Category: mm_news

  Light pollution disrupts various biological mechanisms essential to living beings. Impacts of this type of pollution have been studied in different noctunal insects. In fireflies, artificial light interferes with their ability to find a mate. But what about diurnal species? Can light pollution affect the monarch butterfly? by Agathe Moreau, Mission Monarch Education coordinator   To… Continue reading The monarch and light pollution

  You wouldn’t think it to look at them, but insects have impressive cognitive abilities. Long-term memory, number skills and facial recognition are just a few examples. What about monarch butterflies? What do we know about their cognitive capacities? by Agathe Moreau, Mission Monarch Education coordinator   To read this article, please visit the Space for Life website.… Continue reading The astonishing memory of monarch butterflies

  The monarch butterfly caterpillar has a voracious appetite. It feeds exclusively on its host plant, milkweed, which it devours at an astonishing clip. In less than two weeks, its weight increases 2,700-fold! But what happens when it doesn’t get enough to eat? by Agathe Moreau, Mission Monarch Education coordinator   To read this article, please visit… Continue reading What happens when a monarch skips a meal?

  Each year, the monarch populations of eastern North America spend winter in central Mexico’s mountainous forests. Rain, frost and strong winds are some of the challenges they face there. This prompts us to ask: what role do forests play in the monarch’s winter survival? by Agathe Moreau, Mission Monarch Education coordinator   To read this article,… Continue reading The importance of forests for the monarch butterfly’s winter survival

  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?

  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!

  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 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

  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!

  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