Magical Monarchs
- FOPPI
- 8 minutes ago
- 2 min read
During the Festival of Nature a couple of weeks ago, we were greeted by two happy Monarch butterflies. They danced in the breeze and circled our group with happiness ... they made it from their winter roost in Mexico's fir forests.
The Monarch butterfly is the only insect that migrates like birds do.
Earlier this year they, or their great-great-grandparents, great-grandparents or grandparents, were awakened with a need to begin their journey north, find a mate and scatter their eggs on milkweed plants (the only plant that caterpillars eat) over the 1,000+ mile trip - knowing that they will more than likely die, but their offspring will continue in the path they began. Those eggs will hatch into larvae (aka caterpillars) who are armored with a substance (cardiac glycosides) that induces vomiting in predators, to assure likeliness of their survival.
Nine to fourteen days after the caterpillar has emerged from its egg state, the butterfly stretches her (or his) wings for flight.
The Monarch butterfly is often represented in folklore; did you know that:
The name ‘monarch’ was given to the butterflies by European colonists in the US and Canada in honor of King William III, Prince of Orange and King of England
Native Americans consider them as messengers from the spirit world, carrying the souls of departed loved ones.
In Mexico, monarchs are believed to be the souls of ancestors visiting during the Day of the Dead celebrations. The butterfly’s migration and arrival coincide with these cultural events, reinforcing its significance as a symbol of continuity and hope.
They represent transformation, resilience and souls of ancestors across various cultures; a sign that you are on the right path to achieve your goals.
A loved one is watching over you.
These little miracles, that weigh less than a paper clip, face many threats, such as the loss of forest habitat, food resources and climate change. The US Fish & Wildlife Refuge Service has proposed to list the monarch as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (USFWS and the National Marine Fisheries administers the ESA).
Imagine a summer garden without Monarchs flitting about. How unfortunate that would be, knowing that we could have done something about it, by simply:
Planting colorful, nectar-rich native plants that bloom throughout the season such as milkweed, marigolds, bee balm, coneflowers, lilacs and peonies ... plants that are purple, yellow, white, blue or red in color.
Using care when applying herbicides and pesticides; steer clear of products that have glyphosate as part of their recipe.
Advocate for their protection by following:
Follow their progress, register for our annual Monarch Cruise on 9/12 to tag and follow our Monarchs south and / or volunteer for our 9/19 workday to help broadcast milkweed seeds across the island.
You'll be glad that you did.