I saw my first Monarch butterfly of the year 2 weeks ago. One lone Monarch butterfly.
For the past 10 years or so I've been raising Monarch butterflies for fun. WHO knows fun? This girl! The one with the calloused feet and pet butterflies.
It takes almost no effort to raise a butterfly from egg to winged creature and the process is astonishing to watch. If you like watching seeds sprout, wait'll you see a butterfly do the same thing.
Which brings me back to my first point. Only one butterfly this year. Normally I see a few by this time of year and if you think back to when you were a kid there were Monarch butterflies everywhere. We were filthy with butterflies as kids. But things have changed. And they've changed drastically over the past 365 days.
It isn't surprising that I've only seen one butterfly this year because in the past year alone ...
The Monarch Butterfly Population has dropped by 90%.
When you consider the fact that only 1-3% of butterflies make it to adulthood in the wild ... that's very few butterflies. In fact, as of this year ...
The Monarch Butterfly is close to being declared an endangered species.
The Monarch Butterfly!
So how did this happen? Well, mostly it's because their habitat and their food supply has been demolished. Monarchs live, feed and grow on milkweed. Builders put up subdivisions, malls and theatres in areas that were formerly fields. Fields filled with milkweed. Farmers mow down any milkweed around or on their properties to make way for wheat or other crops. Sometimes they mow the milkweed down just to keep it under control so it doesn't run into their cultivated fields. This past year also saw severe weather during the Monarch migration and a huge loss of habitat once they got to Mexico because of illegal logging in the forests.
So this past year was a perfect storm of poor conditions for the Monarch.
I didn't raise Monarchs last year because quite frankly most of my time was filled up with a minor nervous breakdown and coming up with imaginary revenge plots. And I wasn't going to do it this year just because I've done it so many times and I'm really busy living a happy live and coming up with imaginary revenge plots.
But when I saw that lone Monarch butterfly, I ran to the milkweed plants around my house (I leave them to grow specifically for the Monarch butterflies) and searched them for eggs. I only found 3 Monarch eggs, but I brought all 3 inside to save. One is staying with me, one is going to my sister Pink Tool Belt and one is going to her friend Wendy.
If you'd like to give raising a Monarch butterfly a shot (and I really think everyone should do it at least once in their lives) here is the 4 part tutorial I wrote 4 years ago on how to do it. It takes about a month in total and all you need is milkweed for food, a monarch egg or caterpillar (which you find on milkweed) and a glass container so you can see everything that's going on. And believe me when I tell you, you will NEVER see a more fascinating transformation. The metamorphosis of a Monarch Butterfly from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly makes a Stephen King novel look about as weird as The Bobbsey Twins. How's that for a current reference?
Table of Contents
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Not the best photographs I've ever taken but it was 4 years ago. I didn't know how to use Photoshop then. Or a camera. Or even Instagram now that I think about it. How embarrassing.
If you're interested in learning more about how to raise a Monarch Butterfly take a look at the tutorials and give it a shot. (Just click on the picture or text)
That picture above shows me and one of the butterflies I raised a couple of years ago. After taking care of it for a month and watching it go from egg to winged creature, I walked outside, and held out my hand where it tentatively flapped its wings then fluttered to a lush and inviting tree overhead.
Then it was eaten by a bat.
Just kidding.
Help save the butterfly population. Because if you don't do it, who will? Also I don't know what to chase anymore. Trains seem much more dangero ..
Nancy Blue Moon
Thanks for the reminder to plant milkweed..I have a small creek on the one side of my property..I am going to see if there is any growing there..if not I will buy and plant it..I do grow Butterfly Bush as it is not invasive here..
Laura Bee
My neighbour has milkweed in her front garden. I'd guess 95% of her yard is gardens & pathways. Going to take my daughter over this afternoon & see if we can find an egg or two. I haven't done this since I was a kid. There were so many 35 years ago. Bees, butterflies & bats. All in trouble. Pinning, sharing & emailing this one for sure!
Karen
Thanks Laura! And good luck with your search. :) ~ karen
Donna
I have been raising the Black Swallowtail Butterfly on my parsley. One was found dead with only one wing fully open, then another was seen to be in good condition flying well in the garden. Some caterpillars are still munching on the parsley--love to see this.
