I recently read an article byMargaret Renkl titled “The Last Butterfly.” In it she says that as a species, the Eastern monarch is in serious trouble. A changing climate is part of the problem, endangering the monarch’s Mexican wintering grounds and creating extreme weather events that can destroy millions of migrating butterflies.
Monarchs are important pollinators that don’t eat crops or damage gardens. Their caterpillars eat only milkweed, which was once widespread along roadsides and in the fencerows between fields on small farms. Unfortunately, milkweed is disappearing due to habitat destruction and the widespread use of herbicides by commercial farms, state highway departments and homeowners. No milkweed, no monarchs.
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the North American monarch population has dropped more than 80 percent in the last two decades. This year, the butterfly’s migratory population — some 93 million — was significantly lower than only a year ago. And scientists believe the population needs to reach at least 225 million to avoid extinction.
You can imagine my delight when I let some milkweed plants grow in my flower beds and monarch caterpillars showed up. As Dr. Abigail DerbyLewis, a senior conservation ecologist at the Field Museum in Chicago said, “In many ways, if you plant it, they will come.” Dr. Lewis went on to say, “It’s a wonderful, almost-instant gratification that people feel and are empowered by in order to make a difference.” That is exactly how I felt. I watched those caterpillars get fatter by the day as they destroyed my milkweed plants and I felt like I was helping the monarchs survive.
The monarch butterfly is in trouble and needs your help – no science degree or additional work required. Just let the milkweed plants grow in your flower beds. Or if you are feeling ambitious, find a local source for native milkweed plants and devote an entire flower bed to them. You will be able to tell everyone that you are helping save the monarchs.
More information on Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District can be found at www.marshallcountyswcd.org or on Facebook.
By Debbie Palmer
Marshall County SWCD
