MaryAnn Lepp marveled at the abundant transformation of monarch butterflies in her garden, observing 20 caterpillars feasting on swamp milkweed in a single day this week. She is just one of many monarch enthusiasts in Canada who are witnessing a surge in monarch activity in their backyard milkweed patches, thriving in the wet and hot conditions of the Prairie this summer.
Expressing her excitement, Lepp scanned her garden in La Broquerie, located around 60 kilometers southeast of Winnipeg, for monarch cocoons, noting the increase in butterfly sightings compared to previous years. While conservation experts cannot definitively attribute the surge to weather conditions, they acknowledge the positive impact on the federally endangered monarch butterfly population.
Marika Olynyk, curator of the Living Prairie Museum, reported a significant presence of monarch butterflies in Winnipeg, emphasizing the ongoing sightings of caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies throughout the summer. The museum, which recently concluded its annual monarch festival, hosts various native plants that attract pollinators, including different milkweed species.
Although monarch butterflies primarily feed on nectar from milkweed flowers, they have a diverse diet that includes other flowering plants like the meadow blazing star. However, during the caterpillar stage, monarchs are selective and only consume milkweed leaves.
Despite efforts by individuals like Lepp to plant milkweed and native wildflowers, these plants remain scarce due to habitat loss caused by the conversion of native grasslands into farmland. Olynyk highlighted habitat loss as the most significant threat to monarchs, emphasizing the need to protect their environment.
Recognizing the critical status of monarch butterflies, the federal government upgraded their conservation status to “endangered” in 2016, making it illegal to harm or capture monarchs on federal lands. To estimate the monarch population, researchers rely on monitoring the forest wintering grounds in Mexico, where the butterflies migrate annually.
While there has been a positive trend in monarch numbers at locations like the Assiniboine Park Zoo’s native prairie garden, Laura Burns, the conservation programs manager, noted the challenges faced by other endangered butterflies like the Poweshiek skipperling. The zoo is actively involved in breeding and releasing Poweshiek skipperlings to support their survival, with recent observations indicating signs of population recovery.
As efforts continue to conserve monarchs and other endangered butterflies, zoos are exploring innovative methods such as using radio transmitters to track monarchs during their migration to Mexico. Enthusiasts like Epp remain dedicated to nurturing caterpillars and chrysalises, underscoring the importance of environmental stewardship and coexistence with nature.
This collective effort aims to safeguard butterfly populations and contribute to the preservation of ecosystems for future generations.