JeannieB
Monarch butterflies are so beautiful. I've always kept a few milkweed plants growing on the south side of my house. I have a sign , alerting the lawn service not to damage them. I also have a new flowerbed of buddleia and other butterfly friendly shrubs and flowers. I know that the poor creatures are in peril. I do believe that pestiscides and urban sprawl are to blame. I'm hoping to see at least one, this summer.
Patti
At first I thought is she kidding? Is it April Fool's or something? Is there nothing this woman can't do?!? But then I started reading your series and by Part V I was utterly fascinated and spent the last 3 hours looking up different caterpillars and what kinds of butterflies they become. I didn't even know I was interested in this! What a wonderful world we live in.
Karen
LOL. I know. Everyone, man, woman or child who I've introduced this process to has been amazed at how fascinating they've found it! ~ karen
Mary Werner
Thank you Karen for your advice - in Florida we do get part of the migration of Monarchs and I haven't seen any this year - but I also have seen very few other butterflies as well. We have a different type of milkweed than those big podded plants up north - tiny pods and the road department and land owners cut them as weeds. Sad. I plant and plant but not many butterflies. Three years ago I had "hoards" of them every day! But one of the science shows on You Tube told of a huge amount of small insects that have declined worldwide and no one really knows the full answer to why - humans being the worst offender but environment also. We just notice the butterflies more than the yucky creepy crawlers that are also declining AND the decline in birds that are eating them.
Arianne
Ok so I have a question – I just went back and read parts I-V of how to grow the butterfly but I didn’t see any mention of WHERE in your house is the ideal place to locate the butterfly habitat. Does it need sunlight? Direct or indirect? Should it be kept warm or slightly cooler (like near an A/C vent for those of us in the deep south)? Details Karen!!!
Karen
If it was important Arianne, I would have mentioned it. It doesn't matter where you put the butterfly. I have my on the kitchen counter. Sometimes I move it upstairs to my office. Anywhere in your house is fine. ~ karen!
Arianne
Ok good deal – I just didn’t want to accidentally fry or freeze the poor bugger and become an unintentional murderer! Thanks for the info!!!
Ellen
Monarch butterflies used to be so common they were of no interest to me. This year I have seen none, and few butterflies of any kind. I do keep a teeny patch of milkweed and loads of pesticide free flowers around - loads of bumblebees and wasps but few butterflies.
Lynne
Thanks for posting this Karen. It breaks my heart that I so seldom see Monarch butterflies anymore - I think I've seen one in the past two years. They used to be a ubiquitous part of the landscape when I was growing up.
Lori
Thank you for this post. I had bought my son one of the net kits to be able to do this and it was too late to send off for the caterpillar to do it this year. I never thought to go check the milkweed in our field for eggs. Guess I know what he and I will be doing this afternoon. I just recently made a note to buy some milkweed seed next year to increase the amount we had. I had no idea that only around 3% of the butterflies make it in the "wild" though. Such a shame. I will sending this post to all of my friends. Thanks again Karen!!
Patti
Karen, where would one find milkweed plants in the GTA, to plant in their garden? Is it too late, now? Can I get myself set up for next year? I'd really like to do this!
Carolyn
Hi Patti,
You may want to try Sheridan Nurseries. They have several locations around the GTA and when I did a plant search I saw that they do carry Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa) which is in the milweed family, so they may carry Common or Swamp Milkweed as well. You'll just have to check out the store.
Good to know - the Mississauga/Oakville location is very careful about using Neonicotinoid pesticides...you can ask the location nearest you.
Cheers!
Traci
I've been planting native wildflowers and edibles in my yard in hopes of providing habitat for butterflies, birds, and bees. My neighbor is not a fan of my weeds and called the borough on me a few times. Finally met the codes guy and talked to him and he was actually excited about what I'm doing, said he'd tell my neighbor to get over it, not everyone wants golf course lawn. Anyway, after getting milkweed seeds from a native plant sale, I failed to grow any. I'm not certain that I didn't accidentally pull out the plants thinking they were weeds. I'm from WA originally and now live in PA and so I'm not so good with identifying the native plants at their different stages just yet. Anyway, I'd given up hope thinking that my seeds had gone to waste since 2 years have gone by with no milkweed. Then, just a few weeks ago a single milkweed plant appeared! I have been so excited! I keep pointing it out to everyone! I'm hoping one will beget more and maybe there are more seeds lurking in the ground waiting for the right moment to sprout. Anyway, I have tons of butterflies, birds, and bees in my yard and even a few bunnies, but no monarchs. I'm hoping next year I will have a crop of milkweed and maybe some wild monarchs to go with. I might just order some eggs as well. My little guy will be 1 next spring and I'm sure he'll be fascinated with growing butterflies!
