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Helping Monarch Butterflies with Seed Collection
The Darke Soil and Water Conservation District will once again collect
Milkweed pods to help grow the next generation of Common Milkweed
plants. This will help ensure the future generations of Monarch
Butterflies reach their destinations. Monarch Butterflies may take five
generations to migrate to the United States. Monarch Butterflies
typically live from two to eight weeks except for the last generation
of the year. The decreasing day length and temperatures, along with the
aging milkweed plants and other nectar sources trigger the birth of the
super generation and their epic migration. They live eight times longer
than their parents and grandparents – up to eight months and travel ten
times farther. From points east of the Rocky Mountains, the butterflies
cross the Gulf and hibernate in Mexico, in oyamel fir trees. From
points west of the Rocky Mountains, they hibernate in southern
California, in eucalyptus trees.
Collecting Milkweed seeds in late fall should be done when the pods are
brown and leathery when mature, some pods may still be green. You can
test an unopened pod for maturity by applying gentle pressure to the
seam. If it does not open readily, the seed inside is immature.
If you would like to help, please call the Darke SWCD office at 937-
548 – 1715 ext.3, visit our website www.darkeswcd.com or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter to find out where the seed pods can be dropped off.
Seed pods will be collected until October 31st.
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