News & Information
December 7, 2024 Monarch Butterflies...Unique Down to their Wing Design
The iconic colors of the monarch butterfly
The monarch butterfly is unique among the many members of the Order: lepidoptera which is Greek for "scaled wing". Under the classification of lepidoptera there are more than 180,000 species of butterflies, moths and skippers. In addition to the unique migration of the monarch, the structure of their wings is also unique. All butterflies and months have overlapping microscopic scales and most have a single base (pedicel) that attaches each scale to the insect's body, monarch' scales however are different.
Wing scales perform several important functions. Scales are hollow and provide insulation to the abdomen of the butterfly. Overlapping scales create wing mass which helps create lift when monarchs fly and absorb heat energy as monarchs are cold blooded insects. Scales repel moisture thus preventing exposure, especially important during the fall migration when temperatures can drop below their flying temperature of 55 F.
Most moth and butterflies have somewhat fragile wings consisting of what appears to be powder when touched. Some speculate this is to assist the defenseless insect when attacked. The powder is also thought to reduces wind friction when flying reducing energy consumption.
Scales also provide butterflies, including the monarch coloring. The orange, white and black coloring of the monarch are from pigmentation within each scale. Each scale absorbs different wavelengths of light, and our eyes see those wavelengths as colors. In the case of the monarch, we, as well as predators, see colors of orange, black and white - common warning colors in nature.
Extra strength at the attachment site of each scale to the body of the monarch help researchers and enthusiasts hold the monarch butterfly wings when tagging for the fall migration. Careful and proper finger positioning of a monarch handler will not harm the wing nor result in any loss of scales. Tagging is performed to evaluate the health and status of migratory monarchs.
Research has shown that larger and darker colored winged monarchs are more successful in reaching overwintering forests in south-central Mexico. (A. Davis). Larger wings provide more lift from thermal winds during migration and result in less energy used by fewer wing strokes. The darker colored scales absorb more ultraviolet rays and heat energy assisting the monarch in cloudy cooler conditions.
Proper handling of a monarch
Under magnification the details of monarch wing is fascinating. Organized in a manner that resembles fish scales or shingles on a roof each microscopic scale performs so many functions to enable the monarch to fly greater distances.
Like an aircraft, aerodynamics improves efficiency. Nature has designed different shapes and angles by which theyy are attached to the wing to improve lift when taking off by reducing drag during flying. Research found that removing 9.5% of a monarch's weight by removing scales resulted in a 32% loss of flight climbing ability and energy loss. The results reinforce how important the number and placement of the scales are to the monarch butterfly.
November 19, 2024 Do Monarch Butterflies See in Color? Can they Learn Color & Nectar Preference?
The Journal of Experimental Biology
Objective
Researchers set out to see if monarch butterflies could see in color, much like we do, and if this assisted them in finding preferred flowering plants.
Methods
There were two trials. The first trial exposed monarch butterflies to six colors (red, blue, orange, yellow, green and violet.) Butterflies were kept from feeding for 2 days and then given a 20% sucrose solution to stimulate feeding. Monarchs were release one at a time in a controlled environment to see which color flower they fed on for 5 seconds. The second trial used just 3 colors (yellow, red, blue) to evaluate various wavelengths and their association with a nectar reward. The study was conducted over 8 days and the evaluations were done once a day. To test whether monarch butterflies can learn researchers placed honey in several colors and plain water in others. Colored wavelengths were used to present colors. Orange and yellow flowers were initially offered a honey reward while blue and violet only water. The honey reward was then reversed to determine if the butterflies could learn to switch colors for a nectar reward.
Conclusion
"Monarch butterflies demonstrated a broad visual spectrum of color and learn colors rapidly and reversibly. " Reference
Findings of this study are significant. Monarch's ability to see in color and learn which flowers provide the most nutritious nectar may play a role in successful migration. Using color vision may improve energy efficiency and therefore improve survival chances. As flowers fade with age their wavelengths will also change. Since older flowers yield less nectar, monarchs may not expend energy on flower colors that offer less reward.
November 19, 2024 Where Your Monarch Butterfly is Today
The 2024 fall migratory monarch butterfly population, including the ones you might have seen in your property, are now in south-central Mexico until next March. True to their nature of being a tropical insect, the migratory monarch (Danaus plexippus plexippus) has migrated to live in the narrow range of afternoon high and evening low temperature requirements. This narrow latitude includes Mexico's monarch butterfly reserve. (right)
Mexico's monarch sanctuaries provide temperatures just warm enough to allow hibernating monarchs to fly from their oyamel fir trees and hydrate from nearby streams. Monarch butterflies cannot fly at temperatures below 55 F. Overnight low temperatures are cool enough to slow monarch metabolism thus allowing them to conserve energy. Monarchs store their entire winter's energy from nectar obtained from their migration, particularly through Texas.
Source: msn.com
All eastern migratory monarch butterflies congregate in south-central Mexico
Energy conservation is critical for the lucky monarch butterfly's that have made it to their overwintering roosting sites. Monarchs arrive at the mountains of Mexico in November. The mountainous areas where monarch congregate have little or no flowering plants to provide nectar. All the energy (food) monarchs need to survive during the five months of pseudo hibernation (diapause) is stored in their abdomen in the form of lipids or fat storage.
Conditions in the monarch butterfly preserve are normally consistent with just the right temperature and rainfall to meet monarch needs...most of the time.
Source: weather.com
Source: weather.com
The overwintering conditions in the mountains of Mexico can turn deadly. In 2016, a rare late March ice storm downed trees and froze up to 7.4% or 6.2 million of that year's entire monarch population. An estimated 133 acres of fir trees were lost. Adding to the monarch's survival challenges, drought claimed 16 acres of the monarch overwintering habitat the same year. The fir trees protect monarchs from precipitation and cold by the design of the needles of the oyamel trees.
Scroll down to the October 27th article to learn how conservationists are trying to combat climate change and illegal logging to re-establish new monarch overwintering roosts.
November 18, 2024 Research Paper Overview: Characteristics of Urban Milkweed Gardens...
Characteristic of
Urban Milkweed Gardens
Objective
Researchers studied how to maximize small urban garden spaces to attract monarch butterflies, support monarch health and increase egg and caterpillar production.
Methods
682 small urban gardens were evaluated over a 5-year period. Gardens varied by the number and species of milkweed plants, the number and species blooming plants, and the size of gardens. The study evaluated whether monarch egg production and caterpillar observations were correlated to the size of the garden and or the density of plantings.
Conclusion
Characteristics of the most successful monarch butterfly gardens (egg production) included the presence of common milkweed (A. syriaca), the density and diversity of flowering plants, and the age of the garden. Researchers found that older monarch gardens produced more eggs than first season gardens but even first season gardens resulted in a positive habitat for monarchs.
Butterfly weed (A. tuberosa) was among the top 5 blooming plants supporting nectar sources.
The paper, Characteristics of urban milkweed gardens that influence monarch butterfly egg abundance was published in the journal Frontiers July 31, 2024.
November 1, 2024 Celebrating: The Day of the Dead in Mexico
The monarch butterfly plays a significant role in the annual Mexican tradition, celebration and national holiday called The Day of the Dead (el Dia de los Meurtos).
The Day of the Dead folklore dates back over 3,000 years. (History.com) The tradition begins with the soul of a lost family member's journey through nine postmortem challenges. The living was thought to leave food and drink at the grave of loved ones in anticipation of their return.
Today, the monarch butterfly is recognized as the soul of a lost family member, friend or colleague The Day of the Dead holiday runs from October 31st through November 2nd. The celebration coincides with the migratory monarch butterfly's annual migration from North America through northern Mexico to their overwintering roosts in south-central Mexico. For this reason, the monarch is regarded by many as sacred and a sign of hope, comfort and joy. The return of the monarch butterfly is a pleasant spiritual experience.
Celebrations include festive music, extravagant costumes, parades, makeup, ceremonial candles, and food and drink for of all ages.
The popularity of the celebration increased dramatically when, in 2008, the Day of the Dead was added to Mexico's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In 2013 the U.S. Census Bureau identified 32 million citizens as having full or partial Mexican ancestry heritage. further popularizing the holiday.
The monarch butterfly's spiritual role in the Day of the Dead celebration of retuning souls cannot be overstated One can hope the passion and commitment to the monarch carries over to better protection of monarch butterfly reserves where the monarch's overwintering habitat is threatened..
Day of the Dead traditional celebratory costume
October 30, 2024 Coming Soon...Monarch Butterfly Journal Club !
Our site is pleased to offer a new feature: The Monarch Butterfly Journal Club
Scientists in the field of monarch butterfly anatomy, physiology and behavior periodically publish scientific articles and studies. We will provide highlights of these works to gain a better understanding of this iconic insect including:
Research on the health of monarchs
Guidelines on milkweed (food) and nectar (fuel)
Updates on the population status and survival classification
Monarch conservation efforts locally & nationally
October 27, 2024 Moving The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve? Breaking News,,,
Increased global warming is having a negative and immediate impact on the monarch butterfly population. Drought has reduced milkweed availability and warmer seasons have altered normal migration patterns. Perhaps the most devastating and immediate impact on global warming is the loss of habitat at the monarch butterfly biosphere reserve in the mountains of south-central Mexico.
Monarch butterflies hibernate in a mountainous region where a narrow 9-degree difference between high and low temperatures enable millions of monarchs to conserve energy during their five-month reprieve from colder climates. Global warming is changing traditional hibernation habitat within their reserve and is thought to be contributing to reduced numbers of monarch butterflies.
