The Good Life – May-June 2024

Monarch Butterfly Life Cycles
Female monarchs overwinter in conifer forests in Mexico,
most notably oyamel fir forest. Sometime in March, they
begin moving north, laying eggs on milkweed plants. The
migrating adults begin dying off by May.
The next generation, those born of the eggs laid in March,
continue the northern migration. This generation reaches
North Dakota and Minnesota, all the way into southern
Canada. Monarchs during the summer lay eggs and new
generations are produced. The subsequent monarchs begin
laying additional eggs immediately, as the reproductive
generations only last a few weeks, up to a couple of months.
A continuous supply of milkweed is essential for repeated
reproduction. Each female can lay up to 400 eggs during
her lifetime.
The yellow and black striped caterpillars eat voraciously
before entering the chrysalis, where they spend up to two
weeks in. They then emerge as an adult and repeat the
cycle.
The last generation begins migrating south in late summer,
aiming for the fir forests of Mexico. Clustering in colonies
to stay warm, there may be as many as a few thousand
butterflies on a single oyamel fir tree.
A Massive Decline
The population decline of milkweed species has had a direct
impact on monarch populations. The eastern population,
of which Minnesota and North Dakota are part of, has
plummeted by over 80% since the 1990s. While there are
a variety of reasons for the decline, the primary concern
is the loss of milkweed habitat in the summering grounds.
Because of the decline of habitat, every little bit counts.
Even a few swamp milkweed plants in a planter on an
apartment porch can serve as a much-needed food source.
It doesn’t take much to make a big difference.
We Can Eat It Too!
Our family enjoys joining the monarchs for a milkweed
feast! Early during the growing season, when the milkweed
is up 10 inches to a foot out of the ground, I will cut some
of the seedlings, leaving an inch or two above the ground.
After peeling off all the leaves except the top two, I’ll boil
some water on the stove. The stalks are blanched in the
boiling water for a minute or so. This removes the latex
from the stems but does not cook them.
Next, I’ll drop a tablespoon or two of butter in a frying pan
and get the pan to temp. The blanched stems are sautéed
until done, usually a few minutes. Sprinkled with some
PHOTO BY: JEFFREY MILLER
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