Posts Tagged: Fourth of July
Independence Day and a Monarch
We call it the Fourth of July or Independence Day. Our 13 American colonies rose up against the monarch of Great Britain, King George III, and declared themselves free and independent. This weekend, no thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, we won't celebrate with fireworks, parades, picnics,...
A monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, eclosed today (July 3) and is drying its wings on Hot Lips salvia, Salvia microphylla. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue!
It's the Fourth of July, and amid our celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago on July 4, 1776 and our glorious nation, we celebrate the red, white and blue--the colors of our flag. But in the insect world, we can also celebrate the red, white and blue: The...
The red: The firecracker red flameskimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The white: the cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The blue: The blue spots in the tail of the Western tiger swallowtail, Papilio rutulus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Happy Independence Day!
Today we celebrate the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day. History books tell us that on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring the 13 colonies a new nation and no longer part of the British Empire. In the insect world--specifically...
A newly eclosed female monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, touches down on an American flag. Another star. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Hurray for the Red, White and Blue!
Hurray for the red, white and blue! One more day until we celebrate the birth of our country, Independence Day, and the patriotic colors will be out in force. Insects, also, can be red, white and blue. Take the red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata). The male is firecracker...
"Red" is for the red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey).
"White" is for the cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae. It's a pest, but its colors are appropriate on Independence Day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
"Blue" is for Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon) butterfly. It's as blue as the starry background on the American flag. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue!
It's the Fourth of July--a time to celebrate our nation's Independence Day. Hurrah for the red, white and blue! That also covers red, white and blue pollen collected by our honey bees. If you look closely, you'll see their "patriotic" colors. "The importance of pollen to the health and vigor of...
Honey bee packing red pollen from a rock purslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of white pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Blue pollen from a bird's eye blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)