The Mexican monarch butterfly biosphere resides between 2,800' to 3,500' in elevation and features average annual temperatures between 48F - 57F. Historically this has been the ideal range for monarchs to overwinter. In addition to monarch survival, the oyamel fir tree also need these conditions to survive. This species of fir tree in critical to monarch survival.
Global warming is threatening the habitat conditions at the current monarch reserve to the extent that scientist fear over 96% of the habitat will be lost by 2090. In order to meet the temperature range, precipitation and canopy needs to protect the monarch scientists are creating a new 'goldilocks' zone to meet future monarch butterfly overwintering needs.
How can this be done? Increased Elevation
48.2 F - 57.2 F 3,150'
48.2 F - 57.2 F 3,700'
46.6 miles
Current Monarch Reserve Future Monarch Reserve
Scientists have been calculating the current and future warming trend and how it will impact the monarch butterfly reserve habitat. Warming will not support current monarch roosting at the current elevation. In order to offer the same species of conifer (oyamel fir tree) and specific temperature range for overwintering migratory monarchs, scientists are creating an "assisted range expansion" in a nearby dormant volcanic mountain range. Because temperature decreases as elevation increases the new monarch reserve will need to be 1,640 feet higher in elevation to meet the current reserve 9-degree temperature range. The damage being caused by global warming prompted scientists to proactively plant oyamel fir trees in conditions where they are currently not found in large numbers.
The results of this six-year study were encouraging. The study found a 68% survival rate of monarch's choice of roosting fir trees at higher elevations. The oyamel trees are currently just seedlings however, scientists forecast the trees to be a suitable maturity for monarchs to roost by the year 2060. Findings included important limitations. Oyamel fir trees have a natural habitat upper elevation tolerable limit at 13,100'. Will monarchs find, recognize and utilize new migratory habitat assisted sites if it means an additional flight of 46.6 miles south-east of their current reserve? Why did researchers choose a site so distant? The new site (Nevado de Toluca) was chosen because the 2023 migratory population of monarch butterflies were found to roost at this new location. Experts suggested that monarchs may be searching for newer overwintering habitats that meet conditions of their historical sites.
October 27, 2024 2024 Monarch Butterfly Migration - Heading to the Oyamel Forests
One of this year's migratory monarchs
Monarchs are on the move. The final blooms of late season aster and goldenrod are out of nectar and blooms have turned to seed. Migratory monarch butterflies are flying to their winter retreat in south-central Mexico.
Monarch butterflies are tropical insects. They require specific conditions to live and breed. While some monarch butterflies can survive in the United States, their range is limited to regions where flowering plants are available year-round, such as in Florida. There are two species of monarch butterflies. The specie of monarch butterfly that does not migrate (Danaus plexippus) lives in the deep south. The monarch that does migrate is a sub-specie scientifically named Danaus plexippus plexippus. This monarch is referred to as the migratory monarch butterfly.
Migratory monarchs emerge from their chrysalis in late August from as far away as Nova Scotia, Canada. For millions of years this species of monarch, while still a tropical insect, spend their adult life as far north as southern Canada. The migratory monarch needs to migrate as it cannot survive in cold climates and its food supply dies off after the first frost. To survive, they migrate to south-central Mexico, in some cases, a 3,000-mile flight. In order to survive the journey and then mate upon their return to the U.S. the next spring, nature has extended their normal lifespan of 4 week to 7 months
Monarchs congregate when hibernating in mountainous regions west of Mexico City, Mexico. For monarchs, hibernation is not a true hibernation but what scientists call pseudo-hibernation or diapause. This type of hibernation enables adult overwintering monarchs to fly to nearby streams to hydrate and then return to their roosting fir trees. Monarch butterflies cannot fly in temperatures below 55 F. and require narrow environmental conditions during diapause. Temperatures too warm increase the insect's metabolism and results in an unnecessary burning of stored fat (lipids) while temperatures at or below frost levels will result in mortality.
Charles Darwin's 1859 Origin of Species warned that any organism that required too specific an environment combined with an inability to adapt or evolve with change is destined for extinction. The monarch butterfly is one such organism. Living on only one genus of food source (milkweed) as a caterpillar and hibernating as an adult within a narrow band of temperature and humidity - monarch butterfly survival is threatened. Decreasing food supplies in the form of milkweed for monarch butterfly caterpillar and increasing global temperatures effects on critical overwintering habitat are resulting in not only more trouble for the iconic butterfly but at an accelerating rate.
Dreamstime.com photo
Migratory monarch butterflies roost in a defined region of Mexico. The Mexican government has designated specific protected boundaries where monarchs overwinter. These sites are called Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. The reserve is 2.5miles above sea level in mountainous ranges and home to the famous oyamel fir tree. This tree is of critical importance to the monarch butterfly. As one would expect given monarch's narrow range of survival conditions, the monarch has chosen a fir tree with a limited range of suitable habitat in which it survives. The oyamel fir tree grows in an altitude between 9,200 - 11,500 feet. Lower than this and temperatures and humidity is too low. Above 11,500 feet the oyamel tree is exposed to harsh winter temperatures and climate which includes freezing rain in the depths of winter.
Typically, monarch butterflies are not social or communal. From November through March however they are. Monarchs huddle together by the millions on oyamel trees in the mountains of south-central Mexico, in part to conserve heat energy. The combined weight of roosting monarchs actually bends the normally strong oyamel branches. Experts speculate monarchs have chosen the biosphere reserve region altitude because of what it offers - ideal high/low temperature and access to aquifers for hydration.
As if designed by nature, the oyamel fir tree may be the only species of tree to accommodate millions of monarchs. Monarch's need the fir needle surface area to hang on while roosting. Hundreds of millions of fir needles per tree offer mini perches for resting monarchs.
Increased global warming however of > 1,5 F is negatively affecting monarch survival, including within the monarch biosphere reserve. At the rate and forecast trend of global warming scientists estimate that 96.5% of suitable habitat for the monarch butterflies oyamel fir will be lost. This, combined with other threats to monarchs may accelerate the monarch from the classification of 'vulnerable' to 'endangered'.
Can anything be done to save the habitat of the monarch butterfly biosphere reserve? The plan to do just that was published in the journal Frontiers September 18, 2024.
October 13, 2024 Update: Cape Henlopen State Park Monarch Butterfly Refueling Station
Three months prior to this posting date the Cape Henlopen State Park Monarch Butterfly conservation area did not exist. A vacant lot across the street from bicycle paths would become the state's first migratory monarch butterfly welcome station for millions of monarch butterflies arriving from as far away as Nova Scotia.
Cape Henlopen State Park
Designed as a strategy to provide much needed nectar for monarch butterflies that have flown the entire Delaware Bay without landing, the results are in. Success! While the monarch butterfly conservation area remains in development, the monarchs below could not wait for it to be completed. Curators of the monarch refueling station shared the images below of monarch butterflies heading to Mexico to overwinter taking a much-needed rest to rebuild their energy on seaside goldenrod in the Cape Henlopen State Park. .
First monarch to visit the Cape Henlopen State Park conservatory
Photo by: Jo-Anne Wazlowski
A male monarch nectaring after a flight over the Delaware Bay
Photo by: Jo-Anne Wazlowski
A New England female monarch reaches the refueling station
Photo by: Jo-Anne Wazlowski
A female monarch enjoys seaside
goldenrod nectar before taking flight
Photos by Jo-Anne Wazlowski and lead curator Julie Callahan capture the moment these male and female monarchs were drawn to the abundant and highly nutritious nectar of native seaside goldenrod.
The design team (Julie and I) was fascinated by how quickly monarchs found the reserve and began nectaring. The monarchs more than proved the adage "build it and they will come". As cited in the October 4th, 2024 entry, seaside goldenrod nectar is high octane fuel containing the right balance of proteins, amino acids, sugars and other trace minerals.
The future is bright. The monarch conservation area is designed such that 80% of its plantings will provide late season nectar. The area is only 25% complete and expected to open in 2025. It is remarkable to think the site was a vacant lot 90 days ago and the plants themselves were grown from seeds measuring no more than 1/32" in June! Like any first-year garden feature we will learn a lot and make continuous improvements.
The park region has experienced moderate drought in the last three months and is 75% behind normal rainfall. Unfortunately, this included the time our project first broke ground. The drought has had a negative impact on the plantings by discouraging the development of extensive root systems. This, combined with sandy soil, makes us thankful for the hardiness and the effort put forth by the goldenrod to offer such full blooms (left).
There is much more to come. The monarch station will eventually look and feel like a prairie and be home to many pollinators in addition to the summer season and migratory monarch generations.
Photo by: Jo-Anne Wazlowski
Photo by: Jo-Anne Wazlowski
The good news, despite a very late start and poor growing conditions, we have been able to offer nectar to this year's migrating monarchs. The goal remains to meet the heavy demand for nectar for Cape May, New Jersey's monarch population. Cape May remains the country's most dense population of fall migratory monarchs due to the likelihood that New England monarchs use, in part, the coast as a visual cue to fly south and west. Cape Henlopen State Park's seaside goldenrod offering is the first site of a larger state initiative. With DNREC's (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control) support, coastal Delaware could become known as the 'gold coast' named after the planned abundance of seaside goldenrod adorning its beautiful coast.
The Delaware coast is the first landmass monarchs and other migratory wildlife land on after crossing the Delaware Bay. The Atlantic coast is one of the monarchs few natural 'flyways'. The Delaware Bay is the largest natural barrier to eastern migratory monarch butterflies. The Delaware coast is the first landmass monarchs can land safely. Offering millions of seaside goldenrod blooms late in the fall when the monarchs are migrating will be a key initiative to help the threatened monarch make their epic fall migration a bit easier through the First State.
