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Post by Abby-Joy on Mar 20, 2019 16:28:14 GMT -5
The Monarch butterfly is one of Mother Nature's God's most fascinating and beautiful gifts. They have an incredibly complex migratory journey and an awe-inspiring metamorphosis pattern. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the Monarch butterfly may go extinct within our lifetime. The Eastern and Western Monarch butterfly have both shown sharp and startling decline in the last decade, and in 2018, the populations dropped more precipitously than ever.
Each year, Monarchs embark upon the most complicated migration of any insect known. Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains travel thousands of miles to overwinter in a forest in Mexico. The Western Monarch travels down the West Coast to overwinter in the eucalyptus trees and other butterfly friendly spaces of southern California. These overwintering spots are described as a mosaic of black and orange, with butterflies smothering entire patches of forest.
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is a nonprofit group that conducts an annual census of the Western Monarch. Having completed its annual count in California, the group reported a shattering 86% population decline from 2017. But the population of Western Monarchs has been falling for years, and is just a small fraction — about three percent — of what it was in the 1980s.
In 2017, scientists estimated that Western Monarchs faced a 72 percent chance of extinction in the next 20 years if nothing is done to reverse their decline. The Eastern Monarch is also in critical trouble; studies have shown that its population has fallen a frightening 90 percent in the last two decades.
Scientists say the increased use of herbicides, most notably Roundup, is largely to blame for this near extinction. The aggressive use of this weed killer has decimated the population of native milkweed, which is the sole food source of the Monarch caterpillar. Other factors such as deforestation and rapid development have contributed to this loss.
Genetically modified corn and soybeans have been designed to withstand spraying with this herbicide. With massive swaths of the country being planted in GMO crops, the use of Roundup has skyrocketed. Native milkweed, which is typically prevalent along the edges of farmland, is being eradicated by the new zero-tolerance weed policy that GMO farming has created.
Aside from its importance as a wildflower pollinator, the Monarch is considered a canary in the coal mine. Because of the species’ relationship to environmental pressure, the Monarch’s population health is an indicator of the health of an overall ecosystem.
Without intervention, this once-ubiquitous symbol of American biodiversity could be lost forever. Fortunately, scientists report that this dire situation can be reversed through immediate and sustained action.
You can start by planting your native milkweed species and allowing existing wild milkweed habitats to thrive. Also ditching the use of herbicides in favor of more environmentally friendly weed suppression methods will help to restore the beleaguered pollinator population.
You can do you part to help our monarchs and plant a beautiful sanctuary! The Monarch butterfly’s life really does depend on milkweed. It is the only source of food for Monarch caterpillars, and adult butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves.
There are over 100 species of milkweed, all bearing the Latin “asclepias,” named for the Greek god of healing and medicine. This incredible plant makes a gorgeous ornamental and will invite hoards of beautiful monarchs to your garden.
Be sure to plant the correct milkweed that is native to your region. You can include milkweed in flower beds, borders or in the naturalized landscape. The ideal conditions for a milkweed patch is a sunny and sheltered location, perfect for the monarch’s life cycle.Butterfly Milkweed is a perennial type milkweed that is native throughout the eastern and southern regions of the country. It is durable and long lived, a perfect habitat for the Eastern Monarch. Red Swamp is a perennial rosy-pink flowered milkweed that is the best choice for moist locations, as it is native to wet ground throughout much of North America. This species supports the Monarch and other butterfly populations, as well as bees and hummingbirds.
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Cletus
Senior Member
Posts: 2,517
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Post by Cletus on Mar 21, 2019 18:53:00 GMT -5
its not just these butterflys. its lots of insects. my mother had this plant, forget what its called, but a moth was the only insect that would pollinate it. this moth would only show up during the time of year the plant bloomed, and it only bloomed at night. it showed up at night. to see this moth was a sight. it was huge and every bit as pretty as any butterfly. i began to research it. it was years ago. but i remember these moths needed these plants to survive. they migrated thousands of miles every year and they remembered the location of each plant they visited. i do not see it coming anymore. the plant is very unhealthy and soon I am going to dig it up and plant a lemon tree there. my mother says no stores sell these plants anymore.
