In Memory of the Monarch
Del Rio is on the migration route of the Monarch and typically arrive in mid March and mid October. They were very scarce in 2012 and 2013 and we have not seen them in 2014. This capture was taken in 2010. Their lava depend on milkweed as their primary food source and chemical deweeding has virtually eliminated most of the milkweed in Texas. The adults have other food sources but the absence of milkweed plant is thought to be the primary reason for their declining number and their absence. On Aug 14, 2014 the Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Food Safety filed a legal petition requesting Endangered Species Act protection for the monarch and its habitat.
© Emile Abbott
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Emile Abbott. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the express, written permission of the photographer.