Over the past several years on a nearby property, I have been observing an increasing spread of milkweeds and goldenrods in fields that have been placed in the CREP Program. Some songbirds nest in these fields, deer will occasionally feed through them in search of certain plants that they like and rodents, such as mice and moles, frequent these plots that provide them unlimited food and shelter. Along with these creatures, these abandoned fields are increasingly frequented by monarch butterflies.

In recent weeks, the adult monarchs, (Danaus plexippus), have been flying about and feeding on the nectar of the goldenrod flowers, while the caterpillars, or larva, have been slowly munching away on the leaves of the milkweeds and the chrysalis form, or pupa stage, of the butterfly can be observed hanging on the underside of leaves and branches and attached to structures nearby. Interestingly, there seems to be a much greater number of all these forms of the monarchs in fields in our area this year.

The monarch butterfly is easily recognizable, with a wingspan of about 4 inches and its basic coloration of orange wings, marked with black veins and a black border with two rows of white spots. While there are several subspecies of monarchs, the ones we see throughout Pennsylvania can also be found across the entire United States and occasionally on islands in the Caribbean.

While they can be seen all across our state, they are currently most often spotted feeding on the nectar of goldenrod plants as they gather their strength for what is truly one of the Wonders of the World of Nature. In autumn, as the temperatures begin to drop, they will gather for their migration southward. The most amazing aspect of this flight is that it will take them about 1,800 miles!

As a retired former airline pilot, and having flown large jet aircraft across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, I understand navigation and have a real appreciation for today’s sophisticated navigational equipment. So how, for Heaven’s sake, does all of this modern technology fit inside this small insect?!?! Well, obviously, it doesn’t, but somehow, through the magic of nature, they will fly from the fields of Pennsylvania this fall, and winter in the mountains of Mexico, then return to our state in the spring, where the cycle begins all over again! Eggs will be laid on milkweed plants, and a new generation hatches, matures and the life cycle continues. As these eggs hatch, and after several molts, the black, white and yellow-green stripped caterpillar reaches almost 2 inches. It then leaves its milkweed plant to pupate elsewhere as a pale green, golden-dotted chrysalis. Adults live only a few weeks, except for those that migrate south and winter over in Mexico, which live seven to nine months. Therefore, about 4 generations of monarchs occur each year.

As I am writing this article, I glance out my window to see a monarch butterfly winging its way from one goldenrod plant to another. No doubt, it will not be one that migrates to Mexico, but the eggs that it lays will transition through the life cycle that will provide one of the many millions of ones that do. Thinking about the amazing migration that will occur, the stay over the winter in Mexico, with a return in the spring gives a renewed appreciation for the Wonders of Nature.

There exists today an organization, The Monarch Joint Venture, a nonprofit made up of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses and academic program partners working together to conserve the monarch butterfly migration for future generations. For more information, contact them at: athttps://monarchjointventure.org/.