1-1  By:  Wohlgemuth (Senate Sponsor - Sibley)             H.C.R. No. 94
    1-2        (In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 1995;
    1-3  May 15, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on State
    1-4  Affairs; May 24, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote:
    1-5  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 24, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                      HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-7        WHEREAS, The State of Texas has traditionally recognized a
    1-8  variety of official state symbols that embody the proud spirit and
    1-9  rich heritage of our state; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, The bluebonnet, the Guadalupe bass, and the
   1-11  mockingbird are examples of natural specimens that serve to
   1-12  symbolize the great diversity of the Texas landscape, while the
   1-13  state dish, chili, fittingly represents another aspect of our
   1-14  shared culture as Texans; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, In keeping with this custom, the designation of the
   1-16  monarch butterfly as the official State Insect of Texas will
   1-17  provide suitable recognition for this regal inhabitant of the Lone
   1-18  Star State; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, The monarch butterfly, known to scientists as Danaus
   1-20  plexippus, is a familiar and thrilling sight to Texans who play
   1-21  host to this beautiful insect each year as it travels southward
   1-22  toward the equator; its distinctive rust-colored wings, marked by
   1-23  black veins and two rows of white spots, make the monarch butterfly
   1-24  instantly recognizable to all; and
   1-25        WHEREAS, This stately creature is also renowned for its
   1-26  unique ability to evade predators; its main source of nourishment,
   1-27  the milkweed plant, contains a form of poison that makes the
   1-28  monarch butterfly unpalatable to birds and other hungry critters;
   1-29  and
   1-30        WHEREAS, Like Texas, the monarch butterfly has inspired
   1-31  imitators but remains in a league all its own; the viceroy
   1-32  butterfly, whose wings closely resemble those of the monarch,
   1-33  manages to avoid being eaten by relying on the reputation of its
   1-34  more deadly cousin; and
   1-35        WHEREAS, One of the heartiest and most resolute members of
   1-36  the insect kingdom, the monarch butterfly migrates nearly 2,000
   1-37  miles southward each year in its quest to find a warmer home for
   1-38  the winter, descending on the State of Texas for one last rest and
   1-39  feeding before it embarks on the final leg of its journey to the
   1-40  mountains of Mexico; and
   1-41        WHEREAS, The Lone Star State also holds the distinction of
   1-42  being the birthplace of this imperial insect; each spring the skies
   1-43  over Texas are filled with excitement and color as many thousands
   1-44  of these tiny creatures return to the site of their own nativity to
   1-45  give birth to a new generation; and
   1-46        WHEREAS, Recognizing this butterfly's great affinity for our
   1-47  state, the National Monarch Project has designated the Abilene
   1-48  Zoological Gardens as the first official sanctuary along the
   1-49  eastern migration path, and Texans everywhere can take immense
   1-50  pride in the special tie that we share with this magnificent
   1-51  creature; and
   1-52        WHEREAS, The monarch butterfly is as beautiful and memorable
   1-53  as a Texas sunset, soaring above all other insects in its nobility
   1-54  and determination, and its unique relationship with Texas makes it
   1-55  a truly appropriate symbol of the majestic spirit of the Lone Star
   1-56  State; now, therefore, be it
   1-57        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-58  hereby designate the monarch butterfly as the official State Insect
   1-59  of Texas.
   1-60                               * * * * *