gma3
enthusiast
Posts: 676
Reg: 10-17-06
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01-29-14 02:49 PM - Post#165896
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/01/29/4784227/mo nar...
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ConserveNature
enthusiast
Posts: 175
Reg: 10-15-05
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01-29-14 06:50 PM - Post#165909
In response to gma3
I've been reading about this for several years. With habitat loss (including food and water) and pesticides, monarchs don't have a chance. This also affects others and those up the food chain.
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csquare
enthusiast
Posts: 627
Loc: Allen
Reg: 01-16-08
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02-01-14 10:53 AM - Post#165965
In response to ConserveNature
Monarchs, because they are big, showy and instantly recognizable by most North Americans, are getting a lot of press--which they deserve. We'll be lucky if we can do enough in time to preserve the amazing phenomenon of their mass migration to Mexico. Unfortunately, they are just the tip of the iceberg. No one really knows the impacts of modern farming methods on hundreds of less showy species, and it's hard to be certain where no baseline data existed, but evidence points to big trouble with lot of other species too. Our farm has donated many thousands of milkweed seeds to Monarch Watch the last two years in an effort to get milkweeds planted in as many places as possible as soon as possible. I'm working as fast as I can to get them distributed. I do know that the Heard Spring Plant Sale will have at least some(maybe not many) untreated locally grown milkweeds for sale. They are darned hard to come by. Many of the store-bought milkweeds will have been treated with deadly systemic insecticides, which kill the caterpillars. Get in the habit of asking your nurserymen if their plants are treated before you buy host plants for a butterfly garden project. Most will say yes, or that they don't know, because this practice is routine in the nursery industry.
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 9248
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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02-03-14 07:57 PM - Post#166006
In response to csquare
I'm hoping the native milkweed I got at a plant swap last year will return this year. I have my front yard planted for butterflies, although I did less last year because of a busy schedule as far as planting extra annuals like zinnias for nectar. But, I have noticed less gulf fritillaries and swallowtails visiting my garden than in past years. It is frustrating to know that loss of habitat, GMO farming and other factors are affecting so many of these flying garden jewels.
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csquare
enthusiast
Posts: 627
Loc: Allen
Reg: 01-16-08
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02-04-14 07:19 PM - Post#166026
In response to denisew
I received this today from someone on the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas committee of the Native Plant Society of Texas:
Monarch Butterfly Fund (MBF) Board by Dr. Lincoln Brower
This is a data breakdown of the 2013-2014 Monarch Butterfly Overwintering season colony collapse as published in:
Rendón-Salinas, E. and G. Tavera-Alonso. 2014. Monitoreo de la superficie forestal ocupada por las colonias de hibernación de la mariposa monarca en Diciembre de 2013. World Wildlife Fund-Mexico, Telcel, Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) y Mariposa Monarca, Reserva de La Biosfera, Mexico City.
A breakdown of the data WWF released on 29 January 2014.
17 areas previously occupied were checked in December 2013.
10 areas had no monarch colonies
7 areas had monarch colonies
Total area occupied by monarchs = 0.67 ha (1.656 acres)
1 area had 0.52 ha (1.285 acres) which is 78% of the total = Rosario
The other six colonies ranged from 0.01 to 0.04 ha = (0.025 to 0.099 acres) = (121 to 479 square yards)
Chincua and Pelon, which along with Rosario, have historically been the major overwintering areas, are now perilously small.
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csquare
enthusiast
Posts: 627
Loc: Allen
Reg: 01-16-08
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02-27-14 05:41 PM - Post#166443
In response to csquare
I am now pretty sure that the Heard Museum in McKinney will have large pots of native pesticide free milkweeds for sale at its Spring Plant Sale in April (11th, 12th, 13th). Until they were actually in the pots, I didn't want to say anything, but barring freakish natural disaster, they are pretty much assured to be there in several sizes. Plants like these are not widely available, are perennial, and Texas tough. If you are looking for native milkweeds, this may be your easiest source. Remember that Friday is the members only day on the plant sale weekend.
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