A while back, when I posted the sandhill crane family photo album, I promised to share the adventure my brother and I have come to know as The Great Monarch Relocation Project. I'm slow at getting around to things, sometimes, but I do try to keep my promises!
We have a big field that gets planted with various crops to feed the wildlife every spring and fall, but there are always milkweed plants that take root during the spring and summer months and with them come all sorts of interesting creatures.
Some of them can be chased away from their nectar feasts to go hang out in the other milkweed patches that remain undisturbed all year. This congregation of little moths is one example (I wasn't able to identify who these little guys are - I'm still learning to use my moth book!).
Or the iridescent gold and green Dogbane Beetles that are impossible to capture adequately in a photograph. The spectrum of metallic colors glowing on their wings and carapace is amazing. When the sun hits them just right, they shimmer and glow.
This Clymene moth, with the bold, black cross on its yellow wings is another striking creature that can fly off and fend for itself.
Milkweed Tiger Moths, though rather unassuming in their adult stage, can also sail to safety out of the cultivated area.
The difficulty is that there are others who can't so easily escape the ravages of mowing, discing and planting. The young caterpillars, eggs and chrysalises of all the various winged beauties are helpless.
Even this Walking Stick, though it's an impressive adult, would be hard pressed to make it out of the path of oncoming farm equipment!
So, we have the great relocation project, which is primarily to save the monarch butterflies, but we like to keep the general carnage to a minimum!
To be continued... :)
