Bring Back the Monarchs!
Jack and Diane Voelker
[email protected]
Greenpeace
Creating global public awareness
Fighting for no new genetically modified crops to be authorized and to
ban toxic herbicides. (90% of corn and soybeans grown in US are GMO)
National Wildlife Federation partnering with US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation
Promoting highway corridors for planting of Monarch habitat and working with schools, transportation
departments, parks and farmers to creatively plant more habitat.
Mayors Monarch Pledge: Over 150 mayors of cities and towns through the mid-west and eastern
migration paths have taken a pledge to help the Monarchs.
Have created a Trilateral Committee from Canada, US and Mexico to review plight of Monarchs and
organize action.
EDF (Environmental Defense Fund)
Creating a new conservation tool called “Habitat Exchange”. They are enlisting farmers, ranchers
and forest land owners to rebuild habitat by making it profitable, paying farmers and other landowners
to preserve Monarch habitat. Trying to change economic incentives to include milkweed/nectar
plantings.
Working with EPA and ESA (Endangered Species Act) to protect the Monarch migration.
NRDC (National Resources Defense Council)
Advocating the idea of planting “Butterfly Highways” through Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Petitioning the EPA to force action for the Monarchs.
Urging UNESCO to Declare Mexican Butterfly Refuge “In Danger”.
Petitioning EPA to review and use their authority to limit use of Dow Chemical’s toxic chemical
cocktails for use in GMO fields, killing virtually everything but GM seedlings.
Center for Biological Diversity
Launching lawsuits for Endangered Species Act protection for Monarchs.
FUN Facts
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Monarch caterpillars increase their hatching weight by 3000 times in 10-14 days.
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Monarchs can fly 12-25 miles per hour and 50-100 miles per day
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Monarchs can only fly when temperatures are over 60 degrees
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There are 110 species of milkweed in North America
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Monarchs lay over 300 eggs over a period of one week, most in the first 3 days……one egg at
a time on individual plants so caterpillars have enough to eat
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A Monarch butterfly weighs about half a gram….about the weight of a paperclip
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You can tell a male monarch by the two black dots on the inside surface of their hind wing.
Females do not have the spots.
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Butterflies, including Monarchs, have the broadest visual spectrum of any known animals, and
can see more colors than we can. They can even see UV light, which humans can’t.
Life Cycle of Monarch
For 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations, 6-8 weeks
Egg – 4days
Caterpillar – 10 days
Chrysalis – 10 days
Adult – 2-6wks
For 4th super-generation adults, 6-8 months
Websitesyoumayfindinteresting!
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http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly
http://monarchlab.org(UniversityofMinnesota)
http://monarchwatch.org(UniversityofKansas)
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch
http://www.journeynorth.org/monarch
http://xerces.org/monarchs
http://www.savebiogems.org/let-monarchs-fly
http://www.fws.gov
http://www.nwf.org
http//www.monarchjointventure.org
http://www.edf.org/