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How to Save Monarchs from Extinction

7/29/2019

According to scientists, monarch populations have plummeted by 90% in the last 20 years.

Yesterday, citizen scientists rocked the International Monarch Blitz at the Royal Botanical Garden's Princess Point in Hamilton, Ontario.

We counted milkweed (the ONLY PLANT monarch caterpillars will eat), monarch eggs, caterpillars & adults. Our data contribution will help scientists understand the conservation needs of declining monarch populations.

We found other species that like milkweed:

It's not too late to participate in The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz:
July 27th – August 4th 2019.

Click to Create a Citizen Science Account

The above link will connect you to resources to help you learn how to identify milkweed plants, monarch eggs, caterpillars and adults. Step by step instruction for submitting observations are provided. This is a great activity for families, youth groups and church groups.

Why Participate?

According to The Trinational Monarch Knowledge Network 
(A Centralized Open Database to Make North American Monarch and Milkweed Data Accessible):

"North American migrating monarch butterflies have been declining for decades and their migratory phenomenon is considered at risk.
Monarch butterflies migrate across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and the threats they face go beyond borders.
In response, the three countries have joined efforts to conserve the two migrating monarch populations."

What are you doing to help monarchs in Canada?

Stay tuned for resources and tips.

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Who's in the Monarch Milkweed Patch?

7/20/2019

Comments

These gorgeous Candy Striped Leaf Hoppers Graphocephala coccinea live in my monarch milkweed patch.

Although these arthropods can damage plants, they are also an important part of the food chain:

After sucking sap, they eject bubbles of sweet liquid waste which provides fuel for pollinators (wasps & flies). They will eat aphids and are prey (fuel) for birds and other arthropods.

Learn more about this critter at The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Field Station's website: https://uwm.edu/field-station/candy-striped-leafhopper/

Watch how the Leaf Hopper shoots out bubbles of liquid waste
Video by sillycaesar
Published on Oct 2, 2011

Comments

How to Save Monarchs from Extinction

It's not too late to participate in The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz:
July 27th – August 4th 2019.

What are you doing to help monarchs in Canada?

Who's in the Monarch Milkweed Patch?

Deb Toor

Archives

Environment, Nature, Earth Day, Children's Books, Nature Activities, Environmental Literacy, Educational Resources,
Nature Books, Animal Books, Vultures. Wildlife Ecosystem Services, Citizen Science, Conservation Scientists, Wildlife Population Declines

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How to Save Monarchs from Extinction

​It's not too late to participate in The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz:July 27th – August 4th 2019.

​What are you doing to help monarchs in Canada?

Who's in the Monarch Milkweed Patch?

Deb Toor

Archives

Environment, Nature, Earth Day, Children's Books, Nature Activities, Environmental Literacy, Educational Resources,Nature Books, Animal Books, Vultures. Wildlife Ecosystem Services, Citizen Science, Conservation Scientists, Wildlife Population Declines​

It's not too late to participate in The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz:
July 27th – August 4th 2019.

What are you doing to help monarchs in Canada?

Environment, Nature, Earth Day, Children's Books, Nature Activities, Environmental Literacy, Educational Resources,
Nature Books, Animal Books, Vultures. Wildlife Ecosystem Services, Citizen Science, Conservation Scientists, Wildlife Population Declines