Stephen Messenger
Science / Natural Sciences
November 4, 2012
_PaulS_/CC BY 2.0
Every year around this time, thousands of Monarch butterflies begin to emerge from their cocoons and gather en masse in South Texas, storing up energy for their seasonal migration into central Mexico. But sadly, some late-bloomers never make it there in time to beat the winter chill.
In late September, butterfly enthusiast Maraleen Manos-Jones discovered a Monarch caterpillar forming a cocoon in her backyard in New York state. Knowing full well that the fragile insect, once emerged, would not survive the trip south in the dropping Fall temperatures, she brought the cocoon inside.
Several weeks later, when the butterfly’s transformation was complete, a remarkable idea was hatched as well — one that would give that insect a fighting chance at life.
Instead of releasing the insect to fly the treacherous journey to join its kind in Texas, Maraleen decided to procure it a ride. So she contacted Southwest Airlines, and asked for their help.
”The whole idea came to me slowly and organically,” said Maraleen on the blog of the Texas Butterfly Ranch. “There were many phone calls.”
Related articles
- Cold snaps trigger Monarch butterfly migrations (science.nbcnews.com)
- Monarch Butterflies in Decline Due to Proliferation of GM Crops (pakalertpress.com)
- Research shows that coldness triggers northward flight in migrating monarch butterflies (eurekalert.org)
- Climate Change May Disrupt Monarch Butterfly Migration (scientificamerican.com)
- Coldness triggers northward flight in monarch butterflies: Migration cycle may be vulnerable to global climate change (sciencedaily.com)
- Monarch butterfly problems ease, but not over (4writersandreaders.com)
- Butterfly – Monarch (ajaytao2010.wordpress.com)
- Coldness triggers northward flight in migrating monarch butterflies, study shows (phys.org)
That’s like a little ‘Thank God’ right? In the devastation of your blog – which is so informative, this seems so…
,
Thanks again! ( I read all the other bad news stories too, but these keep me hangin’ in )
Awwwww, I’m sorry but our world is being turned upside down and people need to know. I feel guilty sometimes that there is so much bad news and not enough good. So I try to find and sign up for newsletters of positive messages so I can post a ray of sunshine amongst all this darkness once in a while. Yes it is a “Thank God”, we must be grateful for even the bad things that happen because those serve to make us stronger and better beings. It also helps us to appreciate the good so much more 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it
I clamor for the little big of humanity out there. I do. I have been enlightened over the last few years and I am really suffering with these people, even in absentia. And I know your blog is important. I am trying to hard to be positive because people say ‘stop being paranoid’ – and then I read your blog…and the news..and I say, ‘why don’t you read the news’?
😦
Well, when I first became aware I remember I spent quite a bit of time crying for the innocents that would suffer. Then I became angry at the vile apathy that has gripped the heart of so many. The realization came to me , however, that all my tears and all my anger would not accomplish a thing. If those of us who are aware and see what is happening around us then we must speak what we know and what we see. If we wake up just one person and that person goes on to wake up another we set off a chain reaction that cannot be stopped.
I have been called crazy and a fear monger, but you know the people who mocked me in the beginning are now asking me my opinion on what they see happening. They now come to me and say how did you know ? That is all I need . To know that in my effort I have awoken or stirred a spark inside just one person then I have done my job. The next step is to awaken their passions and their compassion 🙂
To ignore is not an option. Yes being positive is good. But hiding your head in the sand helps no one. One can be positive and know the truth. Garnering strength from the knowledge that we are all in this together and together we will succeed. There is positive and there is selfishness. To ignore all the suffering is to make oneself feel better. To acknowledge the pain and try to make a difference is the only way this battle can be won.
Welcome to the Battle Carmen! 😀
I look forward to getting to know you! I appreciate people with your concern.Without people like you, it makes the nightmare worse – like no one is acknowledging a reality – a true nightmare in itself.
Like you I am obsessed with helping convince these lemmings we need to work together nicely to get something done. Attitude is everything – and more. It wont be done ‘for us’ but by us. much appreciation and thank you! Carmen
My favorite quote “Be The Change You Wish To See In The World”
Strength is not found at the end of the barrel of a gun but rather in the quiet resolve that we hold in our hearts. Our bodies may be fragile, but the spirit of a human being has strength beyond measure and when we come together in our resolve there is nothing we cannot accomplish. That does not mean that when necessary we not stand and fight for what we believe to be right. However, we must come together first. 😉
Reblogged this on #BattleOfOurTimes.Com.