19
SPRING
2015
|
TheMorganswereso inspired that theydecided to takeup thecauseandstart theirownMonarch
nursery. After readingabout the life cycles andpeculiarities of these insects they repurposeda
coupleof largeglass cylindersand set out to findmonarcheggs. They soon foundanumber of
eggsattachedunder the leavesofmilkweedplants right in theirownbackyard.Clivebuilt small
wooden towers to hold up themilkweedbranches inside the cylinderswhileMary cut and set
thebranchesofMilkweed insmall cupsofwater for thecaterpillars to feedon.Soonwee, striped
caterpillarswere found chewing little, halfmoon shapes all over the leaves… then climbingout
of thecylinders, across the floor, up thecurtainsandall over thehouse.MaryandClivequickly
realized thecylinderswere inadequateand theydesignedandbuilt largercageswithmeshcov-
ers thatwereoriginallyusedas laundrybags. Thebabycaterpillars sometimes fell into thecup
ofwateranddrowned, soMary fashioned lidswithholes toaccommodate thestalksofmilkweed.
Problem solved.
Over thenextmonth thecaterpillarsgrew from tiny2mmbabies toplump45mm longeatingma-
chines.Onaquiet afternoonone couldhear themunchingas the caterpillars filled their bellies
with latex rich, ‘milk’. The latex iswhatmonarchsneed tostrengthen theirwings for theireventual
long flight toMexico. In thepast,Milkweedhadbeen listedasanoxiousweed inOntarioand
even though thenoxiousstatushasbeennowbeen lifted, thewebsite forOntarioMinistryofAgri-
culture, Foodand Rural Affairs still listsmilkweedas amildly noxious plant. The plant can be
harmful to livestock if ingested in largeamounts, but this is unlikely since it is not verypalatable
to them. Thereareanumberof varietiesofMilkweedwith theCommonMilkweedbeing theone
wegenerally seeon roadsides. There is alsoanornamental variety that ismoredelicate inap-
pearanceandproducesbeautiful flowers inmid-summer. TheMorgansgrowboth typesofMilk-
weed in theirgardenandencourageallofus to findspace inourgardens for the falselymaligned
plant.
The first season that theMorgans raised their little familyofbutterflieswasbothchallengingand
enlightening. Unfortunately theydidnot keep records of the first season so theydon’t knowex-
actlyhowmanybutterflies theynurtured tomaturity.Since2010 theyhavekeptdetailedspread-
sheetswith daily entries showing the day they found each egg, when it hatched, how it grew,
when it transformed intoachrysalisand finally intoabutterfly.Of course therehasbeenahuge
learningcurve indeveloping theirnursery. They found that theyhad tosegregatenewborncater-
pillars fromolderonesas thebigbrotherswould inadvertentlyeat smaller siblingson theirdaily
feast.Sonowatanygiven time theycouldhaveahalfdozen terrariums, cagesorenclosures set
uparound their small cottage. Itamounts toabouta twohour jobeveryday tochangemilkweed
stocks, move caterpillars fromone size container toanother, aswell asmuckout thebottomof
theenclosuresof caterpillar feces. In theend it isstilla thrill tosee ‘their’babiesgrow intomature
butterfliesandbegin their long journey toMexico.
In thepast fewyears, theyhavemonitored theirbutterfliesas they flew toMexico throughanor-
ganization called JourneyNorthwhich supplieswing tags that can keep trackof thebutterflies
as they travel acrossNorthAmerica. Because northern Bruce Peninsula is at the upper limit of
theMonarch habitat, tags are needed earlier in the season then JourneyNorth supplies them,
so thispast season theMorganselected togowithoutmonitoring.
In2012 theyexperiencedanear catastrophewhen young caterpillars begin to show signs of
illness, thendrop to thebottomof theircagesanddie. Theyhadbeenbringing ineggs from fields
andditchesaround thepeninsulaandhadgatherednearly170until the larva suddenlybegan
todieoff in largenumbers.Until that point theyhadnot been sterilizing theequipment or cages
or segregatingeggs foundat different locations. They still endedupwith154maturebutterflies
that seasonbut weredevastatedby the carnage. Since thenwhenever theybring ineggs from
another location they place them in a separate container so they don’t mixwith the healthy
colony. Also, they thoroughly sterilize everything to ensure that bacteriaor disease does not
spread.Now for thesafetyof thecolony theygathereggsorbabiesonly from theirowngarden.
That way they know they have been exposed to healthy plants and healthy environment. If a
caterpillar shows signs of illness theywill take it out of the large cageand raise it alone until it
maturesordies.
☛
Photo above: Adult monarchs getting
ready to spread their wings and
fly for the first time.
At their home on the Bruce
Peninsula, Mary and Clive
Morgan are making
a big difference
to the threatened
Monarch population.
