Even though I’m a couple days late sharing the Holiday which falls on May 4th which is National Start Seeing Monarchs Day #StartSeeingMararchsDay I believe Suzzane is letting me know she is near and thinking of me. Suzzie’s Birthday is May 8th and she has been on my mind a lot lately and when ever I see a Butterfly I know she is close which is why I’m excited to talk a walk with Charlie this morning to celebrate National Start Seeing Monarchs Day to see if we see any this morning. Would you like to join us on our walk?
National Start Seeing Monarchs Day is celebrated on the first Saturday of May every year and this year, it falls on May 4th. National Start Seeing Monarchs Day is all about raising awareness of the environmental importance of the Monarch Butterflies and reminding the general population of the issues related to the imminent extinction faced by this species.
Monarch Butterflies can be found all around North America, mainly concentrated in the Eastern parts of the United States. Monarch Butterflies are considered the most popular species of Butterflies in the Country. These Butterflies migrate every year around late Summer and fall. The Monarch Butterflies are the ones born in the Northern and Central U.S. and Canada, They travel all the way to Florida and Mexico and the ones born in the Western area migrate to Southern California as well. Did you know there are also Monarchs living in the International Space Station!
Butterflies have a life cycle of four phases. The first is the egg, which is laid under young leaves of Milkweed. It takes them three to eight days to turn into larva, which is the second phase of the life cycle. Larvae, also known as Caterpillars, are the stage where the species grows the most and feeds very well to be able to form the pupa. The third stage of the life cycle is the pupa, which is the phase where the Caterpillar stays within its chrysalis for eight to 15 days before it finally emerges and turns into a beautiful Butterfly.
A Monarch Butterfly can live up to eight months by feeding off Milkweed and other nectar plants, which makes them one of the many animal species responsible for pollinating plants and flowers all around. Once they reach sexual maturity and can be considered adult Butterflies, it takes them a while to begin their migration process, which happens only once overwintering is complete. Migration takes four different generations to finally be completed.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
