Maple syrup is one of Canada’s most iconic sweet treats, loved for its unique flavour and natural origin. However,...
Zoom on the monarch butterfly in Canada
THE monarch butterfly is one of the most recognized butterfly species in the world. In Canada, this animal species is found from Alberta to Newfoundland. Its most important breeding areas are in the southern regions of Ontario and Quebec. A small portion of the monarch butterfly population also lives in the southern part of British Columbia. Zoom in on the monarch butterfly in Canada!
Brief description of the monarch butterfly in Canada
The monarch, in Canada, is a butterfly with orange wings, decorated with black veins. Each wing has a black border with aligned white dots. The wings, whose wingspan is 93 to 105 cm, make this butterfly one of the largest species of diurnal butterflies in Quebec. The male differs from the female by the small black spots located on the hind wings. In addition, the black bands on the wings of the male are thinner than those of the female. Its yellow, white and black bands are the characteristics of the monarch caterpillar. The caterpillars and larvae feed exclusively on milkweed, which is the only plant on which monarch butterflies can produce their eggs.
The life cycle
In the fall, monarch butterflies in Quebec undertake a migration south. Adults who spend the winter in Mexico reproduce the following spring season and females lay their eggs on milkweed. Monarchs move north following the growth of this plant to arrive in Quebec in June. At this time, females produce their eggs and the caterpillars appear three to twelve days later. They eat milkweed leaves for fifteen days.
The caterpillar has a black filament made up of two identical parts. One part is located very close to its head while another is near the tip of its abdomen. It stops feeding after moulting 5 times. It then hangs under a leaf and metamorphoses into a green chrysalis. After fifteen days, the adult emerges from it. The butterfly is ready to fly once its wings are dry and spread.
These butterflies breed in Quebec. Butterflies belonging to the next generation or the other, depending on the temperature, do not reach sexual maturity. They migrate to Mexico, where their wintering sites are located. The winter rest period continues until March. The females and males then complete their sexual maturation and unite for reproduction. Many males die while most of the females take flight north. The latter produce their eggs on the spring shoots of milkweed and die one after the other.
Monarch butterflies migrate annually
Monarch butterflies migrate, unlike most butterflies. During the fall season, monarch butterflies from Canada travel a long distance of about 4,000 kilometers to Mexico. The fall migration of monarch butterflies is an extraordinary phenomenon. Since they cannot tolerate the harsh winter conditions in Canada, they move to the sacred fir forests, also known as oyamels, located in central Mexico, where they spend approximately six months. While the monarch population in southern British Columbia migrates to the coastal area of California.
In the spring season, the monarch that returns to Canada undertakes a multi-generational migration. In other words, the generations of monarchs that return in the spring season are not the same as those that left in the fall. In some circumstances, it is the great-great-grandchildren of the monarch butterflies from the previous summer season that arrive in Canada.
Why is the monarch butterfly important?
The presence or absence of monarchs has an important meaning on the development of environmental conditions. This animal species, like many other insects, ensures pollination. As a pollinator, the monarch butterfly carries pollen from flowers. In 2023, the monarch butterfly is one of Canada's endangered species. It is also one of the shared natural heritages between Mexico, the USA and Canada. Throughout North America, this butterfly is used to teach love and conservation of nature or to teach metamorphosis and biology.
Why does the monarch butterfly need help?
The population size of North American monarchs has been declining significantly in recent years. And the survival of this species is at risk. The following factors are the main causes.
The threats
The decline of wintering habitat
During the winter season, many monarchs live in small areas of the oyamel fir forest in the heart of Mexico. This small region is known for its vulnerability to diseases and extreme weather conditions. It is also subject to the risk of predation and vulnerable to fires. This geographical environment specific to the life of this animal species also suffers from degradation linked to logging or agricultural exploitation as well as to the thinning of forests.
Weather conditions
Changes in weather patterns are the primary cause of long-term climate change, which negatively impacts monarch butterflies. Frequent, fast, gusty winds, often accompanied by thunderstorms, are likely to reduce forest habitat in Mexico. In addition, an increase in cool, wet summers and springs in the United States and Canada is decreasing the growth rate of this animal species.
The harmful effects of insecticides and herbicides
The increasing use of herbicides and insecticides in North America is associated with the decline of milkweed. This use also causes a decline in the number of plants that produce the nectar that monarch butterflies need for their fall immigration.
Aggression of plant species
This animal species usually lays its eggs on milkweed. However, by mistake, females may produce their eggs on Vincetoxicum rossicum (Russian vine-strangling). This invasive plant grows in southern Ontario and Quebec in Canada. If the monarch butterfly larvae hatch on this plant, they have no chance of surviving.
Good to know:
Another butterfly belonging to the family of Nymphalidae have a resemblance to the monarch butterfly. We are talking about the viceroy. The latter is characterized by the continuous black line on the veins of its hind wings. It is also distinguished by an alignment of black dots, which is less important than that of the monarch butterfly. The latter is larger than the viceroy.
Related posts
icon
Free shipping
For orders over 99 €
icon
International Shipping
Tax and customs included
icon
Customer service 7/7
Quick response to your requests
icon
Secure payment
Safe purchase guarantee
Leave a comment
Log in to post comments