got milkweed?
Did you know?
Milkweed is essential for Monarch Butterfly survival. The adult Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on the milkweed, and once the egg hatches, the milkweed provides food for monarch caterpillars and a safe place for them to create a chrysalis. Over the past several years, milkweed is on the decline due to construction, mowing and use of herbicides. As a result, the Monarch butterfly's population is also declining. You can help by planting native flowers and milkweed plants and also by collecting seed pods during the annual collection by the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation District and Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (or your local agency if you're not in Ohio).
The adult female Monarch lays her eggs on milkweed plants.
Milkweed plant in the fall
A Monarch butterfly egg.
Female Monarchs lay eggs on a milkweed plant, eggs are about the size of a pencil tip.
A newly hatched Monarch caterpillar.
After hatching, the caterpillar grows rapidly. Within two weeks the caterpillar will be 3,000 times larger than the day it hatches.
A fully grown Monarch caterpillar.
Monarch caterpillars grow bigger than most North American caterpillars. They can get up to three inches long.
Monarch in a "J" formation
When the caterpillar is fully grown it finds a place to make it's chrysalis. It spends approximately 18 hours in this phase.
A Chrysalis.
A chrysalis is a protective case that Monarch's spin themselves into.
The Monarch Butterfly!
The chrysalis becomes transparent, revealing the magnificent butterfly inside. Once it is completely transparent the butterfly will emerge.
Monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico every year. That's about 3,000 miles. The Monarch butterflies that fly through Ohio end up in Oyamel Fir Forests, in the mountains of Mexico.
Monarch Butterflies in the Northeast region migrate to the mountains of Mexico for the winter.
Overwintering site in Mexico.
Interested in Citizen Science?
Monarch Watch
Monarch Watch Tagging To determine monarch migration routes, and weather influence and survival during monarch migrations, Monarch Watch launched a tagging program to mark individual monarchs with a unique identification. The tagging program has produced a dataset with records of over one million tagged butterflies and more than 16,000 recoveries.
Journey North
Journey North engages citizen scientists from across North America in tracking migration and seasonal change to foster scientific understanding, environmental awareness and the land ethic. Volunteers submit observations of first monarchs in the spring, roosts in the fall as well as first emergence and presence of milkweed. Sign up for weekly news updates and watch real-time interactive maps.
Ohio Butterfly Monitoring Program
Ohio Butterfly Monitoring Program
This citizen science program of the Ohio Lepidopterists focuses on long-term monitoring of butterfly populations in Ohio.
About Me
I am a High School Senior from Maineville, Ohio, who is a Girl Scout Ambassador. My Girl Scout Gold Award is taking steps to Save the Monarch Butterfly. I hope you enjoy the information I have provided on Monarch butterflies. Any questions can be sent to fezsummers@icloud.com