Ways to Help the Troubled Monarch Butterflies

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The migrating monarch¹ butterfly is considered an endangered species. Scientists say the dropping numbers of monarchs² are due to climate change, loss of habitat and the use of pesticides⁴ -chemicals that kill insects - and herbicides - chemicals that kills plants.

But there are things that people living in the United States can do to help the beloved black-and-orange insects.

One of the quickest and best ways to help is to plant milkweed on your property. Milkweed is a kind of plant that has white juice. Monarch butterflies eat milkweed and lay their eggs there. They need milkweed to survive.

It is important to choose the right kind of milkweed. Dawn Rodney is a chief officer at the National Wildlife Federation⁵ in Reston, Virginia. She said not all milkweed is the same.

"There is an invasive species called tropical milkweed that we're seeing more and more, and people are not understanding that it does more harm than good," Rodney said.

Planting tropical milkweed in the United States is a problem because it is not native to the country. It blooms or flowers for longer periods of time. This can make it harder for monarchs to know when it is time to migrate.

To find the right kind of milkweed, you can use the National Wildlife Federation's Native Plant finder.

Other plants, especially ones with flowers that have nectar, can be helpful to adult monarchs. Be sure to choose plants that are native to your area. These plants can be good-quality food sources for the butterflies.

It is a good idea to include plants that bloom later in the growing season. These plants can help give monarchs the energy they need for their yearly migration⁶ in autumn.

You can find a Monarch Nectar Plant List tool by the National Wildlife Federation in partnership⁷ with the Monarch Joint⁸ Venture and the Xerces Society at this website.

It is also important to know the source of the plants you buy.

Rodney said that different chemicals are used to keep the plants looking appealing to buyers. It is important to ask the garden center workers about pest-management practices.

The chemicals can hurt the next generation of butterflies. When butterflies lay their eggs on the plant, the caterpillars⁹ that are born will die as they eat the leaves of the plant.

Adult butterflies can die when they eat pollen¹⁰ and nectar of plants treated with the harmful pesticide³ called neonicotinoid.

You can prevent monarch deaths by buying from trusted, organic sources, or you can grow your own plants from seeds.

Next, think about the chemicals you use in your own garden. Chemicals can harm insects, including monarchs. They can also harm birds.

Natural or organic pesticides may also be also harmful. Use products like Neem oil only after dark, when butterflies are not as active. When the morning arrives, the product will be dry and not as effective. The butterflies will be safe.

Another way to help monarchs is to create a butterfly puddle¹¹ area. Make a mud puddle or add water to sand in a sunny area. Set a flat rock in the middle of the area.

Butterflies can rest on the stone, soak up the sun and drink the water from the puddle. And you can sit and enjoy the beautiful monarchs.

Words in This Story

species– n. class of plants or animals whose members have the same main characteristics and can breed with each other.

habitat – n. the natural environment of a plant or animal

invasive – adj. tending to spread

tropical – adj. of or occurring in the tropics

migrate – v. to travel to a different living place (temporary in the case of animals)

nectar –n. a sweet liquid produced by plants and used by bees in making honey

bloom – v. to produce flowers

pest-management – v. to control an animal or insect that causes problems for people especially by damaging crops

pollen - n. the very fine usually yellow dust that is produced by a plant and that is carried to other plants of the same kind usually by wind or insects so that the plants can produce seeds

puddle– n. a small amount of water, mud, etc., on the ground

1 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

2 monarchs   

君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Monarchs ruled England for centuries. 世袭君主统治英格兰有许多世纪。
• Serving six monarchs of his native Great Britain, he has served all men's freedom and dignity. 他在大不列颠本国为六位君王服务，也为全人类的自由和尊严服务。 来自演讲部分

3 pesticide   

n.杀虫剂，农药

参考例句：

• The pesticide was spread over the vegetable plot.菜田里撒上了农药。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields.这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。

4 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

6 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

7 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

9 caterpillars   

n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带

参考例句：

• Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. 毛毛虫吃这种植物的嫩叶。
• Caterpillars change into butterflies or moths. 毛虫能变成蝴蝶或蛾子。 来自辞典例句

10 pollen   

n.[植]花粉

参考例句：

• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。

11 puddle   

n.(雨)水坑，泥潭

参考例句：

• The boy hopped the mud puddle and ran down the walk.这个男孩跳过泥坑，沿着人行道跑了。
• She tripped over and landed in a puddle.她绊了一下，跌在水坑里。