Monarch butterflies considered ‘at risk’

Doelle, an organic farmer in Gilberts Cove, is working hand-in-hand with Parks Canada in providing a protective environment for the once common but now ‘at risk’ Monarch butterfly.

Monarchs lay their eggs on the underside of the milkweed leaf. Once hatched, the caterpillars feed on the plant. The milkweed provides protection as well as food: the diet results in the caterpillars and the butterflies they become being poisonous to predators.

This spring, Doelle grew a thousand swamp milkweeds from seeds harvested from her ‘mother plant’. Although common milkweeds are on Nova Scotia’s noxious weed list, swamp milkweeds are not.

Kejimkujik National Park and the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute purchased the milkweed seedlings for Doelle.

Brennan Caverhill, a biologist at Kejimkujik, said many of the plants now grow on local properties. Some people have created butterfly gardens that include nectar rich flowers like yarrow, asters, and boneset. The ultimate goal is to establish safe habitats for butterflies to reproduce, and safe migration routes. ‘Safe’ means no pesticides. The Monarch is considered at risk because pesticides have killed millions.

The genetic engineering of corn has also played a role in the declining population. Corn that has been genetically modified to destroy moths produces poisonous pollen. When the pollen blows to nearby milkweed plants, the Monarchs lunching and laying their eggs there are killed.

Deforestation in Mexico, the Monarch’s wintering habitat, is an additional factor in the demise of the Monarch. “We obviously don’t have control over things in Mexico or along the Monarch’s U.S. migration route,” says Caverhill, “but this is a case of ‘think global, act local.’”

People are acting locally in Digby, Annapolis, and Queens counties. Milkweed plants purchased by Parks Canada are being given away at Pleasant Hill Farms in Queen’s County.

Dianne Clapp of Smiths Cove, who is chair of the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, sets up shop regularly at the farmers’ market in Annapolis. For five dollars, people purchase ‘butterfly club’ memberships and in return they receive two swamp milkweeds, information about the Monarch butterfly, and postcards designed by a local artist. Those individuals, whose properties must be pesticide free, in turn register their names and addresses and agree to report sightings of Monarch butterflies.

Clapp is also spreading the word in Smith’s Cove about the plight of the butterfly. She has convinced 30 of her neighboring cottagers to swear off pesticides and plant swamp milkweeds in their gardens.

Gilberte Doelle sells Butterfly Club memberships at Wild Rose farm in Gilbert’s Cove and Saturday’s at Belliveau Cove’s Farmers Market.

Doelle is also keeping an eye on her ‘mother milkweed’. With a little bit of luck it will soon be crawling with caterpillars.