Archives

REPORTS OF MONARCHS WINTERING IN THE SOUTHEST NEEDED

Nov27

          For unknown reasons, in recent years thousands of monarch butterflies have been found overwintering throughout the Southeast In an effort to learn more about this phenomena, a consortium of universities, state wildlife agencies such as the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and other conservation groups like Monarchs over Georgia have banded together to form an organization called Monarch Overwintering in the Southeastern United States or MOVERS.  The group is requesting the public’s involvement in reporting sightings monarch in the Southeast during the winter.

         One of the goals of MOVERS is to determine how monarchs that over winter as adults in the Southeast affect future the size of future monarch populations.  The study also hopes to document how winter breeding in the Southeast might affect the monarch’s annual migration to Mexico.

       If you would like to take part in the effort to document monarchs in the Southeast this winter, contact journeynorth.org/surveys or www.inaturalist.org.

INSECTICIDES ARE REPORTED TO BE AFFECTING BUTTERFLY DECLINES

Jul10

       For quite some time researchers have been trying to identify the factors responsible for butterfly declines across the United States.  Recently The Wildlife Society reported that a group of researchers analyzed 17 years of data relating to the impact of land use, climate, and pesticide application on butterfly populations in 81 counties located in five Midwestern states.  The study was undertaken in hopes of identifying the major factors affecting butterfly populations in the region.

       The results of the study (recently published in PLOS ONE) indicate that, out of all of the factors evaluated, insecticide use is the strongest link between both declines in the size of butterfly populations and butterfly diversity.  It has caused and 8% drop in the numbers of butterfly species in the study area.  The researchers went on to say that crop seeds treated with a group of pesticides known, as neonicotinoids appear to have had the largest impact.  They also noted that the monarch butterfly is one of the species that has been negatively impacted by the use of these insecticides.

       Neonicotinoid insecticides are systemic poisons.  In other words, they are absorbed and spread to all parts of a plant including its roots, stems, foliage, flowers, nectar, and pollen.

       This should be concerning to home gardeners as they often use these pesticides in their own gardens.  Ironically, studies have found that pesticides are often applied by homeowners at rates higher than are used in commercial farming operations.  In addition, even if you do not apply pesticides to the plants in your yard, neonicotinoids can be present in the nursery stock you transplant in your gardens.

BACKYARD SECRET – MILKWEEDS BENEFIT MORE THAN MONARCHS

Jul8

      Whenever you think about trick-or-treat it is impossible to think of any other holiday than Halloween.  Similarly, with all of the interest swirling around milkweed plants, we cannot help but think of monarch butterflies when we think of the milkweeds.  This is understandable since the milkweed is the host plant for this colorful orange and black butterflies.  However, ecologists now tell us that a wide range of range of pollinators and other insects also depend on milkweeds to survive.  These insects include the likes of native bees, hoverflies, true bugs, moths, and even ants.

       This is once again an example of how plants and animals are often linked to one another in an unimaginable number of ways.

 

COMMON RUE – THE UNCOMMON HOST PLANT

Jun16

       There is a good chance you have never seen common rue (Ruta graveolens) even though it is a host plant for both black and giant swallowtail butterflies.   However, if you have ever played a game of cards, you are familiar with the silhouette of its leaves (they are the inspiration for the club suit).

       Rue is native to the Balkan Peninsula.  However, it currently grows throughout much of the world.  Although is does well in Georgia gardens, I have found it difficult to find at nurseries.

       Rue is an herb that grows only two to three feet tall.  Its blue-green foliage and clusters of yellow flowers that attract a variety of pollinators make it an attractive addition to a variety of garden settings. In many areas, it retains its foliage throughout the winter.  Rue will grow well is partial shade, in a wide range of soil types, and is both drought and deer resistant.  

       On the downside, rue is poisonous.  While some folks can handle rue within impunity, others break out is a rash and/or blisters when they touch the plant.  With that in mind, I recommend that you wear long sleeves and gloves when handling the plant.  NEVER eat it or use it for medicinal purposes.  If you do, you may rue the day you did.

       My wife and I set out rue for the first time this year in hopes of attracting more giant swallowtails. They join two other giant swallowtail caterpillar host plants (wafer ash and trifoliate orange) that have been growing in our yard for a number of years. 

       If you are looking for an odd host plant to try in your landscape, consider common rue.  However, if you do, be careful how you handle it.

      

      

      

      

BACKYARD SECRET – GEORGIA IS HOME TO A DIVERSE POPULATION OF NATIVE BEES

Apr21

        When we think of native pollinators, it is only natural to think about moths, butterflies and hummingbirds.  However, some of our most important native pollinators are bees.  There are some 4,500 species of native bees in the United States; 500 of these species live in Georgia.

