Plants attract Monarch butterflies

BY Kelly Lopez

Cocoons hang awaiting their emergence as gorgeous Monarch butterflies. It takes about 10 days to go through its metamorphosis.

Janice Hogan was hoping the milkweed plants she had moved with her other belongings to Canyon Lake in December would later bear gifts. The new Canyon Laker was proven right. Monarch butterflies, that only lay eggs on the milkweed plant, started emerging from their cocoons this week, much to Janice’s joy.

She had moved to Canyon Lake in December from Orange County and brought her pots of milkweed with her in hopes that butterflies might be attracted to them. Milkweed is the only plant that Monarch caterpillars eat, so it is the only plant that the butterflies will lay their eggs on.

The first Monarch emerged from its chrysalis on Memorial Day, leaving many others to complete metamorphosis

Monarch butterflies spend winters in Mexico, but once the end of March rolls around Monarchs start their yearly migration north. They are the only butterflies to migrate two-ways, as birds do. They make their yearly migration over thousands of miles using instinct and weather cues and can travel up to 100 miles per day. It can take up to two months to make the full migration to their destination.

Janice’s milkweed was lucky enough to have a surprise visitor that laid a large amount of eggs on the plants. Since the butterfly’s destination was actually further south, this particular butterfly must have been a straggler. Janice said she had never had any butterflies that were attracted to her plants until this year.

Janice Hogan found to her surprise caterpillars eating milkweed she had in pots. Milkweed is the only plant Monarch caterpillars will eat. They devoured the plants so much, she had to buy more from a nursery to satiate them. Photos courtesy of Janice Hogan.

Janice brought five milkweed plants in pots from her home in Orange County when she moved to her house in Canyon Lake. It was not until early May that she noticed brightly colored caterpillars devouring her plants. It was what she had been waiting for.

“Butterflies have always been significant to me,” Janice said. “They remind me of my mom.”

When Janice noticed that the numerous caterpillars had no more milkweed to eat, she reached out on Facebook for help. “Does anyone know where I can buy pesticide-free milkweed?” she posted. She got a prompt response and quickly bought more milkweed at a local nursery.

The caterpillars moved into chrysalises a few weeks ago. There were 13. On Memorial Day, the first caterpillar emerged from its chrysalis as a much-changed butterfly.

Janice has saved three of her newly purchased milkweed plants in hopes that a Monarch butterfly will again lay eggs and she could have an up-close view of the butterflies again next year.