October 11, 2024 Milkweed in All Shapes & Colors...Even Purple
Purple milkweed or common milkweed imposter ?
Mid October finds most of the eastern monarch butterflies in the first leg of their journey to south-central Mexico to overwinter. The few milkweed leaves remaining collect frost as they begin their winter dormancy. This time of year monarch enthusiasts and gardeners reflect on the 2024 season.
There are over 120 milkweed species in the United States. Gardeners review the offering they planted to attract monarchs and wonder if there were enough, planted too close together. Was there enough variety of different native milkweed species available? For me, I critically evaluate my pruning strategy. Did I create enough new growth on mature milkweed for my September monarch larvae? This reflection is not only healthy but a good exercise to improve your local plant offerings and, perhaps plant something new next year.
Milkweed plants are available in all shapes and sizes. From the low growing 6-10" whorled milkweed to the towering 8'+ common milkweed. Experts support planting a variety of well-spaced milkweed plants to entice female monarchs, even purple milkweed if you can find it.
Purple milkweed is the oxymoron of the milkweed world. It is widespread in 25 states as well as Ontario, Canada but is rare to find and not available in garden centers or nurseries. In fact, purple milkweed is an endangered species in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and, Rhode Island. In my experience, purple milkweed is difficult to grow and attracts pests, diseases and even rabbits.
Purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) is difficult to identify. It closely resembles common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Flower blooms and seed pods may be the best characteristics of the plant to determine if you have a rare plant or a common milkweed. Purple milkweed have a deep reddish-purple flower with star shaped flowers whereas common milkweed has pink flowers. Seedpods of purple milkweed are smooth and common milkweed have spikes on them.
Common milkweed
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Common milkweed has mauve colored flowers and grow in large clusters. Seed pods of common milkweed have a rough textured seed coat.
Purple milkweed
Arthur Haines, GoBotany
Arthur Haines, GoBotany
Purple milkweed flowers are far darker and more starshaped than common milkweed flowers. Seedpods are smooth and resemble swamp milkweed seed pods.
October 7, 2024 A Closer Look on Monarch Caterpillar Growth
In order for monarch butterflies to reach adulthood they need to have gone through a rapid growth phase as a caterpillar. Beginning life as an egg a baby caterpillar (larvae) emerges at only 1/16th of an inch long. If conditions are right, such as abundant milkweed, warm days and nights, the monarch caterpillar can growth 2,000 times larger in just 10 days. What most of us do not see is how they do it.
The goal of this site is to educate. We hope providing content specifically for monarch butterfly conservation and habitat restoration the result will be an improved environment in each and every yard.
Unique photos help the typical gardener and even monarch enthusiast to see and appreciate the intricate the lifecycle of the monarch. Listed as a threatened species today, migratory monarchs are on the brink of being classified as endangered.
Shed skin
Head mantle
Even for those who have studied monarch butterflies for many decades have never seen the transformation that took place left of this text. To better understand the unique aspect of this image one has to understand how a monarch caterpillar grows from 1/16th of an inch to 2" in a little over a week's time.
Monarch butterfly caterpillars appear plump and soft bodied. Infact, the monarch caterpillar has a hardened exoskeleton! Like all of nature's exoskeleton organisms, shedding is the only process that allows the specimen to grow. The image to the left is fascinating. The caterpillar crawls out of its old skin peeling it down like our rolling down a long sock. Most interesting was the caterpillar's discarded head mantle shed portion. It appeared as if it were a mask. The hardened head exoskeleton was separate from the caterpillar's body shed.
Like all newly creatures that have just shed, its body was soft and needed to dry and harden. The process of shedding enables the caterpillar to eat more and build body mass. Each shed is referred to as an instar. There is a total of five instars in the caterpillar stage of the monarch butterfly's life cycle.
Monarch caterpillars emerge from their egg nearly translucent. The warning yellow, black and white banding colors seen in all monarch caterpillars only appear after their second shedding, referred to as their second instar of life.
October 6, 2024 Thoughts on the Housing Market for Monarch Butterflies
A recent trip to enjoy and celebrate the efforts of the migratory monarch butterfly in beautiful Cape May, New Jersey re-surfaced the ongoing debate of captive raising caterpillars. The New Jersey Audubon's Nature Center of Cape May is a treat for anyone interested in monarch butterflies. Since 1990, the organization has been studying monarch behavior, cataloging decades of data and lead the nation in tagging migratory monarchs. The majority if not all monarchs tagged at the Nature Center of Cape May are non-captive bred, wild migratory monarchs.
There I noticed a variety of containers used by visitors to house monarch larva (caterpillars) during my visit from Delaware. This reminded me of the debate of how much effect, if any, captive breeding of monarch larva has on the health of the emerging adult butterfly.
To establish common ground nothing can replace mother nature. Nature, while cruel sometimes, has since the beginning of time enable only the strong and adaptable organisms to survive and continue their specie. Captive breeding of monarch eggs or larva cannot replicate all the conditions developing monarch larva need to be strong and resilient. In the case of migratory monarch - any compromise of health resulting from captive breeding would reduce the chances of surviving the journey to the overwintering roosts in south-central Mexico.
1600 Delaware Avenue, Cape May, New Jersey
Studies have shown that migratory monarchs who have successfully made the journey to Mexico have certain traits in common. Dark coloration of the wings and a wing size of at least 2" from abdomen to the tip of the wing ( TROP. LEPID. RES., 22(1): 42-52, 2012) are common traits. One could argue that if you participate in rearing monarch larva you should carefully evaluate your end result. Do your monarchs have a deep rich orange or almost red orange wing color? Are their wings at least two inches from abdomen to the tip of their wing? If you can't answer yes to both of these questions perhaps you should not raise larva in captivity or reconsider the conditions to which you are exposing your developing larva. You might be doing more harm than good.
A common commercially sold butterfly mesh cage (right) accommodates many of the conditions needed to rear monarch caterpillars. When used outdoors it provides diurnal temperature and humidity, good air circulation, possibly beneficial UV rays and even the potential for morning dew to provide hydration. The potential drawback of such an enclosure is it encourages enthusiasts to put more than one larvae in the cage. In the wild one rarely sees more than one larger monarch on a milkweed branch. As monarch caterpillars grow, and they grow quickly, the likelihood of caterpillars encountering one another and begin to experience competition increases. Ideally, this type of enclosure would support just one monarch caterpillar guaranteeing no risk of competition. In the study referenced above (A. Davis, 2024) however; even outdoor enclosures compromised the health of developing larvae.
October 4, 2024 The Epic Monarch Butterfly Migration is in Full Swing
Early October represents the heart of the eastern migratory monarch butterfly migration season. Millions of monarch butterflies are heading toward the mountains of south-central Mexico to overwinter. The Mexican government has established defined mountainous areas as sanctuaries as monarchs have returned to the same conifer forest for millions of years.
The monarch in this image was likely born somewhere in New England as it is one of millions flying southwest toward a more tropical environment. It was seen nectaring on goldenrod and aster in southeast Pennsylvania. Flight takes tremendous energy and monarch butterflies need to find flowers to retore their energy reserves in the form of lipids. If monarchs cannot find late season flowering plants such as aster or goldenrod their chance of survival is low. Monarchs need to fly well beyond the U.S. boarder as they are tropical insects and are programmed to fly to a narrow longitude and latitude where winter conditions are just right.
The 'goldilocks' zone for monarchs is found in the mountains of Mexico for the eastern population of monarch butterfly. The Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Sierra Chincua and the Monarch Butterfly Reserve both provide the narrow range of conditions monarchs need from November through March. In order for monarchs to enter what's called a pseudo hibernation or diapause, temperatures need to remain in a specific range. Daytime highs in the 50's and lower 60's and nighttime lows in the upper 30's to lower 40's enable monarchs to maximize energy conservation. Since monarchs cannot fly during temperatures below 55 F, daytime maximum heating enables monarchs to leave their roosts and hydrate at streams nearby the forest floor. Little to no nectaring (the act of consuming nectar and restoring energy) is possible in during their five-to-six-month rest period.
Closer to home, you play a major role in improving monarchs survive their journey.
Migrating eastern monarch butterfly
Planting late season blooming perennials not only enhance the beauty of the fall season on your property they provide what migrating monarch butterflies need during their migration. Goldenrod is an excellent choice for monarchs as it blooms up to the frost season and holds its bloom for weeks. There are more than 100 species of goldenrod from which to choose. I recommend seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) as it tends to bloom later in the season and offer some of the most concentrated flower clusters among goldenrods. Once established, goldenrod is a tough perennial surviving drought, deer and rabbits and best of all for allergy sufferers - it is not ragweed and does not cause seasonal hay fever.
Fall is goldenrod season
A close up of a seaside goldenrod bloom shows how many individual flowers there are within a small sample of a larger cluster. Solidago is the genus name of goldenrod. In Latin solidus means "to make whole" referring to its medicinal properties for conditions including arthritis, inflammation, tuberculosis and diabetes.
While goldenrod and ragweed bloom at the same time, the pollen of goldenrod is large and sticky and not likely to be windblown unlike ragweed pollen which is far smaller and easily carried by wind.
Goldenrod blooms are rich in proteins, fats and minerals and why monarch butterflies seek this plant. Seaside goldenrod is typically not available at garden centers, nurseries or big box stores. There are websites that offer seeds. Contact me if you'd like to order seaside goldenrod seeds. I grow this beautiful perennial and may have seeds to send. Goldenrod prefer full sun. Germination is easy in the spring.
