All About Monarchs

Monarch Waystations

The monarch is the most iconic butterfly in North America and the milkweed plant is critical for its survival. Without milkweed, monarchs cannot complete their lifecycle. Today, monarchs, milkweed and nectar sources are in serious decline due to habitat loss, especially in the Midwest. Changes in agricultural practices are a major cause. Creating monarch waystations in home gardens, schools, businesses and parks provides needed habitat and will ensure the monarch future in North America.

Monarch waystations are habitats that provide for monarchs in all stages of their lifecycle. Lake Metroparks is planting milkweed plots in several parks. You can help! Create your own monarch waystation. Here’s how:

• Plant native milkweeds (available at native plant nurseries) in a sunny spot
• Include a variety of nectar plants that bloom from May through October
• Avoid using pesticides and herbicides

Host plants

• Swamp milkweed
• Common milkweed
• Butterfly weed

swamp milkweed

common milkweed

butterfly weed

Nectar plants

• Coneflower
• Black-eyed Susan
• Butterfly bush
• Bee balm

coneflower

black-eyed Susan

butterfly bush

bee balm

Monarch Life Cycle

A female monarch lays just one egg per milkweed plant and can lay as many as 350 eggs. Once hatched, the caterpillar eats only milkweed leaves. It takes about one month to transform from egg to adult butterfly. Adult monarch butterflies drink flower nectar.

eggs

caterpillars

chrysalis

adult

Did You Know?

Monarch migration is one of the greatest natural wonders of the insect world. Each fall, they travel nearly 2,000 miles to over-winter in Mexico. It is the third generation of these monarchs that returns to Ohio in mid-May.