Monarch Watch and a Beautiful Saturday Afternoon

Diane explaining to me how to tag the butterfly.

My posting of August 10, 2012, ten days ago I am embarrassed to say, brought some attention. The reason I have been remiss on posting is that for the last 10 days, I have had daily, non stop,  an event or an engagement concerning Phragmites and their removal or another gardening or butterfly opportunities to attend. So, this is the catch up of the events. 

As I was saying, I posted, again, about the Monarch Watch. I received an email from a fellow daylily member of the Southern Michigan Daylily Society and in the subject line it stated: "Monarchs not Daylilies" from Diane Pruden. I had actually just seen Diane the day before at the Daylily Picnic. I never knew she was involved in Monarchs. She said she is a Conservation Specialist with Monarch Watch. She raises Monarch on her 1 1/2 acre property, of which some of it is planted in Milkweed, or Asciepias incarnata,  a food source, from egg to mature Monarch. She has traveled to Mexico and witnessed the Monarch migration. 

She explained that she was giving a talk at the Milford Public Library would I like to come. Well, she didn't have to ask me twice, I was there with cameras and tripod in tow. 

Diane explaining about the Monarch
Watch program.

When I arrived, already the tables were filling with families ready to learn about the beautiful butterfly. Diane explained about the organization and how we as citizens can help with the Way stations to help feed the Monarch along their long journey from Michigan to Mexico. According to Monarch Watch, because of loss of Milkweeds and nectar plants due to development and the widespread use of herbicides in croplands, pastures and roadsides, the Monarch numbers are decreasing. Monarch Watch is the work of Dr. Chip Taylor, University of Kansas and it's purpose is to engage citizen scientists to spread education, conservation and research through out the communities along the Monarch's flyways. Through our efforts to ensure the preservation of the species this unique phenomenon of the Monarch migration will continue. It is world wide, the United States has the furthest distances for the butterflies to fly each way. Creating a Way station can be as simple as adding milkweed and nectar plants to our existing gardens. 

 Diane brought several different examples of flowers that a citizen scientist can plant in their yard for the adult Monarchs to feed on once they have emerged from the chrysalis. She passed around Milkweed laden with chrysalises,(can you count the number on the stalk?), Cone flowers, Phlox, Butterfly Bush, Zinnias and Mexican Milkweed can be planted to attract several varieties of Butterflies. Diane explained that there are 3 types of Milk weeds in Michigan, Common Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed and Butterfly Milkweed.  There is Latex in the milky substance in the plant and the caterpillar absorbs this and tastes terrible to any one that tries to eat it. The caterpillar also knows how much it can eat without over doing because the latex makes it sleepy. 

She brought caterpillars for the each of the audience members to see and observe. The explanation of the metamorphic process was explained to the amazement of  us all. In a matter of 14 + days from caterpillar to adult butterfly. She taught us how to identify if the butterfly is a male or female, by a black spot on the veining on the wing. The spot means a male. She showed us how to tag the Butterflies to identify where they started their journey when and if they are found again. It takes a Monarch about 2 months to fly to Central Mexico. 

The group then proceeded from the Milford Library to Proud Lake, the horse staging area to tag and release the butterflies that Diane collected from the eggs she raised. Look for these pictures and video on Thursday.