Monarch

Butterfly
Conservation
WHY
MONARCHS
Why the Monarch Butterfly
is a Keystone Species.

WHAT CAN
BE DONE
How we can work together to
create habitats throughout
our communities.

CANARY IN
A COAL
MINE
Eastern populations have
declined by 90% and western
populations by 99% in recent
years.
 planting seeds
The Monarch Butterfly, like many pollinators including bees, moths and

birds, are responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat.

Western Monarch populations have plummeted 99% in recent years and

Eastern populations have reduced to 90% of their populations.

Together as a community, we can create Monarch City of Asheville,

Weaverville, Black Mountain and Greater Western North Carolina.

Monarch City USA is an organization working to support Monarch

butterfly population recover by encouraging and planting milkweed and

nectar plants within their boundaries. With the help of municipalities,

schools, businesses, organizations we can partner to join in the

conservation of the Monarch Buterfly and other indicator species.

For more information visit

www.LivingSeedCompany.com
The Monarch Butterfly is a seminal species that has
perplexed societies, creating myth and lore around
its very existence.

It has only been in the past fifty years that scientists

have begun to understand and track the
multigenerational migration that transcends three
countries.

Its metamorphosis, from caterpillar to butterfly and

incredible ability to navigate so many miles has left
generations of people in awe and wonder.

The monarch butterfly is considered a canary in the

coal mine. A species that has experienced record
population and habitat loss in recent years and a
possible indication for something to come.

On December 15, 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service announced the monarch as endangered or
threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but
was precluded by higher priority listing actions.

The declining monarch population parallels other

declining pollinator populations, which in turn
impacts human food systems and natural patterns.

The monarch migration is one of the most

magnificent migrations in the world. Let's work
together and create a legacy of conservation for
generations to come!

N. Astrid Hoffman
The Living Seed Company

Monarch butterflies are the only WHY? MILKWEED

butterfly that migrates. Every spring,
adult monarch butterflies head north
from their winter respite in the southern
forests of Mexico and California, and
return in the fall—a journey some 2,000-
3,000-miles each way. During their
migration, Monarchs can travel up to
100 miles a day!
The monarch butterfly will continue to
Loss of summer breeding habitat
Loss of winter habitat in south-central
Mexico and coastal California.
Use of herbicide-resistant crops,
pesticides, herbicides & fungicides.
Major loss of milkweed plants in
monarchs’ spring and summer breeding
grounds.
Urban & agricultural development.
Monoculture.
Climate change.
Milkweed is the host plant for
monarchs. Female butterflies lay
their eggs on native milkweed
leaves. Monarchs will lay one egg
per plant. Milkweed is a host plant
and the sole food source of
monarch caterpillars. Each caterpillar
will eat at lease 20 leaves.
Therefore the larger the stand of
milkweed, the more caterpillars you

feed, fly, and reproduce throughout the can nourish.

U.S. and southern Canada, for several
generations. It is the fourth generation
of monarch butterflies that actually
migrate to Mexico in the fall.
No single Monarch makes the entire
migration. With the geographic range
and amazing migration, monarchs draw
attention from all over North America.
Many pollinators benefit from monarch
conservation efforts, as people
throughout the entire breeding,
migration, and overwintering range
have an opportunity to plant native
milkweed and nectar producing plants.
Before migration, monarchs fatten
themselves with nectar, providing fuel
for their long journey.
WHAT WE CAN DO Milkweed is area-specific and it is
imperative to purchase milkweed
Monarch habitat conservation on public
that is native to your specific region.
and private lands.
Milkweed grows in a wide range of
Improved management and distribution
conditions - from dry to moist to
of milkweed and nectar seeds and
humid, each specific to their region
plants throughout the monarch range.
of origin.
Education and outreach to increase
interest, awareness, and engagement in
Adding native milkweed to an area
monarch conservation and migration.
provides food for monarch
Work to preserve and create habitat.
caterpillars, and nectar for a
Educate about critical migratory habitats
diversity of other pollinators.
that contain native milkweeds, plants rich
with nectar and late blooming flowers in
Planting milkweed provides
the fall.
essential habitat for Monarchs and
Grow appropriate flowers, provide nest
also provides the opportunity to
sites, avoid pesticides .
observe the life cycle of these
Advocate locally for monarch way
fascinating insects.
stations.
4
 WNC
SUPPORTS
MONARCH
CONSERVATION
The acclaimed Monarch Butterfly annually traverses southward from Canada into Western
North Carolina, to overwinter in the Florida Panhandle and Central Mexico.

During their southbound flight in the fall, large numbers make their way through our mountains
and valleys, seeking refuge, shelter and fodder.

In the spring, on their northbound journey, the Monarchs return to our gardens to breed and lay
their eggs on our native milkweed. Here in WNC, we have three native milkweed varieties:
Common, Swamp & Butterfly milkweed.

Monarch conservation is a natural thread in the local culture of the people and towns of
Western North Carolina. By working together with local government, schools, organizations
and our citizens, we can make WNC into a greater Monarch City, where public and private
gardens are place of refuge and repose.
This collaborative effort will bring joy, beauty, awe and wonder to all who witness this miracle!

Currently, Wake Forest is the only city in our state designated as a Monarch City.

Let's rise to this opportunity and celebrate in the conservation as a greater community and
leave future generations with this legacy!