As Mission Monarch coordinator, I’m often asked: So where are the monarch caterpillars? We had a bunch on our milkweed plants a few days ago – but there’s nothing there now. Here are some thoughts. by Alessandro Dieni, Mission Monarch coordinator To read this article, please visit the Space for Life website. More articles: Monarchs don’t… Continue reading What happened to the monarch caterpillars?
Author: Alessandro Dieni
Monarchs don’t much care for heavy metal!
Heavy metals are found naturally in the Earth’s crust. However, human activity stirs up an important amount of these metals into the environment. Most organisms are now exposed to much higher concentrations than those encountered in their evolutionary history. But how does it affect the monarch? Does it risk being exposed to these heavy… Continue reading Monarchs don’t much care for heavy metal!
How to create a monarch habitat
Are you currently working in your garden? If you want to help monarchs, it is essential to incorporate milkweed, as they cannot complete their life cycle without this plant. But do not forget to addp lants with flowers that are rich in nectar. by Alessandro Dieni, Mission Monarch coordinator To read this article, please visit… Continue reading How to create a monarch habitat
Monarchs know how to take care of themselves
Monarchs are not immune to illnesses or parasites. In order to avoid overly high infection rates, females infected by a parasite lay their eggs on “antiparasitic” milkweed species, as though they were giving their young medicine. by Alessandro Dieni, Mission Monarch coordinator To read this article, please visit the Space for Life website. More articles: Time… Continue reading Monarchs know how to take care of themselves
Time to get at your milkweed seeds!
The days are getting cooler. Now is the perfect time to get your hands on some milkweed seeds! Learn how to identify the ideal milkweed follicles for harvest, as well as how to manage and plant your seeds in the fall. by Alessandro Dieni, Mission Monarch coordinator To read this article, please visit the Space… Continue reading Time to get at your milkweed seeds!
Getting a better understanding of the monarch’s spring migration
A number of people have contacted us over the summer to ask how the monarch population is doing. Are we dealing with a smaller population of monarchs this year, or have the monarchs simply been delayed in getting to our latitudes? Discover the different factors and strategies that can influence the monarch’s northern migration. by… Continue reading Getting a better understanding of the monarch’s spring migration
Monarchs and milkweed, a complex relationship
Even if milkweed has different strategies to keep most herbivores at bay, the monarch butterfly has managed to counter them to feed on it exclusively. Discover the very complex relationship between these two organisms. by Alessandro Dieni, Mission Monarch coordinator To read this article, please visit the Space for Life website. More articles: A summer searching… Continue reading Monarchs and milkweed, a complex relationship
A summer searching for monarchs and milkweed
Marian MacNair is a young researcher who traveled no less than 6,000 km last summer to study the monarch butterfly. Discover the story of her busy days spent meticulously counting eggs and caterpillars, and where she meets passionate entomologists!. by Alessandro Dieni, Mission Monarch coordinator and Marian MacNair, journalist and science educator To read this article, please visit the Space… Continue reading A summer searching for monarchs and milkweed
What’s going on out west?
More articles: When monarchs roost Make it count! Let’s leave monarchs in their habitat