Master Gardeners of Ventura County
University of California
Master Gardeners of Ventura County

Posts Tagged: monarchs and milkweed

What's Happening with Our Western Monarchs?

"A count of the Western monarch butterfly population last winter saw a staggering drop in numbers, but there are hopeful signs the beautiful pollinators are adapting to a changing climate and ecology." "The population, counted by citizen scientists at...

A monarch nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in October, 2021 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in October, 2021 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in October, 2021 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch caterpillar feasting on tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. in the summer of 2020. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch caterpillar feasting on tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. in the summer of 2020. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch caterpillar feasting on tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. in the summer of 2020. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Friday, November 5, 2021 at 2:12 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources

High Honor for Cornell Professor Anurag Agrawal, UC Davis Alumnus

Congratulations to UC Davis doctoral alumnus Anurag Agrawal of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.,  a newly elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). It's one of the highest honors a scientist can receive. Members...

Cornell University Professor Anurag Agrawal collecting data in Ithaca. He is a newly elected member of the National Academy of Sciences. (Courtesy Photo)
Cornell University Professor Anurag Agrawal collecting data in Ithaca. He is a newly elected member of the National Academy of Sciences. (Courtesy Photo)

Cornell University Professor Anurag Agrawal collecting data in Ithaca. He is a newly elected member of the National Academy of Sciences. (Courtesy Photo)

A monarch, Danaus plexippus, foraging on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in Vacaville, Calif. The declining population of monarchs is troubling. Art Shapiro, UC Davis distinguished professor of evolution and ecology, says monarchs are on life support. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch, Danaus plexippus, foraging on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in Vacaville, Calif. The declining population of monarchs is troubling. Art Shapiro, UC Davis distinguished professor of evolution and ecology, says monarchs are on life support. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch, Danaus plexippus, foraging on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in Vacaville, Calif. The declining population of monarchs is troubling. Art Shapiro, UC Davis distinguished professor of evolution and ecology, says monarchs are on life support. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch caterpillar chewing on a stem of narrowleaf milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch caterpillar chewing on a stem of narrowleaf milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch caterpillar chewing on a stem of narrowleaf milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, May 3, 2021 at 4:27 PM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Economic Development, Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources

Honey Bees Do Love That Milkweed

Don't tell the honey bees. They will forage where they want to--whether it's on bee balm, a dandelion or that controversial tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. Just before we cut back the tropical milkweed for the season, the honey bees...

A honey bee nectars on tropical milkweed, while another bee gets ready to join her. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee nectars on tropical milkweed, while another bee gets ready to join her. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee nectars on tropical milkweed, while another bee gets ready to join her. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

These two honey bees can't get enough of this tropical milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
These two honey bees can't get enough of this tropical milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

These two honey bees can't get enough of this tropical milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bees and tropical milkweed blossoms make for a pretty image. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bees and tropical milkweed blossoms make for a pretty image. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bees and tropical milkweed blossoms make for a pretty image. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 5:32 PM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

What Are Those Red and Black Bugs on Milkweed?

Got milkweed? Then you probably have milkweed bugs. All summer and into fall, we spotted the familiar reddish, black and white bugs scurrying around on our showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa, and tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. Showy bugs on...

Yule ornaments? No, just milkweed bugs about to reproduce. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Yule ornaments? No, just milkweed bugs about to reproduce. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Yule ornaments? No, just milkweed bugs about to reproduce. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the Small Milkweed Bug, Lygaeus kalmii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of the Small Milkweed Bug, Lygaeus kalmii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the Small Milkweed Bug, Lygaeus kalmii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Seed pod of the showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. (Photo by  Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Seed pod of the showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Seed pod of the showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A milkweed bug and a buffet of seeds from the showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A milkweed bug and a buffet of seeds from the showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A milkweed bug and a buffet of seeds from the showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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