BLOGGER REPORTS MONARCHS NECTARING AT ENCORE AZALEAS

Apr17

        Native azaleas are nectar plants used by butterflies and other pollinators. However, such is not the case with ornamental azaleas.  While these showy exotic spring bloomers are beautiful, they are not known for their production of nectar.  However, a few years ago I was surprised to find that a hybrid known as Encore Azalea does indeed attract butterflies. 

       Since that discovery, I have witnessed eastern tiger swallowtails, cloudless sulphurs, painted ladies, ocolas, common buckeyes, and long-tailed skippers nectaring at Encore Azalea blossoms. 

       An April 13, 2024, post by an anonymous blogger stated that monarchs also nectar on the shrub.

       If you have noticed other butterflies nectaring on Encore Azaleas, please let me know.

ZEBRA SWALLOWTAILS ARE NOW FLYING

Mar24

      The zebra swallowtail (Eurytudes Marcellus) inhabits all of Georgia’s 159 counties.  It typically flies from late March into August; however, in my neck of the woods (middle Georgia), I see tiger swallowtails more often in early spring than at that at any other time of the year.

       The zebra swallowtail is easy to identify as it has a black and white stripes and long tails.  This handsome butterfly has a 2½-4” wingspan.  No other butterfly in Georgia looks anything like it.

      While this species prefers woodlands and shrubby areas, it will venture into backyards. This is particularly true if you live in suburban or rural areas.  Zebra swallowtails are less often seen in urban backyards. Most often, you will see a zebra swallowtail flying by close to the ground.  Much to our chagrin it will pass by without giving us a chance to enjoy its beauty.  However, there are ways in which you can enhance your chances of seeing one up close. 

       One of the best ways to accomplish this is to set out its host plant.   This butterfly’s caterpillar host is a small tree known as the pawpaw.

       You can also plant nectar plants. Zebra swallowtails prefer to feed at flowers that do not have long tubular throats.  They also seem to nectar most often at white flowers.

       The best way to lure male zebra swallowtails into your yard is to create a spot where they can stage a puddle party. This special habitat feature is a location where sand, soil, or gravel is wet.  Sometimes several males can be seen “puddling” at the same time.  They gather at such locations in search of salts and amino acids that are beneficial to their reproduction.

BEEBALM WAS PLANTED IN THOMAS JEFFERSON’S GARDENS

Feb8

       I am always on the lookout for heirloom plants that have link with our history.  With that in mind, I found that unbeknownst to me, one of the plants that has been growing in my yard for years was grown by Thomas Jefferson.  The name of this plant is beebalm (Monarda didyma). 

       The gardens that Thomas Jefferson designed and built on his plantation known as Monticello are recognized as botanic showpieces.  While Jefferson is known to have experimented with plants from around the world, roughly 80 percent of the plants grown in his gardens were native to North America.  Some say beebalm was planted to attract hummingbirds.

       Although winter has Georgia in its icy grip, it is not too early to plan on what you will be adding to your gardens this spring.  With that in mind, beebalm is a plant you should consider introducing into your home landscape.  This native perennial is beautiful and is a bee. butterfly and hummingbird favorite.

       Now that I realize it is a plant that adorned the gardens at Monticello, when I point it out to visitors to my home, and talk about its value as a wildlife plant, I can tell them it is a plant that was grown by Thomas Jefferson.  In my mind, that makes it extra special. 

 

MONARCHS IN WINTER?

Dec31

       Have you ever seen a monarch butterfly in your neck of the woods during the winter?  While most folks have never done so, some 6,700 sightings of the colorful butterflies have been made during the past two decades in Georgia and the rest of the Southeastern United States during the harshest season of the year.  These observations suggest that an unknown number of monarchs are overwintering each year far from their traditional winter home in central Mexico.  In an effort to determine how many monarchs are actually spending the winter here, and how this behavior might it might affect the butterfly’s future population, butterfly experts need our help.

           A partnership composed of universities, state wildlife agencies and private conservation groups has launched a study to investigate the importance of these sightings. This survey relies of the public reporting any sightings they make of monarchs from November 1 – March 1 in the states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana and Texas.

              According to Susan Meyer, a volunteer with Monarchs Across Georgia, “Volunteers are vital to this effort.  It you enjoy being outdoors and exploring your local ecosystem, this is an easy activity that can be done alone or with your family.”

       Georgia Wildlife Conservation wildlife biologist, Anna Yellin, went to say, “When we come together as a community as we have with this effort, we stand a better chance of protecting the monarch butterfly for future generations.”

       If you would like to take part is the survey, visit the Journey North website – https://journeynorth.org/reg/