UC Gardening Blogs

Are Western Monarchs Heading for Extinction?

Are western monarch butterflies heading for extinction? A Sept. 7 article in Reuters, headlined...

A male monarch takes flight on Sept. 12 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch takes flight on Sept. 12 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch heads for another flower on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch heads for another flower on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Startled, a male monarch abruptly leaves a tropical milkweed blossom, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Startled, a male monarch abruptly leaves a tropical milkweed blossom, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Bright Face in the Garden: Banded Argiope

We have bright faces in our Vacaville, Calif., pollinator garden. The bright faces are usually...

A banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata, stretches out near its wrapped bee in a Vacaville, Calif. pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata, stretches out near its wrapped bee in a Vacaville, Calif. pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

See the freeloader fly, family Milichiidae, feasting on the wrapped bee? Below it: the banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

See the freeloader fly, family Milichiidae, feasting on the wrapped bee? Below it: the banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata. Argiope is Latin for “with bright face” while trifasciata is Latin for “three-banded.” (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata. Argiope is Latin for “with bright face” while trifasciata is Latin for “three-banded.” (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

What's that Sticky Stuff on my Car?

It's hot outside, so like a lot of people, you try to park your car under a tree in parking lots...

The Day a Widow Skimmer Came Calling

Just as all lady bugs aren't ladies, all widow skimmer dragonflies aren't female. A mature male...

A mature male Libellula luctuosa, aka “Widow Skimmer," perches on a bamboo stake in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A mature male Libellula luctuosa, aka “Widow Skimmer," perches on a bamboo stake in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A strong gust of wind pushed the widow skimmer's wings below its body. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A strong gust of wind pushed the widow skimmer's wings below its body. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of mature male Libellula luctuosa, aka “Widow Skimmer." This one was recently mated. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of mature male Libellula luctuosa, aka “Widow Skimmer." This one was recently mated.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Exploring the Wonders of Insects--With a UC Davis Aboretum Talk and Tour

If you want to learn about insects, join entomologists Joel Hernandez and Melissa Cruz for their...

Entomologist Joel Hernandez led a butterfly tour last year at the UC Davis Arboretum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Entomologist Joel Hernandez led a butterfly tour last year at the UC Davis Arboretum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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