migration events on earth, but it appears to be in decline. There are many factors affecting monarch populations including; habitat loss, drought conditions, misuse of pesticides, reduced availability…
Beyond Bees At this point most people are well aware of the predicament the country’s (and world’s) honeybee population is in, however, what doesn’t get enough attention is the status of wild pollinators like butterflies, moths and thousands of other bee species. While honeybees are heavily researched and managed for agricultural purposes, wild pollinator species…
