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Every October, hundreds of thousands of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) make a miraculous journey from the northern United States to their winter home in Mexico. Monarchs, one of the most recognized butterflies in North America, are amazing creatures that migrate thousands of miles between Mexico and North America every spring and fall.
Monarchs follow several migration routes, including two in Texas — a coastal route and a central route. The beautiful and beneficial Monarchs often can be seen throughout Texas during migration season.
You can help sustain these winged wonders on their long trip by providing nectar and larval food in your own backyard. Monarchs use most milkweeds as a source of nectar and larval food in the spring, while their main source of nectar during fall migration is the late-blooming frostweed (Verbesina virginica). The easiest-to-find plants for migrating Monarchs in both the spring and fall are tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), blue mist-flower (Eupatorium coelestinum), white boneset (Eupatorium serotinum or Eupatorium havanense), and most varieties of sunflowers.
Keep in mind that the use of pesticides will adversely affect Monarchs and other beneficial insects, and realize that your milkweeds will be eaten heartily by Monarch caterpillars. Watching their growth from egg to adult in the spring can be a wonderful educational experience for children and adults.
Melanie Pavlas is an environmental coordinator for LCRA. She can be reached at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 7406, or melanie.pavlas@lcra.org. |
