You wouldn’t think Montreal was one of the most important places for the migration of the sexiest butterflies – the most photogenic, the most nostalgic and the most jet-setting.
But it’s true, and we open our eyes wide (and get out our phones) to see the monarch butterflies in spring and summer…
In Quebec, at the end of August-beginning of September, monarch butterflies emerge from their chrysalis. When autumn arrives, they embark on a 4000km journey to spend the winter in a forest in central Mexico. There, they reproduce under the sun, and in spring the young monarchs begin the long journey back to Quebec.
They arrive here at the end of May, and until they reproduce, we see several generations fluttering in our flowerbeds until the cycle starts again at the end of summer.
Unfortunately, the most iconic butterfly of our childhood has been on the endangered species list since 2016.
Climate change, intensive pesticide use and habitat loss are to blame for the rarefaction of the monarch’s favorite plant: milkweed. It’s the monarchs’ exclusive host plant, and they’re desperate to find it in the gardens and fields of Quebec.
It’s often considered a weed, but don’t pull it out! Pass it on to every Montreal balcony gardener you know…
If you want to sow some – bravo, you’ve got a city garden and we’re super jealous – it’ll be in October, and Espace pour la vie has a guide to everything here!
The Monarch Mission
The Espace pour la vie, which brings together the Biodôme, the Planetarium, the Botanical Garden and the Insectarium, is the beating heart of biodiversity in Montreal – and a big part of the core memories that have turned us into defenders of nature, now that we’re adults and walking (fast) everywhere with a reusable gourd and bobbins made of recycled bamboo fiber.
And under the direction of the Insectarium, the Mission Monarque program was born, which is “a participatory science program that documents the reproductive success of the monarch butterfly”(kinky).
All joking aside, the data collected is invaluable for research that is helping to save monarch butterflies from extinction.
How do you get involved?
It’s super simple, and since we’re looking for monarchs all summer long, we’ve already started…
Step 1: Find milkweed
Step 2: Find a monarch butterfly around milkweed
Step 3: Take a photo, record what you see and get your scientific mind working.
Step 4: Create an account on the Monarch Mission website and enter the data
Pretty simple, isn’t it? How hard can it be to save the monarchs? Do it with friends, family, kids – and if you’re competitive, it can become a kind of pokemon hunt with higher stakes.
Happy viewing!