High quality nectar blooms
September 30, 2024 Unpacking for Mexico
Millions of monarch caterpillars are emerging (eclosing) from their chrysalis having completed an amazing transformation from terrestrial caterpillar to flying adult monarch butterfly. Below is a rare view into the world of the brief but miraculous process of how monarch butterflies emerge from their chrysalis.
Chrysalis' change from bright green to clear 24 hours before the monarch butterfly emerges. The butterfly typically emerges between 7am to 11am taking advantage of the morning sun to help dry their wings. It takes up to four hours for her wings to completely dry. She will test her
wings repeatedly before flying off.
The monarch enters the chrysalis phase where the monarch transforms from caterpillar to butterfly.
In most U.S. states there are four generations of monarchs from May through August. The four generations remain in their chrysalis for about 10 days during typical summer temperatures.
The final generation of monarchs enter their chrysalis phase in the fall when temperatures are often 20 degrees or more below summer highs and lows. Cooler temperatures slow the metabolic process of transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. While summer transformation averages 10 days, fall monarchs can spend between 14 days up to 30 days before emerging. Mine are averaging 13 days this year.
The fall monarch is genetically programmed to migrate rather than mate. While mating will eventually occur, it won't be until the next spring during their flight back from their overwintering roosts in the mountains of south-central Mexico to the southern coast of the U.S. The monarch butterfly's epic migration from the U.S. to Mexico and back spans over a 9-month period and requires thousands of stops along the journey in search of nectar to enable flight.
You play a major role in the monarch's migratory survival by planting late season, long-blooming native flowers. A list of the most common include goldenrod, aster, and ironweed. Each of these plants are perennials and bloom well through the monarch migratory season.
September 20, 2024 Meet a Few of the Class of 2024 Migratory Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars
The 2024 historic monarch butterfly migration is in full swing. Easter monarchs from as far north as southern Cananda are making their way south in search of nectar along the way and for their winter destination in the mountains of south-central Mexico. Before they took flight, meet a fraction of the class of 2024 in their caterpillar stage. Each uniquely patterned as a fingerprint.
By the time you read this it's likely many if not all of the above monarch larva have emerged into beautiful healthy butterflies. While all the larva looked a little different, they are all heading to Mexico. On behalf of all of your and myself...adios amigos.
September 17, 2024 Milkweed Seedpods Make a Great Snack for Late Season Monarch Larva
Mid-September finds many late season monarch butterfly larva searching for lush, nutritious milkweed leaves. The long harsh summer has turned any remaining milkweed leaves dry and damaged. As opportunists, monarch caterpillars turn to seed pods where the milkweed plant sends its energy to produce seeds. Pictured below is why leaving some of your milkweed to 'go to seed' is a great idea.
An earlier article posted on June 22, 2024 recommended that a careful pruning strategy of your milkweed on July 1st would result in dividends in the fall. The strategy was to cut 1/3 of your common milkweed down to 2" above the ground. The second third of your common milkweed was to be cut halfway down the plant to regenerate new growth for summer monarchs. The final 1/3 of your common milkweed plants was to be left alone. By doing this, it allowed the plants to develop seed pods.
Milkweed plants redirect their latex sap from generating leaves to developing seed pods in the fall. As the name implies, the seed pod is the plant's tactic of continuing its survival by producing hundreds of seeds within each pod. As milkweed head toward annual dormancy, high levels of cardenolide latex are transported to the seedpod. The natural aging of milkweed results in little to no energy for leaf production. instead creating seed pods which mature in September and October.
Perhaps by design, seed pods become available for the migratory monarch caterpillar generation (late August thru September) when no leaves remain on the plant. For the milkweed, generating seeds in the fall enable seeds to fall to the ground to begin the overwintering conditions (wet and cold) required for germinate late next spring.
Monarch butterfly larva endure competition for food during their entire lifetime. In the summer tussock moth larva and milkweed beetles devour nutritious leaves frequented by monarchs. In the fall milkweed bugs congregate on seedpods and devour them.
5th instar migratory generation monarch larva
So, for those of you who let 1/3 of your common milkweed mature to where it is now producing milkweed seedpods, visit your plants and do two things: 1) Remove every milkweed bug on your seedpods. 2) Enjoy watching your migratory monarch butterfly larva enjoy its last meal before it enters the chrysalis stage in preparation to its journey to south-central Mexico for the winter.
September 16, 2024 Monarch Larva Patterns Vary but their Message is Consistent
Monarch butterfly caterpillars (scientifically termed larva) have a unique color pattern. Larva spend their entire lives on milkweed plants which typically have lime green to emerald-green leaves. Unlike most larva in nature that blend into their setting to protect themselves, monarch butterfly caterpillars display vivid bright yellow, black and white banding almost in contrast to their surrounding.
Common color pattern of monarch larva Monarch larva patterns can vary but each will produce a magnificent butterfly
In nature, animals and insects use camouflage to blend into their surroundings. This is most typical in wildlife that has little or no means of defending themselves. An example of this includes the walking stick insect. In the animal kingdom the chameleon changes her color by the second as she moves to blend in as they have no means of physical defense.
While monarch caterpillars always feature bands of yellow, white and black colors it is interesting how varied the color schemes can appear. These colors are intended to be seen and serve to protect the larva as a sign of danger from predators as monarch larva accumulate toxins from the monarch leaves they eat.
In addition to looking as if they are wearing caution tape to protect themselves, monarch caterpillars larva have another body feature that protects it. False antennae are appendages used by many insects that are slow and vulnerable. False antennae look like an insect's primary antennae (used for navigating and sensing) but appear on the rear of the insect to confuse predators which is the front, and which is the back. Many predators attack from the back or abdomen to avoid jaws or claws which typically appear at the front of potential prey. Antennae on both ends of the monarch butterfly caterpillar are thought to reduce the risk of attack by confusing the predator.
September 10, 2024 Coming Soon...The Cape Henlopen State Park Monarch Refueling Nectar Station
Hundreds of thousands of migratory monarchs from New England navigate (in part) using the Atlantic coast as a visual reference. Along their way south they seek nectar plants to regenerate their energy reserves for their long journey to south-central Mexico. One of the most challenging natural structures migratory monarchs endure in the United States is the Delaware Bay. Based on monarch tagging data there is a high concentration of fall monarchs along the coast of Cape May, New Jersey. As monarchs use the coastal 'flyway', they need to cross the entire Delaware Bay without landing until they reach the Delaware coast. The closest landmass to greet New England's monarchs is the beautiful Cape Henlopen State Park. It is here where the new monarch butterfly refueling station is being built.
Positioned across the street from the new Joe Biden Environmental Center, officials of the Cape Henlopen State Park approved the use of a vacant lot to create a natural prairie experience. The site was carefully selected. One of the primary migratory flyways is directly over Cape Henlopen, Delaware. Migratory monarchs need to frequently nectar to fuel flight. As a result, visitors will see roughly 80% of the plantings offering late season nectar from seaside goldenrod and aster to name a few. These two native plants are long and late season blooming perennials which are highly targeted by fall monarch butterflies.
Goldenrod (left) is one of the best choices for helping migratory monarch butterflies. Seaside goldenrod flourishes in harsh conditions and meets all nature's coastal demands including drought and sea salt spray. These plants have an extensive root system which help preserve coastal dunes while providing late and a long blooming season with abundant flowers offering nectar. Nectar sources can be difficult to find in the fall.
The plant to the right features another late season, long blooming must have, the beautiful New England aster. A favorite flower for many late season insects looking for a dependable nectar source, aster require a slightly more moist substrate to flourish. These two plants are essential for migrating insects including the monarch butterfly.
Monarchs on seaside goldenrod New England Aster
At the time of this site posting the Cape Henlopen State Park Monarch Refueling Station is in development. Visitors during the fall and spring of 2024-2025 will find the once vacant lot begin to come to life with native pollinator plants. 20% of the plantings will include native milkweed species including common milkweed and swamp milkweed. to meet the needs of late spring and summer monarchs that live in the park. There are four or sometimes five generations of monarchs each year. Wamer years support five generations.
The first plant in the new Cape Henlopen State Park Monarch Refueling Station was a seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens)
Visitors to the state park will need to be patient as the plantings are going in later than planned. Additionally, the plants are all grown from seeds it will take a year or so for them to mature. That said it was only a week after breaking ground that the first monarch butterfly was spotted.
The first monarch butt4erfly arrived Monday, September 2nd. It was a male and likely flew across the Delaware Bay given the proximity of the state park to the bay.
The monarch's arrival validated the hypothesis that New England monarchs use the coast to assist in their migration to overwinter in south-central Mexico..
Julie Callahan, Delaware Master First Monarch Arrives
Naturalist September 2, 2024
Site of the newest feature at the Cape Henlopen State Park
The Migratory Monarch Butterfly Food & Fuel Station as of September 7, 2024
The goal remains to set as many young plants in the fall of 2024 prior to the first frost to establish robust root systems. Additional plants will be added in the spring of 2025 and beyond. Planting are being done by select Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park.
Features will include: a covered pavilion and a color tri-fold brochure which includes monarch gardening information, locations of nurseries that carry local pollinator plants to help you get started. A winding path will offer a prairie like experience with classic butterfly milkweed in raised planters.
Plants will attract a variety of pollinators including butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
The site is a registered Monarch Waystation and National Wildlife Federation Habitat.
For more information about the Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, DE call: (302) 645-8983. For updates on the progress of the Monarch Butterfly Fuel Station within the park check back here on this site or use my 'contact us' button and I will give you the latest information.
