In my eagerness to learn more about butterflies, I headed out to the wild fields by the Don River.

Monarchs belong to the Danaidae or Milkweed Family butterflies. Because the caterpillars feed on toxic milkweeds, the adult butterflies are distasteful to birds.

Monarchs are the only butterflies that annually migrate both north and south as birds do. No single individual makes the entire round-trip journey.

Red Soldier Beetles feed mainly on pollen and nectar.

These beetles are very common in Europe and were introduced into North America.

The adults, which are active between the months of June and August, spend much of their short lives mating and can often be seen in pairs.

Other flying creatures:

Thank-you to Ken Sproule for his assistance in identification.

Some botany:

NATURE POETRY

Black bees on the clover-heads drowsily clinging,
Where tall, feathered grasses and buttercups sway,
And all through the fields a white sprinkle of daisies,
Open-eyed at the setting of day.    – Abba Gould Woolson (1838–1921)

Miles Hearn