Western Monarch Day

Happy Western Monarch Day, everyone!

What is Western Monarch Day, you may be asking? Well, it's a day about the monarch butterfly. It's at this time of year that said butterfly begins its migration back home to California. This day was declared in 2004 by the state of California as the migration is a tourist attraction.

The monarch butterfly is arguably one of the most famous of all the North American butterflies, mainly because of its orange-and-black memorable wing patterns. These patterns are also why the monarch is also known as the "common tiger" butterfly. This particular butterfly is believed to have gotten its moniker of "monarch" as a nod to William III of England, aka the Prince of Orange. As larvae, they only consume milkweed, but as adults, their palate is greatly expanded, feeding on the nectar from a variety of plants, including goldenrods, lilacs, and wild carrots.

The monarch butterfly will travel around 3,000 miles as part of its migration. Some will end up in Mexico, and there are non-migratory populations are found in the Americas, Oceania, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Sadly, the monarch is critically endangered. A number of factors are involved, including climate change, deforestation, and the usage of pesticides. Several conservation groups are working to find ways to save these beautiful insects. This work has led to the species making a bit of a comeback in 2021. Hopefully, this trend will continue. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!