{"id":3165,"date":"2025-06-01T12:12:31","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T18:12:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/?p=3165"},"modified":"2025-05-27T13:47:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T19:47:01","slug":"monarchs-milkweeds-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wildlife\/monarchs-milkweeds-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Monarchs, Milkweeds, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Monarch butterflies regularly make the news, perhaps because they are everyone\u2019s favorite butterflies.<\/p>\n

Their epic migrations capture the imagination. It seems improbable that such fragile insects would even attempt to wing it from Canada to Mexico, or from the Midwest to the California coast, to find a winter hibernation haven.<\/p>\n

But they do! In 2023, some promising data showed that their plunging counts on the hibernation grounds reversed to show very slight gains. Let\u2019s hope we can keep that trend going by maintaining and enhancing habitat for these travelers, and by planting more, and the right kind of plants. The right plants \u2014 if your intention is to support entire and uncompromised insect communities \u2014 are native plants raised locally.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
Adult monarch butterfly<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Importance of Milkweed<\/h2>\n

Milkweeds are the plants that immediately come to mind when you think of monarch butterflies, although adult butterflies nectar on other species as well (rabbitbrush seems like a late season favorite). Milkweed plants are known for their sticky white sap that contains cardiac glycosides. These chemicals are toxic to many animals, including us, but milkweed caterpillars and butterflies have adapted to handle the deadly-to-many brew. When the caterpillars munch on milkweed leaves, the toxins they ingest endow them with some protection from being eaten by would-be predators.<\/p>\n

Boulder County is home to several species of milkweed, some of them flashier than others. Showy milkweed, the best-known of our local milkweeds, is a good species to plant in sunny spots if you want monarchs. This plant is distinguished from others with its chunky pale green leaves, pink nearly tennis-ball-sized pink blossoms, and knobby curved pods that split to release more seeds than you would ever think could fit inside. You may see it growing in relatively unfussy locations: roadsides and medians, ditch banks, the edges of agricultural fields, and along waterways. A second species, also eye-catching, is the swamp milkweed. It has narrower leaves and darker pink blossoms. Its pods are thinner and smoother. It is a wetland lover, sprouting in swampy ground.
\nThe other five local milkweed species are less commonly seen, unless you deliberately hunt for them, and their flowers are less showy. All seven of the local species used to be classified in a plant family of their own but have been reassigned to the dogbane family, which makes sense if you compare pod forms.<\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/a>
Showy milkweed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you come upon milkweeds, you have before you an entire and enticing assembly of fascinating life to explore. Look under the plant\u2019s broad leaves to find minute yellowish ridged monarch eggs \u2014 the start of it all \u2014 or the tiniest early instars (starter caterpillars) mere millimeters long. Roaming about the plants, the striped late instar caterpillars would seem to be a potential feast, except with the sequestration of yucky and toxic chemicals, they are a nasty mouthful for predators. Later in the season, look for pupae \u2014 dangling green and unmoving, ornamented with gold dots \u2014 butterflies to be.<\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/a>
Monarch instar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just as there are several milkweed species that thrive here, all possessing toxic juices, there are also several insect species besides the monarchs that have developed a tolerance for the milky sap. As you inspect the milkweed clumps, look for the rosy-colored milkweed longhorn beetles peering out at you, their long, black-and-white-striped antennae waving comically. Or notice the small milkweed bugs, with their striking black and red coloration and \u201cX\u201d shapes on the upper abdomen that show the under wings tucked neatly beneath the upper wings.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s only one snag to finding milkweed plants, whether monarchs are laying eggs on them or floating on by: The plants tend to be addictively time-consuming! There\u2019s so much interlocking life in each of these plants that your brisk hike might morph into a very slow amble.<\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/a>
Milkweed longhorn beetle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Monarch butterflies regularly make the news, perhaps because they are everyone\u2019s favorite butterflies. Their epic migrations capture the imagination. It seems improbable that such fragile insects would even attempt to wing it from Canada to Mexico, or from the Midwest to the California coast, to find a winter hibernation haven. But they do! In 2023, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3166,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[91],"class_list":["post-3165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wildlife","tag-summer-2025"],"yoast_head":"\nMonarchs, Milkweeds, and More - Images<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wildlife\/monarchs-milkweeds-and-more\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Monarchs, Milkweeds, and More - Images\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Monarch butterflies regularly make the news, perhaps because they are everyone\u2019s favorite butterflies. 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We tend not to think too much about creepy crawly animals until they return in great numbers come springtime. How do these creatures survive the harsh conditions of winter? Insects have diverse strategies for ensuring\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wildlife"","block_context":{"text":"Wildlife","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/wildlife\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ladybugs on a plant.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ladybugs.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ladybugs.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ladybugs.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ladybugs.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ladybugs.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ladybugs.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2091,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wildlife\/hibernation-a-long-winters-nap\/","url_meta":{"origin":3165,"position":3},"title":"Hibernation: A Long Winter\u2019s Nap","author":"Staff","date":"12\/01\/2021","format":false,"excerpt":"As weather cools down and days get shorter and nights get longer, animals have a choice to make\u2014scavenge for hard-to-find food and shelter during snowstorms and frigid winds, or hunker down to wait it out until spring. For many, the latter option is far more appealing, especially for small mammals\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wildlife"","block_context":{"text":"Wildlife","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/wildlife\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"bears hibernating","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/bears-hibernating.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/bears-hibernating.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/bears-hibernating.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/bears-hibernating.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/bears-hibernating.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/bears-hibernating.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2437,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/nature-detectives\/whats-the-big-deal-about-pollination\/","url_meta":{"origin":3165,"position":4},"title":"What\u2019s the Big Deal about Pollination?","author":"Summer Alameel","date":"06\/01\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"It is summertime! Something natural and important is happening everywhere\u2026 and you may not even notice. We\u2019re talking about pollination and pollinators- big words and a big deal. Pollination affects everyone and everywhere- not just Boulder County, but the entire planet! Pollination is how flowering plants reproduce, spread, and make\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Detectives"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Detectives","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/nature-detectives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nature Detectives logo with a caterpillar and bee","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Nature-Detectives.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Nature-Detectives.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Nature-Detectives.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Nature-Detectives.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Nature-Detectives.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":683,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/activities\/national-pollinator-week\/","url_meta":{"origin":3165,"position":5},"title":"Celebrate National Pollinator Week (June 15 – 21)","author":"Staff","date":"05\/26\/2015","format":false,"excerpt":"If you ate food today or put on clothes, thank a pollinator. Worldwide, approximately 1,000 plants that provide food, beverages, medicines and fibers require pollination. Overall, 75 percent of all flowering plant species require\u00a0pollination. Pollination is carried out by over 200,000 animal species. When we think of pollinators, we typically\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Activities & Events"","block_context":{"text":"Activities & Events","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/activities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bee","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/bee.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/bee.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/bee.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/bee.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/bee.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/bee.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3165"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3196,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3165\/revisions\/3196"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}