Aspen Ridge weeds cut on northeast "phase one" just in time to keep migrating monarch butterflies from benefiting from aster pilosus

PLEASE CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Top yellow and black fat little bee (left) and wasp (right)
2nd hanging monarch with both wing tips bent
3rd insect awaiting identification
4th wasp on asters
5th common honeybee
6th monarch with tree-protection fence in background
All photos show pollinators nectaring on various species of so-called "heather or heath asters or frost asters." The most common may be aster pilosus.

Someone mowed or used weedeaters last week to cut down the "weeds" growing on nearly half of the Aspen Ridge property, the part visible from Sixth Street and from Hill Avenue. The work was continuing Wednesday. Ironically, nothing has been done to correct the numerous stormwater violations on the property, but the opposite is occurring. Removal of living vegetation will actually increase siltation of the Town Branch of the West Fork of the White River when it rains. So much for Fayetteville's sustainability effort.

The weed-eating saved the eastern part of the 30-acre construction site from providing any nectaring for migrating monarch butterflies, possibly the only significant role the land could play in its current condition. The southwestern portion, on the west side of the Town Branch of the White River, however, didn't get trimmed yet; therefore, the monarchs and several other species of butterflies, moths, bees, wasps and other pollinators were active all weekend and some remained after the passing of the rain storm early in the week.

While the majority of species of grass and native plants were all removed with the deep, rich topsoil and won't be returning, a great many species that tolerate dry, less fertile soil have appeared.

Among the most valuable to the monarchs are a few species that monarchs were nectaring from on World Peace Wetland Prairie south of Aspen Ridge. Monarchs cannot reproduce without milkweed, of course, but they can feed on a variety of flowers. Their caterpillars cannot grow and eventually go through the process of metamorphosis to become butterflies except by eating the leaves of the various species of milkweed.