"This was New York City after all. But this narrow patch of green was full of life of what you might call nature. Furry bumblebees hovered around clusters of shaggy white flowers. Iridescent flies appeared and then disappeared, like flecks of glitter briefly catching the light. And on the underside of a few leaves were the unmistakable pinhead-sized eggs of a monarch butterfly, which look like tiny lemon candies."
"Cities like New York are obviously not known for their wildlife. You won't find wolves or jaguars or other charismatic megafauna strolling the streets or hunting in big city parks. But if you know what to look for and take a moment to observe your surroundings, you can find interesting and even rare animal species everywhere. I recently learned, for example, that NYC has more than 200 species of native bees, including the Gotham sweat bee a species that scientists first discovered in the city."
Urban patches of plants can host surprising biodiversity amid traffic and city smells. Narrow strips of greenery in Central Brooklyn supported bumblebees, iridescent flies, and monarch eggs on the undersides of leaves. New York City contains more than 200 species of native bees, including the Gotham sweat bee first discovered in the city. Monarch butterflies appear in the city during summer and early fall despite nationwide population declines. The monarch population decline prompted a proposed Endangered Species Act listing, while small urban plantings continue to provide habitat for imperiled insects.
Read at www.vox.com
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