Support Your Local Monarchs! by Mickey Fraser, President, Garden Club of Switzerland

I shared my photos of monarch caterpillars enjoying the milkweed in my garden this summer with the Garden Club.  In sharing them with you I want to tell you just how easy it is to provide habitat for these imperiled animals and what is threatening them.  Here is why we all need to do something for the monarch.  Then I'll share how you can easily start your own Monarch Way Station.

Hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico every fall to overwinter in the high elevation oyamel fir forests of central Mexico.  The pictures of millions of Monarch butterflies resting on these trees are spectacular. (photo)  In the US, we are reminded frequently of the damage we have caused to our environment  such as losing 52% of the population of vertebrate animals in just 2 generations of human abuse and the Honeybee Colony Collapse.  Lately, scientists have found that there has been a 90% decline in of monarch butterflies in less than 20 years. This decline is troubling enough for some environmental groups to ask for federal protection for these beautiful orange and black butterflies that undertake one of nature’s most intriguing yearly migrations from Canada to Mexico.

 The known causes of monarch decline include the loss of more than 165 million acres of their habitat , including nearly a third of their summer breeding and feeding grounds to human development, widespread use of glyphosate-based  herbicides like Roundup, and planting of genetically engineered  Roundup-resistant crops in the Midwest where many monarchs are born.  While some plants have evolved to be resistant to glyphosate, the milkweed has developed no such immunity.  Round-up remains a potent killer of milkweed, the monarch’s only food.  And now, the EPA has approved a combination herbicide of glyphosate and 2,4-D, Enlist-Duo, to kill weeds that have developed glyphosate resistance.  The NRDC is suing the EPA over this decision, but in the meantime thousands of acres of milkweed being lost daily through the use of Enlist-Duo or Roundup. 

Milkweed plants are the only plants that the monarch will lay her eggs on and once hatched the larvae eat milkweed leaves as their first meal.  Milkweed consumption provides the caterpillar more than nourishment; it imparts a special predator deterrent to both the monarch caterpillar and butterfly.  Milkweed is poisonous.  Consumption of milkweed renders the monarch poisonous as well.  The caterpillar's and butterfly's bright colors advertise its deadly nature, and smart predators will avoid it, and live to see another day.

It's easy for us to become discouraged about our ability to affect the decisions of large corporations and agencies.  But that doesn't mean we can't do important things as individuals to protect milkweed and sustain (and even replenish) our monarch population.  Residents of the Midwest, where the effects of herbicides have devastated the milkweed population, are planting "migration corridors of milkweed" to support monarchs enroute between Canada and Mexico.  While northeast Florida is not an agricultural zone, we are in a migration path and threats to monarchs are here too:  overdevelopment and mosquito spraying being just two.  You can help.  Plant some milkweed and ask your neighbors to do the same.

 

Milkweeds are very easy to grow and once established will provide nourishment for many offspring in your garden and landscape.  The Monarch Joint Venture website has a milkweed resource page that tells you how to locate appropriate milkweed seeds and plants for your area.  Because monarchs have 3-4 generations yearly with easily identified egg, larvae and butterfly stages, once you plant your milkweed you’ll be guaranteed  wonderful nature viewing and numerous outdoor, teaching, and photography opportunities for yourself and family all spring, summer and fall.  This year my yard has seen three generations of monarchs, and October is the time for the 4th generation, the long-distance flyers, to begin the important migration to the monarch winter home in Mexico.

  

We can become good stewards for our environment and help to stop the decline of these beautiful butterflies with just a few simple steps.  Don't use herbicides that are toxic to milkweeds and avoid pesticides such as those cited at the Monarch Joint Venture that can adversely affect monarch caterpillars and butterflies.  You can check with your local University of Florida extension service for alternatives that are safer.  Plant milkweed wherever you can, and spread the word to your friends and local organizations. Pay attention to where you buy your milkweed plants or seeds and ask the store if they have been treated with pesticides.  Better yet, find a reputable source of milkweed seeds for your state at the Xerces Society Project Milkweed page.  Visit  www.monarchwatch.org and learn how to create a Monarch Way Station.  Monarch Way Stations are places that provide milkweeds, other nectar plants, and water to the generations that breed and migrate yearly.   If you do start a milkweed garden please register it at the Monarch Watch.  You may also look at the North American Butterfly Association website for information on creating a multi-species butterfly habitat in to your garden that supports both the larvae and adults, having your butterfly garden certified, and supporting butterfly research by doing butterfly counts.  

Last but not least, join a garden club that promotes wildlife conservation.  The Garden Club of Switzerland is dedicated to providing habitat for monarchs and other butterflies.  See our Awards and Projects page for information on our Freedom Butterfly Garden and other initiatives to protect wildlife and the environment.  Let's stay in touch!