Backyard Orchard News
Two Icons: Old Glory and the Glorious Monarch
Two icons, the American flag and the monarch butterfly, are flying high today. The American flag,...
Two icons: the American flag, which represents our democracy, and the monarch butterfly, which is linked to a monarchy. The common name, "monarch," refers to "The Prince of Orange" who would later become known as King William III of England." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Monarch Sightings in the UC Davis Arboretum: Cause for Celebration
What a delight to see. We strolled through milkweed patches in the UC Davis Arboretum Thursday...
A monarch on milkweed in the UC Davis Arboretum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A male monarch touches down on foliage in the UC Davis Arboretum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A male monarch in the UC Davis Arboretum suns itself. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Christine Merlin and Monarchs: How They Use Their Circadian Clocks for Seasonal Migration
Did you know that monarch butterflies use a circadian clock to navigate to their overwintering...
Christine Merlin, shown here examining a monarch butterfly, will speak on "The Monarch Butterfly Circadian Clock: from Clockwork Mechanisms to Control of Seasonal Migration" on May 31 at UC Davis. (Texas A&M Photo)
Bumble Bees: Pollen Power in the Phacelia
Talk about pollen! The bumble bees, Bombus vandykei (as identified by Robbin Thorp, distinguished...
It's mine--move away! Two bumble bees, species Bombus vandykei, seek the same Phacelia blossom on the UC Davis central campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Check out the heavy load of pollen on this bumble bee, Bombus vandykei. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Phacelia is a plant that native bees, including this native bumble bee, Bombus vandykei, love. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Saddle bags of pure gold? No, golden pollen carried by the Bombus vandykei. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Meet Big Red, the Flameskimmer
Big Red visited us for four consecutive days. The red flameskimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata,...
A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, perches on a bamboo stake. Note the nesting earwigs and bees in the split stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, sparkles in the sun. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Helicopter? No, a red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, glimmering in the sunlight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A flameskimmer,Libellula saturata, in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)