The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is back in our beautiful Kentucky commonwealth, having migrated up from Mexico.
(pic I took at the Louisville Zoo, June 2025)
You may or may not know, but by some estimates, the Monarch is an endangered or threatened species.
Folks might not be too concerned about that, but they should be because the Monarch is a prolific pollinator. Without them some plants won’t be as likely to reproduce.
The most likely culprit in the Monarch’s demise is habitat loss. You see the Monarch caterpillar feeds exclusively on Milkweed (Asclepias Syriaca), and that plant is not as abundant as it once was.
(from Google Images)
Recognize it? You’ve probably been around it all your life but never knew it.
Let’s be clear! The Monarch, in its butterfly stage, lives off nectar from numerous flowers, but it lays its eggs only on the underside of Milkweed leaves.
(from Google Images)
According to monarchjointventure.org, when these eggs hatch a few days later, the larvae/caterpillars feed on the Milkweed plant for a couple weeks until time to form a chrysalis (moths form cocoons).
Maybe you remember from science or biology class how the cycle is completed?
(from Google Images)
Once the butterfly emerges, it will hang around a while before flying all the way back to Mexico for the winter. And the cycle starts all over.
So, why am I blogging about this? For one, biodiversity needs preserving. Also, it’s neat as a hobby. Thousands of folks try to help the Monarch.
How? Well, if you can find an egg, you can cut the milkweed leaf and put it in a butterfly habitat you buy at Walmart or elsewhere.
After the egg hatches, you’ll have to provide it with fresh milkweed leaves by cutting stems and leaves and sticking them in water so the leaves don’t dry up before the caterpillars can eat them.
My father, Kenny, is looking for eggs right now to put in the butterfly habitat he was gifted for Father’s Day this year.
Another way to help Monarchs is to plant Milkweed. Seeds are inexpensive and widely available for purchase.
Personally, I consider the “weed” to be pretty. You know what they say—one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
To be fair, there are other butterfly species who could use some help from us, like the Painted Lady. However, the Monarch gets the bulk of the attention.
If you’re looking for a hobby or just a way to contribute to wildlife conservation, here it is!
The Monarch and its Milkweed is out there. Go find it!