I used to see those butterflies every year as a boy, but its rare to see one here now.
but if you look into it lots of insects are not as plentiful as they once were.
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Post by Abby-Joy on Mar 21, 2019 19:04:53 GMT -5
its not just these butterflys. its lots of insects. my mother had this plant, forget what its called, but a moth was the only insect that would pollinate it. this moth would only show up during the time of year the plant bloomed, and it only bloomed at night. it showed up at night. to see this moth was a sight. it was huge and every bit as pretty as any butterfly. i began to research it. it was years ago. but i remember these moths needed these plants to survive. they migrated thousands of miles every year and they remembered the location of each plant they visited. i do not see it coming anymore. the plant is very unhealthy and soon I am going to dig it up and plant a lemon tree there. my mother says no stores sell these plants anymore. I used to see those butterflies every year as a boy, but its rare to see one here now. but if you look into it lots of insects are not as plentiful as they once were. Was it one of these plants?
themysteriousworld.com/10-most-beautiful-night-blooming-flowers/
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Cletus
Senior Member
Posts: 2,517
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Post by Cletus on Mar 21, 2019 19:14:30 GMT -5
its not just these butterflys. its lots of insects. my mother had this plant, forget what its called, but a moth was the only insect that would pollinate it. this moth would only show up during the time of year the plant bloomed, and it only bloomed at night. it showed up at night. to see this moth was a sight. it was huge and every bit as pretty as any butterfly. i began to research it. it was years ago. but i remember these moths needed these plants to survive. they migrated thousands of miles every year and they remembered the location of each plant they visited. i do not see it coming anymore. the plant is very unhealthy and soon I am going to dig it up and plant a lemon tree there. my mother says no stores sell these plants anymore. I used to see those butterflies every year as a boy, but its rare to see one here now. but if you look into it lots of insects are not as plentiful as they once were. Was it one of these plants?
themysteriousworld.com/10-most-beautiful-night-blooming-flowers/no. it was a white flower tho. but the flower was bigger and had more stuff. it was more fancy/complex. that does look similar tho.
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Post by Abby-Joy on Mar 21, 2019 19:16:22 GMT -5
no. it was a white flower tho. but the flower was bigger and had more stuff. it was more fancy/complex. that does look similar tho. Did ya scroll all the way down to see the others? What about this one?
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Cletus
Senior Member
Posts: 2,517
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Post by Cletus on Mar 21, 2019 19:26:37 GMT -5
no. it was a white flower tho. but the flower was bigger and had more stuff. it was more fancy/complex. that does look similar tho. Did ya scroll all the way down to see the others? What about this one?
oh. no i didnt scroll. but none of those are it. in the south you get what i call "redneck names" for plants. (And i am not trying be be offensive) often its not the real name. the plant has a bunch of long leaves, dark green that grow from rhizome. the leaves are 2-2.5 inches wide and 3 to 4 foot long. stalks grow out of the center of all the rhizomes. each stalk makes a bloom. the plant quit blooming several years back.
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Post by John on Mar 24, 2019 15:54:57 GMT -5
So the best thing we can do to help save this species of butterfly is plant milkweed? This would help bees and hummingbirds too? Mankind does a lot of things without considering the effects on plants and animals. They are not meaning to cause harm, but it just happens. Hopefully in this case, the damage can be reversed. There have been many examples of animals that were nearly extinct that made a comeback thanks to conservation efforts.
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Cletus
Senior Member
Posts: 2,517
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Post by Cletus on Mar 24, 2019 20:38:41 GMT -5
another plant the butterflys like is lantana. i call it stink bush. all the women in my family love the plant.
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Post by ladypeartree on Mar 26, 2019 3:32:48 GMT -5
wish we could get those plants here they are beautiful
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