Crew plans to tag along when butterflies migrate to Mexico
The annual arrival of millions of Monarch butterflies from the forests of eastern Canada to the central Mexican mountains for the winter is an aesthetic and scientific wonder. And this year, they won’t be flying alone.
A crew plans to accompany the butterflies on their 3,415-mile-journey while riding in an oversized hang-glider painted with giant versions of the orange, black and white wings of the Monarch.
Their aim is to raise awareness for the need to better conserve the Monarchs’ fragile habitats. Illegal logging is thinning and toppling the fir forests west of Mexico City that protect the butterflies from rain and cold.
Mexican pilot Francisco (Vico) Gutierrez and a crew, including other pilots from Canada, the United States and Mexico, plan to leave Quebec on Aug. 15 for the trip. The journey should produce a documentary, and a photographer or cameraman will accompany Gutierrez or other pilots on board, while the rest follows in a van.
“I’m really content, really excited,” Gutierrez said.
More: freep.com
More monarch butterflies may go to Mexico
As many as 200 million Monarch butterflies may migrate to Mexico this year a nearly tenfold increase over 2004, when unfavourable weather, pollution and deforestation caused a drastic decline in the population, environmental officials said on Tuesday.
Last year, fewer than 23 million butterflies survived long enough to leave habitats in the United States and Canada for sanctuaries in the state of Mexico, which borders Mexico City, and neighbouring Michoacan state. That was at least 75 per cent lower than expected, but should usher in a Monarch resurgence this year, officials said.
After especially cold weather
Mexico targets loggers in battle over butterflies
With assault rifles over their shoulders and body armor strapped to their chests, Roberto Paleo and his 17 officers are among the world's most heavily armed park rangers. Yet they guard one of nature's most delicate creatures -- the monarch butterfly.
The rangers say they need the weapons to protect the winter nesting grounds of millions of orange and black winged butterflies from armed gangs of illegal loggers in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.
The monarchs are not listed as endangered, but scientists say deforestation could threaten their existence.
Although a single butterfly can spend its
Mexico ready for butterfly invasion
As many as 200 million monarch butterflies may migrate to Mexico this year -- a nearly tenfold increase over 2004, when unfavorable weather, pollution and deforestation caused a drastic decline in the population, environmental officials said Tuesday.
Last year, fewer than 23 million butterflies survived long enough to leave habitats in the United States and Canada for sanctuaries in the state of Mexico, which borders Mexico City, and neighboring Michoacan state.
That was at least 75 percent lower than expected, but should usher in a monarch resurgence this year, officials said.
Draws 200,000 tourists
"In the past, very low
Migrating butterflies linger on way to Mexico
Monarch butterflies are flapping their way through Missouri this fall, heading south for the winter. But while scientists say Missouri has probably seen the peak migration for this season, the little voyagers seem to be sticking around a bit longer.
“Most of the migration is over in this area by the fourth of October, but there are unusually large numbers of late monarchs this year due to the warm weather and the strong winds from the southwest,†said Chip Taylor, an entomologist with the University of Kansas research program Monarch Watch.
From Canada to Mexico,
Mexico sees bigger butterfly migration this year
Wildlife officials say good weather should bring a surge in the number of monarch butterflies migrating to Mexico this year, after last year's cold resulted in the lowest numbers in more than a decade.
Each fall tens of millions of the bright orange and black butterflies begin arriving in central Mexico's Michoacan state to winter in the fir trees after a 3,000-mile (4,800-km) trek from Canada that fascinates biologists.
At El Rosario reserve, one of five butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico, officials expect the insects to occupy far more forest this year than the 2.2 hectares (5.4
Volkswagen plans to build new model at Mexico plant
Volkswagen AG, Europe's largest car maker, plans to build a new stationwagon in Mexico from the end of 2006, but with output planned at below capacity, the vehicle will not require a new plant.
Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, VW's (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) global head of purchasing, said on Tuesday that Volkswagen had selected Mexico to be the sole producer of the Jetta stationwagon, known in Europe as the Golf stationwagon.
Otto Lindner, chairman of Volkswagen Mexico, said the plans for the new vehicle were part of the company's previously stated $2
Arena Plays Coy With U.S. Roster Against Mexico
The U.S. national team had a light workout yesterday in Columbus, Ohio, in preparation for its World Cup qualifying match Saturday with Mexico -- although team officials didn't release a roster for the game.
Coach Bruce Arena joked that he wanted to release the list of those on the team, but it was being delayed by media officers.
Asked if this was an added degree of gamesmanship, he said: "There's no point in releasing our roster when we have to get through games. We have players playing today. Once we get everyone through their games,
Insurance plans send patients to Mexico
A more cost-effective health care plan for southern California's Latino workers has employees going south of the border to see a doctor.
Insurance companies say about 160,000 workers visit doctors in Mexico to take advantage of the low premiums and co-pays, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Some executives as well as farmers, service industry employees and municipal employees in San Diego and Imperial counties are enrolled in the insurance plans.
Although conditions aren't as pristine as major U.S. hospitals, patients have voiced little complaint and have reported doctors spend more time with them.
They also like to be
Doctor visits outsourced to Mexico
There are world-class hospitals in San Diego, not far from where Luis Gonzales lives. But when he or a member of his family needs routine health services, they drive 50 miles south to a clinic in Tijuana.
The Gonzaleses are members of a Blue Shield of California HMO that provides all of the family's nonemergency care in Mexico. They are among 20,000 California workers and their dependents in health plans that cost 40 to 50 percent less than comparable care in the United States because the doctor's visits are outsourced south of the border.
With health-care costs
Ca. health plans send patients to Mexico
A trip to the doctor means a trip across the border for thousands of California workers and their dependents.
They are enrolled in health plans like Blue Shield of California HMO that cost up to 50 percent less than other plans because the doctor's visits are outsourced to Mexico, the Washington Post reported.
California is the only state to regulate insurance programs that require border crossing for basic health care.
More than 700 non-agricultural businesses in California offer plans requiring treatment in Mexico. Hundreds of farms offer similar coverage for about 120,000 migrant laborers.
Texas physicians successfully fought