September 2, 2024 Good Insects that Share Milkweed Plants with Monarch Caterpillars
Milkweed plants are showing stress this time of year. New tender leaves are rare and those that are sprouting are likely covered with milkweed aphids. Female monarchs have laid their last eggs on the newest plant growth they can find. In previous news updates I've focused on insects which pose a risk to either monarch eggs or monarch larva (caterpillars. This update features two of the most beneficial insects you'll want to see in large numbers on your milkweed plants.
Ladybug larva
The threatening looking insect to the left is actually a baby or as scientists call them larva. This is a ladybug larva (Coccinellidae). It is impossible to look at this six-legged spiny insect which is often black and orange and imagine it will turn into a ladybug.
Ladybug larva are welcome on milkweed plants because they eat milkweed aphids...a lot of them. The ladybug larva is just one stage of the ladybug's life. The larva lives for about 3 weeks molting several times during the three weeks.
It is common to see many ladybug larva on one plant. No worries, they don't appear territorial and as you know, there are plenty of aphids to go around. In addition to
ladybug larva, you will likely see the other stages of ladybug including its pupa stage (right) which looks much closer to what we think of as an adult ladybug.
Leafyplace.com
Ladybug pupa
The other insect more than welcome on your milkweed plants is the lacewing i(Chrysopidae) insect. Lacewing insects are somewhat hard to find. The lacewing adult flying insect is nocturnal however, you know you have lacewings on your milkweed by observing their eggs.
The image below shows eggs produced by an adult Picture below is the adult green lacewing. While it looks
green lacewing insect. When you see these eggs near the tip of fragile it is a carnivore and an aggressive hunter of mites,
your milkweed leaves it is because your milkweed plant is infested aphids and yes, young caterpillars. Lacewings however with aphids are not known to be a threat to monarch caterpillars/
Green lacewing eggs
Green lacewing adult
Milkweed plants attract many insects large and small. Nature balances predators and prey and has for millions of years. Monarch caterpillars find their way and continue to thrive provided there is enough milkweed to counter the natural threats in addition to the manmade ones.
August 24, 2024 It's Pre-migratory Monarch Season, What You Should Be Doing
For much of New England and the mid-Atlantic mid-August is the eve of the great monarch butterfly migration. Eggs laid this month will generate the migratory generation of monarch butterflies. In order for this important generation to thrive, milkweed leaves need to remain healthy and available. As a monarch enthusiast and or gardener you'll want to take action this week. If you followed recommendations made earlier this year to cut back common milkweed July 1st, you should have relatively young leaves for late August monarch larva to eat. Here is your action item for this update: check to make sure there are no vines strangling your milkweed.
Two common vines found in the wild are Hedge Bindweed and Morning Glory. Left unchecked and removed, these vines can completely wrap up and strangle healthy strong milkweed plants. The vines begin growing in the summer and mature to do their greatest damage in the late fall when monarch caterpillars are searching for easy to access leaves. These vines can completely wrap up even the strongest common milkweed plant limiting their availability and resource for monarchs.
Removing entangled milkweed requires an important technique. Simply pulling the vine to remove it will strip milkweed leaves and risk knocking off monarch eggs or caterpillars. The best technique for removing hedge bindweed or morning glory is to find the vines at the base of the plant where they emerge from the ground and snip them with scissors or sheers. Leave the vine on. This will result in the vine going limp and relaxing its strong hold on the entire plant. Within a day or so the vine will no longer restrict the milkweed from spreading out, photosynthesizing and offering its leaves to female monarchs to lay her eggs or monarch larva from consuming its leaves.
Everyone is seeing aphids! If you have milkweed plants, you have aphids this time of year...by the thousands. Bright yellow, they're not ugly but like most gardeners you wish they weren't there or at least you'd settle for not as many. Of course, pesticides are never an option so some turn to either using a hose or a spray bottle throttled to the jet spray setting of the adjustable nozzle. It is important to remember that aphids not a threat to a healthy milkweed plant and they're also not a threat to emerging monarch caterpillar larvae. Aphids, milkweed and monarch caterpillars have existed for millions of years with no dire consequences to the plant or developing monarch. Resisting the need to remove aphids may just be to the advantage of helping monarchs, here's how. The image to the right is an example where a female monarch carefully chose to lay an egg in a cluster of aphids. Why she did so is likely associated with the egg was deposited on the plant's most delicate and immature leaf branch. Not surprisingly, this is also where the highest concentration of aphids are found. So, spraying any high force water stream has a good chance of dislodging monarch butterfly eggs which can often be difficult to spot. If you're going to err this season, do so by leaving the aphids or removing them using a toothpick. By using this method you'll spare the accidental removal of precious monarch eggs.
One never wants to lose a monarch egg as it has the potential to grow into a majestic adult butterfly. The egg to the right may be the most important egg of the monarchs' four generations as this egg holds the caterpillar which will, with 200:1 odds against it, become the adult monarch who will fly over 2,000 miles to overwinter in Mexico. Interesting to note the 4 generations of monarch preceding this egg carried the gene to migrate within their DNA. It is only the fall monarch that migrates rather than breed. It will breed along its journey north the following year.
Early growth of Hedge Bindweed
Monarch Egg
Strategy deposited monarch egg nearest to new
plant growth
August17, 2024 It's mid-August...What Should You Be Doing for the Monarchs On Your Property?
It's mid August and wondering what you should be doing for the monarch butterflies you have enjoyed all season long. The simple answer is - sit back and enjoy the final show. Depending your longitude, mid to late August monarch butterflies are either beginning their migration to Mexico or the female is laying her eggs which will be the migratory monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus, plexlippus).
Your Milkweed Plant Status
Your milkweed looks tired. Common milkweed has large dried early leaves. The few new shoots are covered with yellow aphids. Swamp milkweed plants are faring a little better with new shoots and tender leaves but they too are covered with aphids so you cannot see the stems. You're not alone. Summer heat, insects, and aging have prepared your milkweed for the final generation. While none of your milkweed will provide nectar as flower stalks are long gone, there is a huge surface area of leaves that the fall migratory generation of monarch larva (caterpillars) will find irresponsible. Hopefully your July 1st heavy pruning efforts have provided you with new common milkweed shoots for August through October.
Action Items
Watch for and remove: milkweed beetles, milkweed bugs, praying mantids. Migratory monarch caterpillars are voracious and eat all portions of milkweed plants. The fall is not a good time to share your plants with bugs and beetles.
Milkweed bugs (pictured right) are not a direct threat to monarch caterpillars but they will multiply by the hundreds on your plants and devour all your seed pods. Milkweed bugs eat your milkweed seeds! So, remove them by hand by placing a jar over the seed pod and shake them off. Many gardeners like to harvest newly opened seed pods and save the seeds for next year. If you don't remove the milkweed bugs, there may not be any seeds when you remember to harvest. Additionally, monarch caterpillars enjoy eating the outcoat of the milkweed seed pods. Removing milkweed bugs provides more food for your monarch caterpillar.
Milkweed beetles are no better. They ravage leaves, stems, flowers and cut small branches of your milkweed making it unavailable for monarch caterpillars...so, they have to go! There are several types of milkweed beetles. Most common are the red milkweed beetle and most often found on common milkweed. There are other species notably the milkweed beetle which causes the same food shortage for your monarch caterpillars.
Tussock month caterpillars eat faster and than an average adult human teenager (almost). They appear out of nowhere. Yesterday your milkweed was fine, the next day your have this invasion of, albeit kind of cool looking) caterpillars that look like they're made of yarn. May be somewhat attractive but they definitely have to go...right now, not in an hour, right now. They will devour your plants down to the stem leaving nothing but stalks.
extension.illinois.edu
Milkweed bugs - eaters of milkweed seed pods
extension.illinois.edu
Red Milkweed Beetle Swamp Milkweed Beetle
extension.illinois.edu
Tussock moth caterpillars
Praying mantids are not a threat to late fall monarch caterpillars. Adult female mantids are one of the largest insects in north America with appetites to match. In the late summer through the fall large female mantids are found perched on fall flower stalks. They are a threat to migratory monarchs. During migration monarch butterflies seek out nectar rich flower stalks and mantids 'know' this.
The image to the left is nothing short of spectacular and disturbing. Having been in the monarch conservation field for decades I thought I had seen it all. As an advocate and supporter of monarchs I do all I can do while appreciating nature has things taken care of without any help.
In October of 2023 I was returning 4 tagged monarchs to a late season blooming plant that had attracted many pollinators. I figured it was a good idea to release the adult monarch butterfly on a flower cluster with an abundance of nectar to give the newly tagged adults a good meal the next leg of their journey. I checked on them an hour later to find a pile of monarch wings directly under the flowers of which they were enjoying nectar. Among the scattered wings were the four tags I had placed an hour ago.
Upon a careful analysis of the crime scene i noticed a large female praying mantid that had camouflaged herself into what looked like a silver robot! She had taken down all four adult monarch butterflies within a 60 -minute window.
Taggers beware - check plants before returning monarchs to a flowering bush.
Mantid takes 4 monarchs out of fall migration
As early fall begins, remove any competitive insects off your milkweed. Remove all plants around your milkweed to enable female monarch butterflies to lay their eggs. If a monarch can't easily navigate around your milkweed plants, you will have far fewer eggs in which monarch butterflies can continue their species.
August 1, 2024 Damaged Milkweed Leaf Stalk ? It's All Part of the Plan
Mid-summer finds every gardener admiring their hard work from the last three months of planting, weeding and watering. Admiration turns to shock and disappointment when monarch enthusiasts see their most prized swamp milkweed cut and hanging on by a thread. To further the disappointment; the best and most healthy part, including promising flower stalks of your milkweed were targeted. Disappointment turns to anger and then determining who to blame.
