Monarchs

I remember 30 years ago when Monarchs were plentiful in Kansas on their migration path to Mexico. It was easy to find the yellow, black and white striped caterpillars on the underside of milkweed leaves. I used to teach an in-depth lesson on the Monarch butterfly for my 3rd grade class. We would find a caterpillar and chart the life cycle each day in the classroom. Now it is more difficult because the milkweeds are fewer due to the plowing of the ditches and the use of herbicides that kill the milkweed plant. Milkweed is the only food eaten by Monarch larvae (caterpillars) and the milkweed flowers serve as fuel for the butterflies. The Monarch is now on the World Wildlife Federation’s “threatened” list.