Monarch Butterflies Are Headed Straight For Pennsylvania This Spring
Many of us spend the cold days of winter in Pennsylvania counting down to the sunshine and flowers of spring. Spring is all about rebirth and the return of the ruby-throated hummingbird, spring peepers, and monarch butterflies in Pennsylvania. However, we might not see as many monarch butterflies as in previous years as they are considered by some an endangered species.
While monarch butterflies do not currently have federally protected status, as confirmed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the International Union for Conservation of Nature added the migratory monarch butterflies to their red list of endangered species in July 2022.
Typically seen in Pennsylvania in the spring, summer, and fall, the number of monarch butterflies has drastically decreased in recent years. Several factors have contributed to that decline, including the use of herbicides and insecticides, causing the loss of milkweed.
Milkweed is the natural host for monarch butterflies.
Monarch butterflies that make their way to Pennsylvania, usually in mid-May, generally spend their winters in Mexico. They typically return to Mexico in early to mid-September.
Butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed. Within days, the eggs will hatch, and the caterpillars will remain on the milkweed until they have fully developed. The transformation from caterpillar to adult generally takes between one and two weeks.
If you want to draw monarch butterflies to your yard or outdoor space, you can do so by planting milkweed and/or native plant species that provide nourishment for the butterflies. The good news is you don’t need a lot of space either. Even using a planter is sufficient if you don’t have a yard.
Eleven native species of milkweed are found in Pennsylvania. Common, butterfly, swamped, and whorled milkweed are the easiest to find and most popular to buy.
Milkweed, however, is not the only plant monarch butterflies need. They also get nourishment from a variety of other flowers, including sunflowers, black-eyed Susans, and coneflowers.
Do you normally see monarch butterflies in your yard? Are you concerned about the future of monarch butterflies in Pennsylvania? Join the conversation in the comments! Spring also means the arrival of ruby-throated hummingbirds in Pennsylvania, and you can easily attract them to your yard with a bird feeder.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
