Monarch Butterfly, by Regina Geoghan.

Regina Geoghan, a friend of this blog, has a dandy column on wildnewjersey.tv, about the importance of butterflies. Here’s a sample:

“They are much more than just a pretty face put on this earth to bring us joy when we see them in flight.

“More than 100 crops are dependent upon pollination to produce the food that we eat and it is estimated that 80 percent of them are pollinated by insects.

“While bees are the most efficient and productive pollinators, butterflies are also at the top of the list in terms of their contribution to the health of our environment and our food supply.”

The link is here. (Thanks, Regina!)

Haven’t posted much from Mill Creek marsh of late, so thought I’d share this recent photo by Mickey and Elaine Raine. (Thanks, Elaine and Mickey!)

Cicada Killers are big, awesome wasps that you just have to admire– unless, of course, you happen to be a Cicada.  These wasps are harmless to humans, so no worries.

The wasp above was photographed on our lunch hour, just past the Transco Trail in the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve.

The Cicada Killer stings a Cicada and paralyzes it, brings it to a burrow she has dug, and lays an egg on it. After the egg hatches, the larva feeds off the Cicada. Good times.

More on Cicada Killers here.

Roy Woodford photographed this Red-spotted Purple on Thursday by Jill’s Garden. This is the second recorded sighting of this butterfly here. (Thanks, Roy!)

For the 19th day in a row, the American White Pelican was seen this morning on the Saw Mill mudflats.  Spotting scope highly recommended.

Joe Koscielny took this shot last Sunday. (Thanks, Joe!)

Don Torino’s latest column for wildnewjersey.tv is about which field guide is the best.

We totally agree with his choice.

The link is here.

Does this mean it’s a Quotation Mark?

Either way, it’s punctual.

Just can’t beat some good old-fashioned butterfly humor.

In honor of Butterfly Day this Sunday.