Deer? Rabbit? In nearly all cases where the plant appears to be cut the monarch caterpillar was likely to blame. Suddenly you feel a little better but still stare helplessly at the gorgeous green stalk of what was to be food for your monarch caterpillars. Here's the good news - damage to milkweed like the image to the right is all part of nature's plan and the monarch's strategy to reduce risk of being mired in white latex sap from the plant. Remember, plants have survival defenses. High pressure release of milkweed sap is one of milkweed's half a dozen tactics to ensure its survival.
The millions of years monarchs and milkweed have been squaring off has resulted in remarkable advancements for both plant and animal. As a result of monarch's severing of leaf and stalks, milkweed plants have evolved to rapidly replace lost limbs. While the caterpillar culling process provides a day or two of fresh milkweed leaves and flowers, the severed point of the milkweed stimulates new growth just below to the damage. The net result is a win for the caterpillar. The plant however will require an expenditure of energy to produce a new stalk with more leaves to continue photosynthesis and to feed itself in the process.
Above are three examples of how milkweed regenerate either after a foraging event or deliberate seasonal plant pruning. Nature has created this interactive dynamic between milkweed and monarch to ensure each generation of monarch butterfly caterpillars have new, soft and nutritious leaves. On average, there are 10-14 days between when a caterpillar stops eating and wanders off to form a chrysalis. At the same time, it takes 10-14 days for a milkweed to regenerate new foliage. Under nature's watch, the new foliage is the most tender on a mature milkweed plant and where female monarch butterflies lay their eggs. This guarantees the newly hatched monarch caterpillar (measuring less than 1/8") need not travel for its first several days meals.
Damage to your milkweed? It may not be as bad as you think, in fact, it is beneficial acting as a natural pruning service with just enough off the top without harming the balance of nature.
July27, 2024 Aquatic Milkweed - An Excellent Addition to your Garden
Aquatic Milkweed - (Asclepias perennias)
The aquatic milkweed also goes by the name 'white milkweed', or 'swamp milkweed' not to be confused with swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). This plant is not native to the eastern seaboard nor the mid-Atlantic. It is a mid-western to southern plains plant and a favorite of monarch butterflies.
Unlike tropical milkweed which is also non-native, aquatic milkweed is not a threat to altering monarch butterfly migratory instincts as the blooms are limited only to the summer and early fall.
Aquatic milkweed thrives in moist to nearly submerged substrate. While I have seen it grown in traditional gardens, it requires the gardener to water frequently. To demonstrate how water based this plant is, the seeds are buoyant and have what has been described as 'wings' to help them float down current.
As a perennial, my aquatic milkweed has emerged for 3 summer growing seasons since planting in 2021. The image to the left provides a single plant plenty of room to grow, flower, seed and complete winter dormancy. Winter exposure and temperatures in the low to mid-teens have not been a problem. The planter is however submerged all year long with the water temperature remaining above freezing. Aquatic milkweed is more difficult to find at nurseries and garden centers out of its native growing zone.
July20, 2024 The Swamp Milkweed, my 2024 Perennial of the Year
Monarch butterfly enthusiasts are a passionate group. We can't wait for spring to begin and even then we have to wait to see the first sign of last year's milkweed to emerge. It's a game of patience. I selected the swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) as my perennial of the year for 2024. Reasons go well beyond the brilliant white and deep reddish-purple flowers if offers.
Unlike the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed requires consistently moist soil to fluish. Once established, swamp milkweed will tolerate drought conditions but prefer moist soil over its milkweed brethren butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and common milkweed which prefer to stay on the dry side.
Swamp Milkweed - (Asclepias incarnata)
'Ice Ballet'
Swamp Milkweed - (Asclepias incarnata)
'Cinderella'
A question was submitted to our site asking....
"How can I grow dry loving milkweed (butterfly weed, common
milkweed) together with swamp milkweed or even aquatic milkweed
(Asclepias perennias) on my small property?"
The answer is to provide each species of milkweed what they need to grow best. Since most milkweed grow best in full sun, make sure you choose the best sight with full sun. As for managing the different needs of moisture there are two tactics that work well. The first works well if you have a garden with a higher and lower end. Plant butterfly weed and common milkweed on the higher portion of your garden and swamp milkweed on the lowest level. The grade or slope of the garden will help in establishing your swamp milkweed after the first year Like all seedlings or new plants, manually watering twice a week for the first growing season is needed.
A far more reliable tactic for growing swamp milkweed or aquatic milkweed is to grow them in containers without drainage holes. As their name implies, these two brilliant species of milkweed love moist conditions. Below is an example of an inexpensive and proven methods of easily growing swamp and aquatic milkweed. Since these two species of milkweed lack the extensive tap root of the common milkweed your container need not be too large. An additional advantage of planting these two water-loving plants is you can move their containers to the sunniest part of your property including in the garden itself. I suppose it is feasible to sink your container directly into the ground provided you select a container without drainage.
But does it work? 6 Monarch Butterfly Larva and Counting...
In as little as 10 days a total of six monarch caterpillars were seen on potted swamp milkweed. It is important to note those six all were different stages of development proving monarch eggs were laid at different times.
Gardeners can grow every available and native milkweed on their property tor all moisture needs. Success in growing milkweed plants all the way to flowering and seeding simply means knowing how much moisture each species needs and then plan on how to provide it. From the most arid loving common milkweed and butterfly weed to aquatic milkweed, anything is possible. See which species of milkweed monarchs on your property choose.
July18, 2024 The Heart of the Monarch Breeding Season - Predators Loom and What to do about it
Nature has a plan for every animal, plant and even protozoan! Monarch butterflies are certainly no exception to. A monarch butterfly protects itself from predators through the consumption of milkweed leaves and the toxic sap within the leaves, flowers and stem. The monarch caterpillar (larvae) isn't harmed by the chemical (cardenolides) having evolved a process called compartmentalizing. While caterpillars ingest it, it doesn't adversely affect them.
Only 1-2% of all monarch eggs result in a healthy adult monarch butterfly. This culling process is common in nature to ensure adults have enough of what they need to breed and continue their species. With the number of monarchs dramatically decreasing over the last 20 years - every gardener that sees the image to the left is saddening
Monarch predators come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Some we can easily see, others require a microscope. Spraying insecticide is NOT an option. We need to let nature run its course to ensure only the strongest and those making the best survival decisions pass their genetics to the next generation. There are simple actions you can take without changing the course of nature but reducing short-term risks for monarchs in your garden.
Only 1-2% live to become
a butterfly
Common monarch butterfly predators on your milkweed
Tachinid Fly
(Tachinidae)
Flies look innocent enough but certain flies, the tachinid fly for example is a first-line predator of monarch caterpillars. Tachinid flies lay their eggs in live caterpillars where they grow and eventually kill their host. Fly larva eat their way out and fly larva drop out on silk strans to the ground where they pupate and hatch into adult flies to repeat the cycle. There is little to nothing a gardener can do to prevent this.
The jumping spider is, for those with arachnophobia, the least menacing looking of the class arachnida. It is however a predator of very young and emerging monarch butterfly caterpillars. It is not uncommon to find a jumping spider on your milkweed plant. Their sole purpose of being there is to feed on emerging larva. Gardeners can relocate them easily far away from the milkweed plant.
Jumping Spider
(Arachnida salticidae)
Mantids are top predators in the insect world. When you see a mantid on your milkweed it is as much a benevolent visitor as it is a threat to monarchs. Adult monarch butterflies are on the mantid menu. Mantids will set up on the plant's flower stalk and wait. It will snare anything it can hold including beneficial pollinators. Gardeners will buy egg cases to put in their garden, monarch enthusiasts may relocate them.
Praying Mantis
(Mantis religiosa)
Assassin bugs are as menacing as they sound. They should be removed from your plant and taken far away. I've witnessed these predators many times piercing and feasting on instar 3,4,5 (medium to large) monarch caterpillars. Immune to the toxins, assassin bugs have no place in a hardworking gardener's garden. Large and hungry, they need to go. If monarchs have nightmares...the assassin bug is in it.
Assassin Bug
(Pselliopus spp.)
Birdwatchinghq.com
Stink Bug
(Halyomorpha halys)
Stink bugs. The name says it all. Stink bugs are a predator of monarch butterfly caterpillars. A common pest in the home, stink bugs are commonly found on milkweed plants. Stink bugs come in a variety of colors including black, brown, green, orange or a combination of these colors.
An invasive species, stink bugs are most active during warm weather and hide when the weather cools in the fall. Stink bugs lay their eggs in large batches in garden vegetable plants, particularly pumpkin, cucumber and other large leaf vegetables.
Removing stink bugs is best done by putting a plastic soda or water bottle over the insect and pushing it into the container. Capping it prevents it from escaping or smelling their pungent scent.
Common monarch butterfly visitors on your milkweed
Reddit.com
Milkweed beetles are not a threat to monarchs but they, like the monarch caterpillar have milkweed on their menu. I highlight this insect because when and if you have a shortage of fresh, tender milkweed leaves you will not want to have your plant and flowers consumed by the large numbers of this specie of beetle that frequents garden milkweed plants. Save milkweed leaves...relocate them to that plastic soda bottle.
