Monarch Butterfly
Each fall, monarch butterflies travel up to 3,000 miles south! They navigate using environmental cues, including the sun’s position and possibly Earth’s magnetic field.
Monarchs can fly 12-25 mph and at altitudes up to 11,000 feet.
While feeding on nectar, monarchs help pollinate a variety of native wildflowers, contributing to healthy prairie and wetland ecosystems.
Life Cycle:
Egg: 3–5 days
Caterpillar (larva): ~9–14 days
Chrysalis (pupa): 10–12 days
Adult: Up to 6–8 months in migratory generations, and 2-6 weeks for Spring and summer generations
Caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves of milkweed (Asclepias species). The plant’s toxic compounds make both caterpillars and adult butterflies unpalatable to predators.
Monarch wings are covered in tiny, colorful scales that are essential for flight and temperature regulation. Touching them can damage their wings or remove these important scales.
Native milkweed is essential for monarch reproduction. Without it, monarchs cannot lay eggs, and caterpillars cannot survive. At Bluff Lake, we work to protect and restore native milkweed to support monarch populations.
Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, is non-selective and kills nearly all plants, including milkweed. Its use across agricultural and developed landscapes has led to a sharp decline in milkweed and monarch populations. Even small amounts of herbicide drift can negatively affect native milkweed patches.
Bluff Lake Nature Center no longer uses glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup. We have transitioned to an alternative non glyphosate-based herbicide for targeted invasive species management. While herbicide use is still part of our stewardship strategy, we are committed to minimizing ecological impact and protecting native plant communities that are critical for pollinators like monarchs.