As a side note, another teacher at the school I worked at raises monarchs with the 3rd graders every year, but she's been having a harder time finding milkweed to feed them. She's also tried to plant milkweed in the school garden multiple times with no success. Is there a secret to planting milkweed?
Bols
I saw only a single Monarch this summer, last week, and half of one of its wing was gone. I took a picture:
http://photos-a.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xfa1/915686_886081981421416_1378013919_n.jpg
I wonder if it will grow back? It seemed to be able to fly quite ok but I worried about it.
Yes, the milkweed is a problem. Nobody wants it their garden, I have only a few. I will check if I can find any eggs.
babs
unfortunately we don't have the Monarchs here in the Seattle area but I have noticed that there weren't very many Swallowtails this year, or Mourning Cloaks, or Admirals. Just not as many butterflies period. Sad.
Theresa
Ok can anybody reccomed where to get milkweed seeds? of the right species? I live in Queens a borough of NYC - right down the block is a huge park ( designed by olmstead) Forest Park - 525 acres of woodland basically- so we actially get alot of nature in our day. I am thinking I could contact the parks dept. I know that they are creating wildflower "patches" maybe they could point me in the right direction too
On another note a father of my sons friend propigates praying mantis! he collects eggs raises them and plants them all around the nieghborhood ( in appropriate habitats) hes a bit of an amateur expert. I'm hoping that he may take the boys out on an expidetion.
Jeanne B
We live in Minnesota and have finally been seeing some butterflies, including Monarchs. My husband has taught the neighbors children about Monarchs and has had them growing them. Each summer they hunt the milkweed patch on the side of our house for the eggs so they can save them. It's an amazing thing to see a Monarch hatch.
Melissa in North Carolina
I'm going to have to research milkweed, I don't know what it is. I would love to raise Monarch Butterflies!!!
Thanks, Karen!
MindyK
We raised butterflies 10 years ago when my son was small. We haven't done it since because we had a bad experience: when the butterflies came out of their chrysalises (chrysali?), they fell to the bottom of the container and STUCK because their wings were wet. Half of them died. We were traumatized. Is there a way to avoid this? Otherwise, I will plant milkweed but the monarchs are going to have to do the rest themselves.
Karen
Hi MindyK - If I were to guess I'd say your container wasn't big enough. The container has to be big enough so that when the butterfly emerges it has plenty of room to spread it's wings and flap them to dry them out. Drying its wings and unfurling its antennae are the first things a Monarch does when it emerges. ~ karen!
Ev Wilcox
Years ago we were blessed by a Monarch "cloud" that came to rest in our trees at dusk. Just happened to be standing in the right place at the right time. Once they land they are part of the tree and invisible! There were so many! This happened twice that we got to witness. In the morning they were gone. A few years earlier I saw a "cloud" land in our driveway on a sunny day. They rested awhile and left-it was so wonderful and I felt privileged to have them for even such a short time. We live in Northeast Ohio, in farm country. I will try to get the right milkweeds and start from there. Thanks so much Karen!
Dagmar
Alright, so everyone can gasp in unison. I am scared to death of butterflies. No really, I really am. Just looking at your photos Karen made me all queasy. I certainly don't want them extinct by any means. And just yesterday I saw a very large black one - what I assume to be a female Swallowtail. (I had to do some research; because otherwise, I would wonder about it for days and days). It was the first butterfly I had seen of the season, but I do live in a condo, and there is a huge highway a block away, on the opposite side of my balcony. So really, I am not the expert here. Alright, you may all breathe normally now.
tom harrison
My oldest daughter was the same way. I took two of my daughters to the butterfly garden here in Seattle at the Woodland Park Zoo. My 2-year old sat in her stroller while butterflies landed on her and she tried to eat them. My 7-year old? She started screaming, "they're going to eat me!" and I had to take her out of the garden. You should see her mother (my-ex) around a bee. She goes into complete hysterics over the sight of a single bee. So, your reaction seems completely normal to me:)))
Dagmar
Thanks for letting me in on that vision, Tom. The idea of a child eating butterflies as they fly around her will only allow my brain to let that horrific image rest-and only, because two year-olds will put everything in their mouths. And as far as bees are concerned, I wouldn't want to find myself fully immersed in a hive; but I don't run away or kill them.