MIlkweed Beetle
(Tetraopes tetophthalmus)
Common Aphid & Ant
Aphids....they appear out of nowhere. Aphids are a common pest on milkweed but do not present a threat. Aphids and milkweed have coexisted for millions of years. There's no need to remove them unless your milkweed develops a black sooty look to them. At that point you can use a spray bottle and shoot them off. Ants consume the honeydew the aphids produce. I've not seen these ants be a caterpillar threat
Lacewing
Welcome to the Lacewing insect. This is a wonderful insect to find on your milkweed. Lacewings are delicate but veracious at the same time. Translucent wings and delicate lime green abdomen, lacewings have an appetite for aphids second only to the ladybug larva.
You want to cheer and support lacewings on your milkweed as they will devour aphids by the hundreds. When a lacewing has found a mass of aphids, she will deposit a single egg on a strand of silk as pictured here on the left.
Lacewings are not a threat to monarch caterpillars. (reference)
Lacewing Eggs
(Neuroptera ssp.)
Ladybug, also referred to as ladybird, ladybird beetle or ladybug is also a welcome visitor to your garden. Ladybugs are often thought of as red and black but can also appear yellow and black. or orange and black and other combinations including all black.
The ladybug larva (right) may be the best natural aphid remover of any insect.
Ladybug
(Coccinellidae ssp.)
Ladybug larva
Enjoy the summer and determine whether you have enough milkweed to meet the number of monarch caterpillars you see on your plants. Summer is also a good time to evaluate the health of your milkweed. Do you have the variety of milkweed to meet the monarch's needs? I have to recommend the swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) to you once again A survey I conducted today found 4 monarch caterpillars on swamp milkweed for every 1 monarch caterpillar on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Swamp milkweed thrives in more moist soil than common milkweed, but the rewards of more frequent watering are worth it. Tips on how to master growing swamp milkweed in my July 20, 2024 update.
July12, 2024 Careful Planting Choices in your Monarch Pollinator Garden
Every pollinator garden will please a monarch butterfly but only a monarch butterfly pollinator garden will have milkweed as one of its main attractions. When planning a monarch butterfly garden, it is very important to create the following list:
* Do you want perennials, annuals or a combination
* Will the plants bloom in sequence from May through November
* Will the plants spread either by rhizome or by seed
* Will the plant choice exceed the size of your dream garden size
* Plant only native species, monarchs will know the difference
* Never plant tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassivaca)
This feature article focuses on plant selection. Making a list of the plants you want in your garden is only the first step. Your second step is to scribe next to each plant listed how tall and wide they grow. The picture to the right features a poor choice for this garden. The plant, Joe Pye Weed (genus Eutrochium) is a favorite of monarchs and other pollinators.
Most Joe Pye Weed grow to seven feet or higher in full sun. There is good news however for gardeners with less room. Joe Pye Weed is now available in a cultivar (a plant variety created by selective breeding or crossbreeding) version. Cultivar Joe Pye weed species grow to a more conservative height of three to five feet.
Read plant labels carefully or you might end up with far more than you planned for and the need to transplant a great choice that simply outgrew its boundaries.
July10, 2024 While July is Cut/Prune your Common Milkweed...Look Carefully for Monarch Eggs or Larva
Photo courtesy of Rhoda McNitt
July is the ideal time to cut back your common milkweed. By mid-July you'll know which stalks you want to keep for seeds or which you wish were never there. Common milkweed is an aggressive, spreading milkweed specie. Cutting it back will not kill it, in fact, it will stimulate new growth. It is the new growth that is so important to the September migratory population as we've learned from the article just below.
When pruning or cutting common milkweed down to the ground, make sure to inspect every leaf, stalk and flower cluster to make sure you are not discarding monarch eggs or small larvae (monarch caterpillars). If you don't have time to do a thorough inspection of each of your discarded plants simply lay the plant in front of other common milkweeds that you are not pruning. Any eggs that hatch will enable the young caterpillar to climb to living milkweed nearby. Any small monarch caterpillars will climb off the wilting leaves and onto adjacent healthy living plants as well.
Look closely at the picture to the left. There is a sizable monarch caterpillar in the dense center of this flower cluster. It is easy to overlook something even as large as this late-stage monarch caterpillar.
So, while July is 'prune your common milkweed month' to promote healthy new plants for the migratory monarch generation, be mindful of the current generation in your garden that play an important role in passing along their genetic material to the next generation. Special thanks to Rhoda for sharing her photo with us. Do you have any interesting monarch larva or butterfly images to share?
June 22, 2024 It's Time...Time to Cut 1/3 of your Common Milkweed to the Ground
7 Days After Mowing
14 Days After Mowing
30 Days After Mowing
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is second only to swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) as the preferred plant for female monarch butterflies to lay their eggs. Second only perhaps because even as swamp milkweed grow into mature plants their leaves remain small and tender, just the right recipe for a 1/16th of an inch baby monarch caterpillar. As the name implies, common milkweed is the most common and abundant specie of milkweed along the mid-Atlantic and northeast coast.
Common milkweed comes in second for 'most desirable egg laying plant' because the leaves of the common milkweed can grow to an enormous size and undesirable thickness. As the plant ages, it becomes impossible for a new monarch caterpillar to eat its leaves. Unlike the common milkweed, swamp milkweed leaves remain the same size and tender through the plant's long life. Female monarchs will seek out the newest growth and or most tender leaves to deposit their eggs.
Common milkweed is an aggressive perennial. Growing to heights exceeding 7', leaf production slows toward the late summer and fall. This reduces the attractiveness of common milkweed for mid-late summer generations of monarchs. Of particular importance is the last generation of migratory monarchs. The August and early September timeframe is when female monarchs are depositing their eggs which will become the migratory monarch generation. IF there are fewer ideal target leaves for females to lay their eggs, there is a potential for a lower butterfly count for this critical generation. There is good news, make that GREAT news. The common milkweed has several advantages over the stylish swamp milkweed.
Common Milkweed Advantages for Female Egg Laying
* Remarkable regrowth - whether a branch or the entire stalk is cut, common milkweed regenerates
new growth faster than any other milkweed species.
* New growth offers soft, tender and highly attractive new leaves for egg laying female monarchs
* Common milkweed often sends out rhizomes (underground roots) to generate new plants
* Plant regeneration is FAST. offering a fully pruned common milkweed to produce a new plant
in as little as two weeks giving gardeners the opportunity to prune or cut back in mid-July to
have fresh new, tender leaves for the migratory monarch caterpillar generation.
The images to the left are all of the same plant. Township mowing took this plant to ground level on May 20th. Within a week there were 8-10 new leaves. A week after than it had over a dozen new leaves and had sent out a new shoot. One month after being completely cut to the ground the milkweed became a new, stronger plant.
Dates Leaf production Rainfall Temperature Range
May 20-27 10-12 leaves 0.05" 55 F - 87 F
May 28 - June 4 12-20 leaves 0.30" 47 F - 87 F
June 5-20 33 leaves 3.24" 52 F - 90
Common milkweed is resilient. This study of a roadside milkweed under normal growing and climate conditions produced over a new leaf each day. This information is extremely important! Gardeners now have a guide on when to cut their milkweed to ensure female monarchs in late August and September have fresh new milkweed leaves to lay their eggs and for their larva (monarch caterpillars) an abundance of edible leaves rich in nutrients.
It is critically important monarch caterpillars feed on a healthy palatable milkweed in
late summer into fall. This generation i(eastern, non-southern monarchs) are programmed to migrate and not breed until the following year. The fall monarch
caterpillar produces a considerably larger adult monarch butterfly following a slightly
longer period of time in their chrysalis. Wings averaging 4" help the monarch conserve
energy by catching thermals (columns of rising warm air). Fewer wing strokes means
less energy expended. Leaves and lots of them are needed this time of year.
ACTION ITEM - Find your pruning sheers
Gardeners it is advisable to prune back your common milkweed. I'd recommend you
cut back half of your common milkweed close to the ground July 1st and the other half
August 1st. This will create a series of new growth for the final generation of egg laying
female monarchs. For those who collect seeds for the following year, you might consider a pruning program of: 1/3 cut by July 1st, 1/3 cut by August 1st and leave the remaining 1/3 for seeds and to allow larger instar 4 and 5 caterpillars to eat eat the seed pods, that is of course if they can battle the mob of red milkweed beetles that time of year.
A bonus for a pruning program is it ensures you will have plenty of fresh milkweed leaves for those educators or taggers that choose to captive breed a few in the fall.
Studies have shown however captive breeding to be a potential hazard to the health of the migratory monarch. Stress, lack of environmental conditions such as diurnal temperature and humidity swings, UV rays, hydration, diurnal light exposure and increased load of the spores of the OE protozoan are variables thought to contribute to less than healthy migratory adult butterflies. Unlimited fresh, tender milkweed leaves are perhaps the most critical to larval health and development so you'll have that to offer.
If you're like me, it's difficult leveling your common milkweed to within inches of the ground since you've been nurturing them all season long but they will come back stronger for the experience.
New, soft & tender common milkweed ieaves are
scarce in the fall - just when they're needed most
June 15, 2024 Like Guacamole? WATCH The Netflix Documentary: Guardian of the Monarchs
Buy Avocados Grown in the U.S.A
copyrighted
The Netflix documentary: Guardian of the Monarchs uncovers the danger and damage the Mexican cartel is unleashing on the sacred sanctuaries of the monarch butterfly in the mountains of south-central Mexico. Designated as protected habitat by the Mexican government in 1986; the documentary shows heavily armed and masked militants illegally logging, burning acres of conifer trees and diverting steams and aquifers toward avocado plantations. The danger for the monarch butterfly is the disregard for the few acres where monarchs overwinter. Destruction of Mexican overwintering habitat could be the single greatest threat and to the migratory monarch. Mexico exports more avocados than any other country in the world. The United States however does grow avocados in three states.
