Butterflies are in trouble! Why?
Severe weather. Butterflies need good weather along their long route to Mexico. In the past, they have had to fly through droughts in hot places like Texas. During droughts, plants butterflies feed on struggle to grow. Butterflies need nectar from wildflowers, goldenrod, and sunflowers. The food they eat along the way gives them strength for winter. No rain means no nectar. No nectar means no winter fuel!
Deforestation. Butterflies can survive winter weather in the Mexican mountains as long as trees shade them from getting wet. Now officials work with the people they govern to make sure people take good care of butterfly forests in Mexico. But that was not always the case. People cut down forests even though it was against the law, leaving the butterflies no winter protection.
Missing milkweed. Pesticides and herbicides can help farmers in the U.S. Midwest grow huge amounts of crops. But those chemicals don’t just kill pests and problem plants. They keep all kinds of plants from growing, including the milkweed where butterflies make their homes. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed. The caterpillars eat only milkweed. Milkweed used to grow alongside fields and roadsides all over the Midwest. Chemical use has made milkweed much rarer.
Monarchs: How to Help
Monarchs weigh only about as much as a paper clip. Still, they can migrate thousands of miles! Now is a good time of year for you to help monarchs on their journey. The Bible says “by wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.” (Proverbs 24:3) A little knowledge can help you build a good home for monarchs.
Plant milkweed to give monarch caterpillars a place to live and food to eat. In North America, 108 varieties of milkweed grow. You can buy milkweed seeds at garden centers or from organizations working to save monarchs.
Plant food for adult butterflies. Monarchs need plants rich in nectar. Try planting sunflowers, asters, black-eyed Susans, zinnias, Brazilian verbena, calendula, or purple coneflowers. See if a monarch visits you! (You may also attract other nectar-lovers: hummingbirds.)
Make room for mud. Do you love mud puddles? Butterflies do. Dig a spot for rain to collect—not too deep. Butterflies need a safe, shallow place to land.
