Tag Archives: Mexican border

What’s Our Huge Mission, Texas Monarch Doing?

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Filed under Monarch, National Butterfly Center, Mission, TX

Mating Monarchs on Milkweed photographed by Jeff Zablow at the National Butterfly Center, Mission, TX

Most of you are experienced butterfly photographers. Some of you are folks who have excellent taste and superior interests. All of you know what’s worthwhile.

This Monarch was met in the perennial flower beds of the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas. We’re here less than 2 miles from the ever famous Mexican border wall. Command our male Monarch in English or Mexican Spanish? I’m not sure which he will prefer.

I ask you, what is extra special about this image? What is this male doing? Why is he doing this?

Jeff

The Largest Monarchs?

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Filed under Flowers Loved by Butterflies, Monarch, National Butterfly Center, Mission, TX, Native Plants and Flowers, Wildflowers

Monarch Butterflies Coupled photographed by Jeff Zablow at the National Butterfly Center, Mission, TX

We were in the perennial beds of the National Butterfly Center near the border wall. It was seriously hot: Mexican border hot, there in Mission, Texas.

The female Monarch butterfly flew in to Asclepias (milkweed). She was the largest Monarch I’ve ever seen. Make that the largest of what, 8,000 monarchs? Before I could make my patented approach, Whamo! this brute of a male Monarch landed on that same Asclepias. They communicated briefly, and then as fast as you can say ‘Howdy Doody’ they were coupled together in this embrace.

He is closest to you, she can be seen below him. Both were very, very large Monarchs. The Land of the Monarch giants!!

Jeff