"Unfortunately, drug cartels control much of the state of Michoacán, where they charge avocado producers a protection fee to avoid damage to the crops."
(World Atlas.com)
The destruction Mexican monarch butterflies overwintering acres to satisfy consumer's appetite for Mexican grown avocado for guacamole is heinous.
Solution?
Buy avocados grown in Florida, California or Hawaii.
So how do you know the guacamole you ordered was made with avocados from Mexico? Ask. Ordering guacamole made with avocados from Mexico further increases the chance of habitat loss for monarchs and pushes them closer to potentially an endangered status.
I designed the logo above to support U.S. grown avocados. The monarch's tag indicates this monarch was tagged in the U.S. and made it Mexico. It along with myself ask you to buy and consume avocados only grown in the United States. If demand goes down for Mexican grown avocados there is a chance the overwintering mountains of south-central Mexico will once again be a safe haven for migratory monarchs' overwintering sites from November through late March. While habitat loss, use of herbicides and pesticides partly responsible for the declining population of the monarch, the destruction of overwintering sanctuary sites have rapidly become the #1 threat to the eastern monarch population. The speed and destruction of Mexico overwintering habitat by the cartel may play a role in the World Wildlife Federation's determination of whether to advance the classification of the monarch from threatened to endangered. Do your part. Buy only U.S. grown avocados.
May 10, 2024...Feature: Swamp Milkweed
This segment will focus on the female monarch butterfly's favorite milkweed plant to lay her eggs:
The Swamp Milkweed.
(Asclepias incarnata)
This beautiful perennial grows on long sturdy stems that fork as it grows taller. The vanilla scented summer blooms are deep pink to purple. There is a cultivar variety that offer a white flower. This plant is native to every state except: California, Oregon, and Washington state. While the name suggests incarnata is limited to swamps or ponds, once established it will flourish in normal garden conditions. It is not drought tolerant, however.
Pink Swamp Milkweed Flower
Pink Swamp Milkweed
"Cinderella"
White Swamp Milkweed
"Ice Ballet"
White Swamp Milkweed Flower
This milkweed is a favorite among gardeners and monarch enthusiasts as it does not spread. Swamp milkweed lacks a rhizome (an underground root system). This plant grows upright. You can expect incarnata to reach a height of 3-5' and it offers plenty of space between branches enabling other garden plants to share the sun. Like all milkweed plants, once established, it does not like to be moved.
Swamp milkweed is the ideal plant for early and mid-summer generations of monarch butterflies. The final generation of monarch are mate in early August followed by the female laying her eggs in mid-late August. Unlike its Asclepias relative the common milkweed, swamp milkweed does not regenerate when heavily pruned or mowed. That said, leaves and branches eaten by monarch caterpillars (larva) will regrow. Since the lanced shape leaves remain soft throughout the season, female monarchs love this plant through the first frost. In short, do not heavily prune swamp milkweed...leave this task to the common milkweed where aggressive pruning will reward you with new tender leaves just in time for the fall monarch caterpillars.
Swamp milkweed is toxic. The plant is not under the intense latex flow pressure of common milkweed but incarnata does contain the same white latex fluid that makes the monarch caterpillar poisonous. Like all milkweed plants swamp milkweed is very late to emerge in the spring. I usually leave stalks from the previous year's plant to remind myself where I planted them the previous year. Enjoy this fabulous milkweed.
Since pink and white milkweed share the same needs of full sun and moist soil they pair well together. Since swamp milkweed is a favorite of female monarchs make sure you leave enough room for the 4" winged monarch butterfly to easily navigate around the plants.
Milkweed planted too close together will limit the number of eggs a monarch will deposit. Theories that support this include an increased number of predators on plants too concentrated. Additionally, the female monarch will not be able to fly between the plants limiting the number of targeted leaves she will be exposed to.
April 1, 2024...CAUTION: Milkweed is slow to emerge, it's where you left it last year
If you had milkweed in your yard, garden or field last year, it is still there! Don't be discouraged if you haven't seen any new sprouts as milkweed is one of the last perennial plants to emerge. Spring is notorious for teasing gardeners with swings of unseasonably warm weather, particularly in early April. You can expect the first signs of last year's milkweed sprouts by the end of April or as late as mid-May depending on the soil temperature.
Gardeners need to be particularly careful in how they prepare and clear their garden following winter. New milkweed shoots are fragile and easily broken when garden hoes or rakes are used to clear weeds that have already established themselves on top of where milkweed sprouts will emerge. For this reason, it is recommended that weeding is done carefully by hand where milkweed grew last year.
The emergence of milkweed will vary even within the same species. The amount of sunlight that hits the ground on last year's milkweed underground roots will determine which spouts appear first. The warmer the ground, the sooner the emergence.
I found it particularly helpful leaving the dried, hardened stems from last year's milkweed plants. It assures me where to expect this year's plant and, more importantly, where to most carefully weed by hand.
Emerging Orange Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
February 16, 2024...Weed control in your garden this season
This time of year gardeners look at the calendar and out the window...a lot. Spring can't come soon enough. Not helping matters, garden centers and big box stores have fully stocked shelves of planting trays, annual and perennial seeds. Gardens in late winter look pathetic. Clover and chickweed are thriving even before pitchers and catchers arrive in Florida for baseball's annual spring training. Gardeners feel overwhelmed by the barrage of weeds that take front of center well before plants are even available at local nurseries. Winter plans turn to weed control for the new season once and for all. Retail, hardware stores and online sites offer choices for eliminating weeds but come with important fine print, potentially life-threatening fine print for some, in a word Glyphosate.
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many weed killer products, most commonly associated with the product: RoundUp®. While an effective systemic weed killer it is non-specific in what it kills. Glyphosate is present in many weed killers and has no place in gardens. Milkweed and other high nectar emerging plants will be permanently eliminated by broad spectrum weed killers. While you might be tempted to reach for the sprayer to get that pure topsoil look with no greens before planting this year, don't. You have far more to lose than you do to gain.
Reminder! Milkweed is a perennial. It is one of the last plants
to emerge in the spring. A soil temperature over 65 degrees
is needed for last year's milkweed to emerge. In the
mid-Atlantic this is commonly around the middle of May.
Use of broad-spectrum herbicides will destroy healthy
emerging milkweed plants like this orange milkweed,
Asclepias tuberosa and others. (right)
There are natural products that control post-emergent weeds without controversial chemicals. Vinegar preparations are one type gardeners report success with. A call to your local nursery or even university can assist in making this year's weed control safer for you and your returning perennials. While weeds grow quickly, they can't grow faster than you
can remove them. Use of a hoe or long handled rake gives you control which weeds you rake out. Early and new weeds from seeds have very shallow roots and are easily unrooted.
Drugwatch is an A+ Better Business Bureau rated consumer-based agency providing help for those injured from products like RoundUp®. For more information and updates on lawsuits associated with RoundUp® visit here.
RoundUp® is a registered trademark of the Monsanto company.
Red Deadnettle
Harry Bittercress
Common Chickweed
May 14th, Oxford, PA
February 10, 2024...Eastern Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Declines 59% Over Previous Year
World Wildlife Federation, February 7, 2024. The eastern monarch butterfly population declined by 59% over the previous year. Calculated by the number of acres where monarchs were observed in overwintering sites, the 2023-2024 data is the second lowest population count since 1993 when record keeping began (WWF, 2024).
Reasons for the Year's Dramatic Decline
* Increased temperature & drought along
the monarchs' migration routes
* Reduced availability of milkweed resulting
in fewer eggs being deposited on leaves
* Increased herbicide use
* Decreased availability of nectar plants.
Nectar plants enable migrating monarchs to renew their energy and fat storage for
their epic journey to Mexico
worldwildlife.org
Experts cite monarchs are resilient and will find a way to prevail. The long-term trend however from 1993 to the 2024 data shows a 95% reduction from a high roosting population in 1996-1997 of 18.2 acres down to only 0.90 acres in 2024. Monarchs remain a highly specialized insect relying on only one genus (Asclepias) of plant for survival. While there are over 100 species of milkweed across the United States, natural habitats are declining due to an increased footprint of structures such as storage facilities and distribution plants. Charles Darwin cited in his work The Origin of Species that an organism that cannot adapt and evolve in their environment are at increased risk of long-term population decline or extinction. (Darwin, 1859).
While we cannot change the extremes of weather, which experts believed played a significant role in reduced availability of milkweed and nectar plants along migration routes last year, we can plant and irrigate milkweed and high nectar yield perennial plants that bloom during the fall migration on our own properties. Goldenrod and aster remain late season, long blooming and drought resistant favorites of migratory monarchs. Below are two outstanding organizations helping monarchs and providing signage for your monarch 'food & fuel garden.
Support: Monarch Watch here
Support: The World Wildlife Federation here
February 9, 2024...Looking back on 2023 highlights and remaining challenges
A total of 101 monarch caterpillars were collected from local milkweed plants for analysis. Of those, 51% were male. Of the caterpillars raised in environmentally controlled containers, 80 butterflies were tagged and released. Of the 20 that didn't make it, 10 fell to parasitic fly predation. The remaining 10 did not make it out of their chrysalis possibly attributed to Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (Oe) infection. Of the 10 that died in their chrysalis, 82% were 4th or 5th instar caterpillars.
Parasitic Fly Analysis
2023 was a record low year for deaths due to parasitic flies with only 10% of caterpillars infected. The two previous years had record high fly predation rates of 50% in 2023 and 58% in 2022 of their total caterpillar count. It is unclear why the 2023 season had such a low incident of mo