A Beautiful Return!

All summer long is a great time to watch monarch butterflies on the edge of the Deschênes Forest and in open areas where wildflowers grow. Have you seen any this summer? Their bright colors easily catch our attention.

The monarch butterfly is easy to recognize with its veined wings against an orange background and small white spots on the black edges of its wings.   This butterfly stands out from other species because it is a long-distance migrant, returning to Quebec—after several generations—from its wintering grounds in Mexico.  As early as July this year, they were spotted in our region flying from one wildflower to another, feeding on their nectar. Like many insects, they are also important pollinators, helping to fertilize plants so that they can produce fruit and seeds.

The adult monarch butterfly lives only three to five weeks and depends on a single native plant, milkweed, where it lays its eggs under the leaves.  The monarch caterpillar also feeds on the leaves of this plant before pupating. After this stage, the monarch will emerge with its beautiful orange and black colors.

The monarch butterfly is a species in decline, primarily due to habitat loss and climate change. You can help by participating in “Mission Monarch,” a citizen science project. To learn more: https://www.mission-monarch.org/fr/content/what-is-a-mission