CRISFIELD — Milkweed planted by park rangers and staff at Janes Island State Park were quickly found by monarch caterpillars in time for the fall migration.
Milkweed is the only host plant …
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CRISFIELD — Milkweed planted by park rangers and staff at Janes Island State Park were quickly found by monarch caterpillars in time for the fall migration.
Milkweed is the only host plant of monarch caterpillars and without it they are unable to complete their life cycle. The butterflies also help pollinate the plant so it will seed and produce more milkweed.
According to Ranger Christina Carlson, park manager, the plan is to gather more caterpillars and hold them during the pupae or chrysalis stage and once they emerge as butterflies provide an educational program about tagging and releasing monarchs.
One butterfly was tagged and released to track its route through Monarch Watch online at https://www.monarchwatch.org/.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, monarchs from the eastern side of North America winter in the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico from October to late March. They are the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration as birds do.