Follow AADL staff members as they work to help monarch butterfly populations. Learn about milkweed's importance as the host plant for monarchs, and watch staff grow their own milkweed. From milkweed seeds to full grown plants, and from monarch egg to butterfly, each episode will focus on the life cycles of these fascinating insects. Monarchs migrate north in spring, and by fall, we will see them migrate south again. Watch it all happen from start to finish!
Share your monarch observations with us—we'd love to see them! Tag us on Twitter (@aadl) or Instagram (@aadlgram).
Episode 1: Introducing The Milkweed & Monarch Project!
We introduce The Milkweed & Monarch Project and scope out some milkweed. Check out additional resources here!
Episode 2: Milkweed
Learn more about Milkweed! Staff experiment with growing milkweed from seed, follow the progress of milkweed growing in the garden and in the wild, and cook dinner with seedpods! Learn more about Michigan Native Plants and Natural Resources Conservation.
Episode 3: Monarch Eggs
Learn about the beginning of the monarch's life cycle: the egg. Staff members look for monarch eggs on different types of milkweed, and discuss the reasons "citizen scientists" raise monarchs. Learn more about citizen science and efforts to tag and learn more about monarchs at Monarch Butterfly: What is Citizen Science? and Monarch Watch.
Episode 4: Caterpillars & Butterflies Part 1
In Episode 4 watch staff participate in the citizen science project of raising monarch caterpillars. Staff shares how they raise monarchs, and follow the caterpillar on its journey from just-hatched caterpillar to the final phase before the caterpillar pupates. Learn more about the monarch life cycle at Monarch Joint Venture and Monarch Watch.
Episode 5: Caterpillars & Butterflies Part 2
In Episode 5 continue following the monarch caterpillar's transformation from its fifth instar into a pupa, a chrysalis, and then finally emerge as a butterfly. Learn more at Project Monarch Health and Journey North.
Episode 6: End of the Season
In Episode 6 learn about milkweed in the fall and winter. From planting in the fall, to harvesting and sowing seeds for the spring, staff explore ways to continue conservation in the colder months. In a special segment from The Saturday Show, Christopher shows how to make cordage from milkweed stems. After, watch the series conclusion featuring highlights from the season.
There are many projects and organizations dedicated to helping sustain monarch populations. Some organizations focus on milkweed and habitat conservation while others raise monarchs and help track disease spread.
Monarch Butterfly: What is Citizen Science?
Project Monarch Health
Monarch Watch
North American Butterfly Association
Xerces Society
Natural Resources Conservation
Michigan Native Plants
Monarch Joint Venture
Journey North
Save Our Monarchs