Oden Taylor, EcoNews Intern
With their large orange and black wings, monarch butterflies are one of the most beautiful and recognizable butterfly species. In Humboldt County, we are fortunate to receive the influx of monarch butterflies during their migration from the Rocky Mountains to California and Mexico for their overwintering period, usually around October.
The monarch is a very important symbol to many indigenous peoples of North America. In the language of the native Purépecha, an Indigenous group in Michoacan, Mexico, the monarch is known as “Kolombrini parakata”, implying “harvester butterfly.” They were given this name due to their migration pattern lining up with the natural time to harvest or reap corn.
All butterflies are pollinators that carry pollen from flowering plants to aid in the plant’s reproduction cycle. This process is not only fascinating, but it is also crucial for our survival on this planet. “About 80 percent of all flowering plants and more than three-quarters of the staple crop plants that feed humankind rely on animal pollinators,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.
Unfortunately, due to habitat loss and climate change, butterfly populations are declining across the globe. Though monarchs are not currently listed as endangered by the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), populations have been in extreme decline. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website, “the monarch is currently slated to be listed [as endangered] in 2024.”
There are many ways that you can help monarch butterflies and other important pollinators in your own garden and with the choices you make at the store. If you have a garden, consider planting narrow-leaf milkweed in early March at the start of the monarch’s egg-laying cycle, which goes through April.
Narrow-leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) is a native Humboldt plant, on which adult monarchs lay their eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the leaves of the milkweed plant support their offspring’s diet in the caterpillar stage. Be sure to check with your local native plant society for more information about how to appropriately plant milkweed in your own yard. There are also many other native, nectar-giving plants that support the diets of pollinators like monarchs, so be sure to provide diversity in your garden. You can also help migrating pollinators by providing them with shallow water dishes to drink from along their journeys.
Another way to support the monarchs is by avoiding pesticides both in your own garden and in what you buy from the grocery store. Purchasing organic produce ensures that you are not contributing to butterfly habitat loss. The heavy use of pesticides and herbicides to kill weeds on non-organic farms has led to a decrease in milkweed plants for the butterflies to lay their eggs on.
Making simple changes in your life can make a big impact on the lives of others. Protecting these species is essential to guarantee people can be inspired by their beauty and grace for generations to come.