At the base of the flower on this desert milkweed, hundreds of tiny, tear-drop-shaped yellow aphids convene. We usually see them in August, not mid-October.

Desert marigolds strain toward the sun at an angle (to the left) of this photo. One little insect in the center of this bright yellow flower cluster.

These emerging grasshoppers are TINY - not even thumbnail sized. This one is lime green and cute as a button.

The camouflage on these tiny grasshoppers (this one pinkie nail sized) is incredible. This one is a rust-brown color with brown spots and it blends RIGHT in with the rocks.

Continued from yesterday... Our very late #monsoonal activity has brought blooms and #insects 2 months later than usual.

Desert #milkweed with oh-so-many #aphids; desert #marigolds; two more #grasshoppers (help with ID, #entomologists?)

Fairy duster grows in the Sonoran Desert, featruing red (and rose) little feather-duster blooms.

Desert tobacco is a tubular white flower that hummingbirds visit. It is my understanding that indigenous groups smoked this plant - hence its name.

This torpedo-shaped grasshopper is striped brown and cream, and is ultra long. Blends RIGHT in with rocks.

Another grasshopper that blends right in: yello with little spots - freaking adorable little face.

Our very late #monsoonal activity has brought blooms and #insects 2 months later than usual. #FairyDuster and #DesertTobacco blooming, and two fabulous #grasshoppers (ID help, please, #entomologists?) More tomorrow!

Monsoonal Moisture Fuels Storms Across the Western and Central U.S. Extreme heat and fire weather persist in the Northwest, while a surge of monsoonal moisture continues to drive widespread thunderstorms.

#Monsoonal moisture is fueling widespread thunderstorms across the Western and Central #US 💦 while the Northwest continues to bake under extreme #heat and face fire weather risks.🌡️

Jenniffer Guerra has the forecast.🔽
www.theweather.com/news/forecas...

Monsoonal Flooding, Flash Floods, and Extreme Heat Sweep Midwest and West: What to Watch This Week Monsoonal storms bring flood and flash flood threats to the Midwest and West, while dangerous heat grips the Northwest through August 27, NWS warns.

💦Flood and flash flood warnings stretch from #California to the Plains as #monsoonal storms & heavy rain hit the Midwest & West this week. 🌧️

➡️Meanwhile, dangerous #heat continues to grip much of the region.🌡️

Khiana McQuade has the forecast.⏬
www.theweather.com/news/forecas...

The 2025 monsoon is such a droughty tease. The shade she provided this morning is a double entendre, I'm afraid.
:
#monsoonal
#monzónico

The major uplift in Himalayas was no earlier than the Miocene: Evidence from marine sediment record in the Bay of Bengal The timing of tectonic uplift in the Himalayan orogen, the highest mountain range on the Earth, remains controversial due to a lack of long-term conti…

#WeekendReading: Song et al. with an interesting argument - The uplift of the #Himalayas started in earnest only in the #Miocene (more or less with #Mediterranean decupling and #Monsoonal intensification... but they aren't really talking about that).
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Hard to appreciate #TC #Meari's huge convective size until viewing full globe #Himawari loop. Size result of active #WPAC #Monsoonal #Trough