Hobbies And Interests
Life Cycle
Monarchs have four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult. Larvae hatch out of the egg then go through five instars or stages before pupating. After pupating, it will take about 10 days before an adult butterfly emerges.
Host Plants
Monarch butterflies are specific when it comes to host plants. These plants provide larval food for young caterpillars. The adult female monarchs seek out and lay eggs on the host plant, and the life cycle starts for a new generation of monarchs. Milkweed (Asclepias) is the host plant for monarch butterflies. In North Carolina, the species of milkweed that are most common are swamp milkweed, butterfly weed and white milkweed.
Nectar Plants
Nectar plants are food sources for a variety of butterfly species, including the monarch. Native nectar sources and bloom times in North Carolina include Carolina phlox (Phlox carolina), which blooms between May and July; Indian hemp/dogban (Apocynum cannabinum), which blooms between May and July; purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), which blooms between June and August; jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), which blooms from June until frost; blazing star (Liatris spicata), which blooms between July and September; and ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), which blooms between July and September. All varieties of milkweed serve as both nectar sources for adult monarchs and larval food for monarch caterpillars.
Location
Monarch butterflies are widespread in North Carolina during the summer months but are absent during the months after the butterfly has migrated for overwintering in Mexico or California. Monarchs have been found in all counties in North Carolina.
Migration
In the fall, monarchs will migrate from North Carolina in a southwesterly path. During this migratory time, monarchs may be found in abundance or very scarce at various locations within the state. Due to migratory patterns of the butterfly, monarchs are usually not seen within the state until August and are common between August and October. Most monarchs noted within the state during September and October are migrating southward. Monarchs in the eastern part of the United States migrate to the Transvolcanic Mountains in Mexico. There are between 11 and 14 known sites in the Transvolcanic Mountains where monarchs overwinter.
Habitat
Monarchs may be found in mountain ridges, meadows, gardens, coastlines and yards. When they are not migrating, monarchs will be found wherever milkweed plants are available.
Conservation
While the monarch butterfly is a common butterfly, in North Carolina it is usually only seen during late summer and early fall. As human expansion continues, habitats that normally support monarch butterflies are destroyed. New roads, agricultural expansion, land developments for housing and business all contribute to the destruction of habitat and the need for conservation practices.