26
Escarpment Magazine Spring 2014
FEATURE
|
alpine rockfest
Noother butterfliesmigrate like theMonarchs ofNorthAmerica. They travel a spec-
tacular,4,000-kilometre route tooverwinter inasmallareanorthwestofMexicoCity—
theonlyspeciesofbutterfly tomakesucha longandarduous, twowaymigrationevery
year.Amazingly, they fly inmasses to the samewinter roosts, often to theexact same
trees but individuals onlymake the round-triponce. After theyarrive in their northern
regions, they lay eggs onmilkweedplants. These eggs hatch into caterpillars after
about four days. Thebabycaterpillar feedsonmilkweed for about twoweeks. It then
attaches itself to the plant and forms a chrysalis. After roughly ten days, the butterfly
emerges. Thebutterfly lives for two to sixweeksbefore it layseggs for the secondgen-
eration. The cycle repeats four times during thewarmer months. The4
th
generation
Monarch is theone thatmigrates southagain.Anunsolvedmystery is howMonarchs
find their overwintering sites eachyear. Somehow they know theirway, even though
thebutterflies returning toMexicoorCaliforniaeach fallare thegreat-great-grandchil-
drenof thebutterflies that left thepreviousspring.Nooneknowsexactlyhow theirhom-
ingsystemworks; it isanotherof themanyunansweredquestions in thebutterflyworld.
FEATURE |
we’re in trouble, please help us
Acorus RestorationNativePlant Nursery –
•
–
–
519.586.2603
GrowWild–
–705.793.3136
•
Jack&Ginger NativePlant Nursery –
•
416.990.3973
Natural Themes –
•
–613.398.7971
WILDCanada–NativePlant Nursery&Ecologi-
•
cal Consulting
–
613.398.7971
Wild Things –
•
519.338.3228
Wildflower Farm–
•
866.476.9453
What todo?
PlantMilkweed!!
Unfortunately theseed is
noteasy to findbut the
good folksatmonarch-
watch.orghavesupplied the
following listof sources in
Ontario:
Monarchbutterfly
populationsaredeclining
due to lossofhabitat.
Toassurea future for
monarchs, conservation
and restorationof
milkweedsneeds to
becomeanational priority.
~ChipTayloe, Director,MonarchWatch
